Kaplan Bill Creating Belmont Community Advisory Board Signed Into Law

(Carle Place, NY) December 21, 2019 -- Today, New York State Senator Anna M. Kaplan (D-Great Neck) announced that her bill, S.5481B, has been signed into law by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. The legislation creates 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. It was drafted with community input, and shepherded through the legislature earlier this year by Senator Anna M. Kaplan and Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages.

Bill Sponsor Senator Anna M. Kaplan said, “The creation of a community advisory board for Belmont Park has been a top priority for my residents in Elmont, Floral Park, and South Floral Park for a long time. I’m proud that in partnership with Assemblywoman Solages and Governor Cuomo, our constituents will finally get to have the voice they've long deserved."

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 will create parity between these three racetracks. Further, this legislation will provide representation to communities directly impacted by NYRA operations, and will work as a liaison between NYRA and local communities.

The legislation takes effect immediately.