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UEENSBOROUGH: A BETTER QUEENS IS OUR BUSINESS
news
Aqueduct Pick Genting Promises Jobs
I
t looks like we finally have a winner.
After nearly a decade of delays
and setbacks, all three state leaders
agreed on Genting NY for the Aqueduct
Racino project. Assembly Speaker
Sheldon Silver signed off on the deal on
Wednesday, August 11.
The decision to back Genting came
after the entertainment firm’s $380
million upfront payment to the state, as
well as the promise of 2,000 construction and Racino jobs that will be made
available to the immediate community.
“Nothing is more important than
creating jobs,” said Senate Majority
Conference Leader John L. Sampson.
“The acceptance of Genting puts New
York on the fast track to rebuild our
local and state economy through sound
economic development and immediate
and long-term job creation.”
The state’s decision came only one
day after Genting presented its case to a
panel that included Senate Racing and
Wagering Chair Eric Adams, Senator
Joseph Addabbo and Senator Craig
Johnson.
During the presentation, Genting
spokesperson Jay Walker said that this
will be the company’s first project in
the U.S. and the fact that they chose
Queens says a lot about the opportunity
they see with Aqueduct.
Rendering Courtesy Genting New York LLC
“If we get this right, it’s a showcase,”
said Walker. “We’re not just building
slots in a box, we’re building a destination location. Queens will be more successful and we’ll be more successful.”
Genting promised to hold job fairs for
locals and also to have a permanent site
where anyone can walk up and apply for
a job. They also said that 60 percent of
their hires would be minorities, more
than double the required 25 percent.
“For Genting, this is normal,” said
Walker. “We want to make sure the
community is heard and we will be
responsive to them.”
Adams said that the promise of new
jobs made him and his colleagues eager
to push for approval.
“Getting New Yorkers working again
is our top priority,” said Adams. “We
are eager to move forward with this
vital economic development project and
urge the governor and Assembly to join
us in the acceptance of Genting by the
end of this week so we can begin to create jobs and grow the industries that
will help New York retain its standing
as the Empire State.”
Addabbo said that from first blush,
Genting has been on the community’s
side; a fact that finalized his decision to
lend his support.
“Throughout its application, Genting
demonstrated the financial resources to
bring real economic stability and good
paying jobs to the local community.
Genting submitted a robust job creation
plan, including a focused effort to engage
local community involvement and minority and women owned businesses,” said
Addabbo. “Their commitment to buying
from local suppliers and donating one
percent of their total annual income to
the community proves Genting will be
a good partner to the local community
and the state.”
Dragons Take
Over Flushing
A
fleet of more than 170 Dragon Boat
teams, including one sponsored by the
Queens Chamber of Commerce, roared
into Flushing Meadows-Corona Park
and took over Meadow Lake during a weekend of
racing and multicultural celebrations.
The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival in New
York (HKDBF-NY) kicked off its 20 th year early
in the morning on Saturday, August 7 and didn’t
come ashore untl late Sunday, August 8.
During
the
opening
ceremonies,
City
Councilmember Dan Halloran said that this event
remains one of his favorite in the borough and that
the organizers outdo themselves each year.
“This is the most diversified county in the city,
which makes it the most diversified county in the
country,” said Halloran. “Today, we celebrate
that diversity.”
Dragon Boat Festival Chairman Henry Wan said
that the dedication of the teams is what makes the
event so successful year after year. Coupled with
all of the other forms of entertainment, he believes
this event will only continue to grow and expand.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Wan. “But
there’s more to come and we’re looking forward to
another 20 years at least.”
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Queensborough • September 2010
A team paddles hard on their way to victory.
The DCH Dragon Boat Racing Club was one of
the big winners, capturing the U.S. Open Dragon
Boat Championship in the open division. This was
DCH’s 19th year participating in the race and they
came to Queens after a full year of training around
the world.
Randy Ng, one of DCH’s coaches, said that winning overseas doesn’t compare to the feeling of winning in one’s hometown, which Queens is to many of
the paddlers.
“This one here is for our friends and family,” said
Ng. “Friends and family don’t usually get to see us
race, so this is the best opportunity for them to come
out and support us.”
DCH figured in to every division’s top three, including the 250-meter, the 500-meter and the women’s
divisions. They faced a lot of challenges during the
race, but Ng feels they met each one with the confidence supplied by their supporters.
“It feels good,” he said. “New York is always a race
that has big gambles to it.”