Statement from State Senator Leroy Comrie

“From the moment that the Belmont Park Redevelopment Civic and Land Use Improvement Project was announced, I have studied closely and listened carefully to the information provided by all parties including the impacted communities, the developers, and the Empire State Development Corporation. As the new Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Corporations, Authorities & Commissions, I am intently interested in ensuring that development projects are fiscally sound, economically responsible, and directly responsive to the needs and desires of the community.

After multiple discussions with my colleagues, community leaders, local residents, and stakeholders, I believe the following five essential points must be addressed before the ultimate fate of the project is decided:

• Any final project must include a full-service Long Island Railroad (LIRR) Station with—both east to west capacity and a park and ride option—that serves our riding public 365 days a year.
• The cost of station upgrade should be directly borne by the project developer, not the riding and taxpaying public.
• Any final project must include a detailed, goal-based plan for robust participation by minority and women-owned business enterprises and local community vendors in all phases of the project from construction to procurement. 
• Any final project must include a long overdue significant expansion of the Cross Island Expressway to proactively deal with increased traffic.
• Lastly, any final project must be conditioned upon a traffic study of local roads and concurrent restructuring of traffic patterns to deal with truck traffic and overcrowding in each community and all streets leading to the proposed venue.   
   

I believe that we have an economic development planning process for one clear reason: to understand the needs of the community and to subsequently present the best possible plan for the benefit of the public. I urge ESDC to be mindful of the voices that they hear and to work to incorporate them and the five essential points I have outlined.”