Belmont Community Advisory Board Bill Passes State Legislature

(Albany, NY) Today, New York State Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-Great Neck), passed legislation (S.5481B) creating a local advisory board for the Belmont racetrack facility in order to provide representation to the communities of Elmont, Floral Park, South Floral Park, and the neighboring Queens community. The bill was drafted with community input, and shepherded through the legislature by Senator Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages.

Bill Sponsor Senator Anna M. Kaplan said, “Since I took office, I’ve spent a lot of time meeting with constituents to hear about their priorities, and the creation of a community advisory board for Belmont Park is a top priority for my residents in Elmont, Floral Park, and South Floral Park. I’m proud that in partnership with Assemblywoman Solages, this bill has passed both houses of the legislature, and we can finally give our constituents the voice that they deserve.”  

The bill, S.5481B, creates a 15 member Belmont racetrack advisory board. Of these members, five are designees of Nassau County, of which four must be residents of Elmont, two members from the town of Hempstead where both must be Elmont residents, three designees by NYRA, one member by South Floral Park, two by Queens Community Board 13, and two designees of the village of Floral Park.

Under current law, both the Saratoga and Aqueduct racetracks have advisory panels, so this legislation seeks to create parity between these three racetracks. Further, this legislation seeks to provide representation to communities directly impacted by NYRA operations, and work as a liaison between NYRA and local communities.

Since identical legislation has passed by the Assembly and Senate, it will now go to the Governor's desk for his signature.