Cuomo On Belmont Casino

In an interview with Newsday Governor Cuomo made it clear how he feels about a casino at Belmont.

"My instinct is it would not make sense to have two [casinos] back-to-back at Aqueduct and Belmont," Cuomo said in a meeting with Newsday's editorial board. "My guess is that it would not make sense . . . from a planning point of view."

The governor said last month that he was negotiating with the Genting Organization, a Malaysian company that operates theme parks, casinos and seaside resorts, to build a $4 billion, 3.8-million-square-foot convention center at Aqueduct to replace the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan.

Cuomo said Belmont needs an economically viable redevelopment plan, but declined to offer suggestions.

Shinnecock officials disagreed with the governor's assessment.

"The idea that the world's largest market can only support one facility at Aqueduct makes no sense," said tribal spokeswoman Beverly Jensen. "Belmont could bring in hundreds of millions in revenue in Nassau County without losing one single job in Queens."

Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano said Thursday that he is pursuing sports and entertainment options for Belmont, located in Elmont .

"Nassau County has received interest from a developer with the financial means to establish a soccer stadium complemented by mixed-use development, which would enhance the current raceway," Mangano said.

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things look bleak for a Belmont development.  One has to wonder if that investor Mangano mention still has interest in the site without the Casino.  If he does, who knows maybe someone could twist his arm to adding a hockey arena to his sports entertainment mix-used development plan.