Anti-casino event planned for Monday at Shoreham plant

BARBARAELLEN KOCH FILE PHOTO
The shuttered nuclear power plant in Shoreham as it appears from Wading River Creek in Wading River.

Elected and civic leaders are planning a press event Monday to voice their opposition to a potential Shinnecock casino at the Shoreham nuclear power plant property.
Legislators Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and Daniel Losquadro (R-Shoreham) will be joined at the event outside the shuttered plant by Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner and members of civic and environmental groups.
Federal recognition of the Southampton-based Shinnecock Indian Nation is expected in July, after which the tribe will begin its search to open an Indian gaming facility on Long Island or upstate New York.
Anticipating the eventual arrival of a casino, county officials two years ago formed a gaming task force whose members have since compiled a short list of potential host properties. The list reportedly includes land at the Enterprise Park at Calverton and the Shoreham property.
Monday’s planned 2 p.m. press event is part of the most recent latest wave of opposition to a casino in or near Brookhaven Town, and comes on the heels of news that the Shinnecocks recently toured Brookhaven Calabro Airport in Shirley.
Mr. Romaine said that despite his and Ms. Bonner’s work on an advisory committee that is looking at alternate uses for the vacant Shoreham plant property, he has never been contacted by the casino task force or its chair, Legislator Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon).
“Obviously, Jane and I have something to say about that, and we are going to be more specific at the press conference on Monday,” Mr. Romaine said. “We are also going to make a recommendation of what we think should occur at the [Shoreham] site.”
Wading River Civic Association first vice president Sid Bail said the latest round of hoopla might be “much ado about nothing.”
“They’re not naive,” Mr. Bail said of Shinnecock tribe members tasked with finding a suitable casino site. “They are going to look for a location that makes good business sense to the tribe.
“This site has a lot of negatives. Big Time.”
Tribe officials could not be immediately reached for comment.
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