Assemblyman Fitzpatrick's Proposal to Rescind VLTs Is Met With Booing and Chanting "Build The Casino"

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Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick hosted a press conference Monday morning at the State Building in Hauppauge. Mr. Fitzpatrick’s goal was to bring attention to his bill A.5187. The legislation calls for the rescission of authorization for 1,000 video lottery terminals (VLT) dedicated to Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  Joining Fitzpatrick and supporting his proposal was Legislator Robert Trotta (13LD) and residents from Westbury and Mastic, two communities selected to host VLT casinos. 

NYS Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick with Legislator Robert Trotta and residents of Westbury and Mastic.Mr. Fitzpatrick contends that the public was mislead by the wording of the referendum allowing for the expansion of VLTs. According to VLT advocates, the referendum was supported by 66 percent of voters in Brookhaven and 57 percent of voters in Suffolk County.

The public, according to Fitzpatrick, was seeking tax relief not increased gambling.

“When residents of Long Island called for much needed relief from burdensome taxes due to unfunded state mandated programs, Albany responded by issuing gambling licenses and authorizing video slot machines at traditional betting sites. However, gambling revenues have been much lower than expected,” said Fitzpatrick. “To bring about meaningful tax relief, Albany must reduce costs and stop spending, not create alternate revenue schemes like gambling. Furthermore, gambling brings a plethora of other problems to our community. This is not a trade-off we should be making. When voting on allowing up to seven casinos in Upstate New York, residents were unaware that even if they voted against the referendum both Nassau and Suffolk Counties would get 1,000 video lottery terminals apiece. Regardless of whether it passed or failed they would still be saddled with those terminals. A vote against the referendum was still a vote for the video lottery terminals.”

Opponents of Assemblyman Fitzpatrick’s proposalApproximately thirty opponents of Assemblyman Fitzpatrick’s bill were in the audience.  They booed, and chanted “build the casinos”. The crowd, mostly trade workers, were relentless in their argument that it should be the public’s will not the will of the two elected officials that determines the future of VLT casinos. 

In a conversation with Smithtown Matters, St. James resident Mario Mattera (buisness agent for Plumbers Union and Suffolk County Water Authority Board member) questioned Fitzpatrick’s priorities. He stated that Assemblyman Fitzpatrick should be focusing on bringing jobs to the county, not squashing a proposal that will bring construction jobs and 350 permanent positions. “If Assemblyman squashes this the monies will go upstate and we will not get anything. Local jobs for local people.” said Mattera.

Fitzpatrick pointed out the social problems associated with gambling stating, “this is an industry that depends on the problems and addiction of gamblers to succeed.” Legislator Trotta joined Fitzpatrick in his rejection of additional VLTs. Saying that there is nothing more that he would like than to see the tradesmen working, Trotta pointed to the real jeopardy he saw in letting this go through without local approval and without some hard fiscal data. “I don’t want to end up like Detroit, and quite honestly I know better than you …” Trotta was cut off by the audience who were booing loudly. Trotta continued to speak with the microphone, not a word could be heard.

Build the casino chants became “we’ll remember you in November.”