Local GOP lawmakers denounce Shoreham as casino site

Three Brookhaven GOP lawmakers spoke out against the possibility of a Shinnecock Indian casino at the Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant site, though there appears little support to place one there.

Suffolk Legis. Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham) and Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner said residents nearby don't want a casino at the site off North Country Road. They blamed Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko and Suffolk Legis. Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon) for floating the idea.

"They're throwing out sites like they're fly-fishing and hoping to reel something in," Romaine said.

Losquadro condemned the nearby roads as unsuitable for casino traffic. "The infrastructure here cannot even handle pumpkin traffic," he said.

Bonner urged Lesko to "stop this dead in its tracks."

But Lesko said he's never suggested the site, owned by the Long Island Power Authority, for a casino. He met with Shinnecock officials earlier this month, but to discuss Brookhaven Airport as a possibility. He said he's pushed a technology or research and development park for the Shoreham site.

"I think this is a figment of Legislator Romaine and Legislator Losquadro's imagination," Lesko said. "I don't know where they came up with this."

Then-LIPA chief executive Kevin Law said on May 6 that the Shinnecocks had not contacted the utility about a casino, though others not affiliated with the tribe suggested it.

Beverly Jensen, a Shinnecock spokeswoman, said the tribe would have no comment.

Horsley had put the Shoreham site on a laundry list of potential casino locations. A casino there, Horsley said, might save LIPA ratepayers millions by using the revenues to pay the facility's decommissioning costs. With Mark Harrington