Opinion

Opinion: Modernizing Belmont Park is a smart wager for New York Labor

The New York Racing Association has pledged to use union labor to build the new park

Caption Anthony Villa speaks in support of the Belmont Park modernization project during a rally in Albany on March 13, 2023.

Caption Anthony Villa speaks in support of the Belmont Park modernization project during a rally in Albany on March 13, 2023. Jay Dickstein / We Are NY Horse Racing

New York is a union state and organized labor is the backbone of our state’s construction industry. With over 3,000 workers who built One World Trade Center, to the thousands who constructed the brand-new UBS Arena, the Long Island Rail Road’s Third Track project, and the new Tappan Zee Bridge, to those who are working to build the Micron Chip Plant in Central New York, as well as the new Buffalo Bills Stadium, the Empire State was built and is still being built today by proud union tradespeople. 

But much like every other industry, the Building Trades were harshly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, New York State lost over 44,000 construction jobs – the worst annual decline in over 25 years. Now, three years after COVID-19 hit our state, New York construction jobs continue to lag well behind other states and there is a real concern about the future. In fact, an analysis done by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found New York State ranks the 49th worst in the country for construction unemployment rates. Given these facts, many have questioned whether the number of strong, good-paying union jobs in New York will ever come back to their pre-pandemic numbers.  

We cannot allow the current reality of union labor in New York State to become our new status quo. Instead, our leaders have an obligation to support projects that will get union workers back on the job. Right now, decision makers in Albany have an opportunity to do just this – and give union workers across the state another shot in the arm – by approving a project to modernize Belmont Park on Long Island.  

This once-in-a-generation, $455 million project would generate over $1 billion in economic impact during construction – and create 3,700 construction-related jobs. Critically, the group in charge of this project, the New York Racing Association (NYRA), is a strong ally of labor and already has contracts with dozens of unions. NYRA now employs more than 500 unionized workers and has made a solid commitment that will make sure the new Belmont Park is built with union labor.  

But that is not all. On top of the 3,700 one-time construction jobs, modernizing this historic racing venue and building the world-class sports destination New Yorkers deserve will support thousands of more workers long term. That includes union tradespeople like carpenters, electricians, steamfitters, and plumbers who work at Belmont Park – and rely on this facility for their livelihoods. 

That’s why I joined over 100 union members, farmers, and other workers to rally for the project in Albany earlier this month. And it’s why I am proud to stand alongside my union brothers and sisters at labor unions across the city, in urging decision makers to make the right call for our industry and support this project.  

As we head into the final stretch of this year’s budget season, Albany lawmakers should listen to their constituents and recognize how modernizing Belmont Park will lift up union workers and provide a critical boost to New York’s economy. The project will not just secure a strong future of horse racing in New York State, but a strong future for organized labor.

X
This website uses cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Learn More / Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Accept Cookies
X
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference. You cannot opt-out of our First Party Strictly Necessary Cookies as they are deployed in order to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting the cookie banner and remembering your settings, to log into your account, to redirect you when you log out, etc.). For more information about the First and Third Party Cookies used please follow this link.

Allow All Cookies

Manage Consent Preferences

Strictly Necessary Cookies - Always Active

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data, Targeting & Social Media Cookies

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act, you have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information to third parties. These cookies collect information for analytics and to personalize your experience with targeted ads. You may exercise your right to opt out of the sale of personal information by using this toggle switch. If you opt out we will not be able to offer you personalised ads and will not hand over your personal information to any third parties. Additionally, you may contact our legal department for further clarification about your rights as a California consumer by using this Exercise My Rights link

If you have enabled privacy controls on your browser (such as a plugin), we have to take that as a valid request to opt-out. Therefore we would not be able to track your activity through the web. This may affect our ability to personalize ads according to your preferences.

Targeting cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.

Social media cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.

If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.

Save Settings
Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website – when visited by a user – asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies – which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting – for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a “sale” of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated “sale” of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.