Governor Andrew Cuomo says that two lawsuits against the Belmont Park redevelopment project lack “credibility.”
The governor calls local opposition to the $1.3 billion project NIMBY-ism – “not in my backyard.”
The newest lawsuit to stop the project comes from a group of Elmont civic leaders. They say the developers “misappropriated” the land for private use, and that a further environmental impact study is necessary. The Village of Floral Park filed a similar lawsuit this month.
“The governor knows that our community has rejected stadiums in the past – there was a soccer stadium before. The governor also knows that what we want in our community is what we call sustainable economic development,” said Aubrey Phillips, a plaintiff and spokesperson for the Belmont Park Community Coalition.
Phillips says the project will detract from local businesses.
Governor Cuomo attended a groundbreaking ceremony at the site this week.
