If Gov. Cuomo’s latest casino proposal comes to pass, Resorts World Casino New York City may never have table games, but potential casinos just over the border on Long Island may.

Under a bill proposed by the governor last week, downstate will be shut out of casinos with table games for five years to allow three casinos to be built upstate. Then, Long Island and the Lower Hudson Valley will be open for full gaming facilities, but still not New York City.

by Lloyd Carroll

The Richmond Hill South Civic Association’s most recent meeting, held at the United Methodist Church on 112 St. on May 30, included the reinstallation of its entire executive board and a special tribute honoring a local community leader, but the star attraction of the evening was unquestionably Margaret Finnerty, who was celebrating the 20th anniversary of her first installation as president, as a seemingly never-ending procession of local elected officials stopped by to sing her praises.

“It’s never about herself. It’s always about others,” said Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Ozone Park), on hand to dismiss the outgoing board, to whom he added, “Don’t give up fighting for this neighborhood. Without you, it just wouldn’t happen.”

Resorts World Casino New York City has hit another big milestone.

The casino, which opened in October, 2011, announced last week that it raked in $67 million in April, putting total revenue since opening at over $1 billion.

With all the overstuffed slot machines and tempting blackjack tables in Las Vegas, it can be hard to resist the siren calls of Lady Luck when you are in pursuit of the perfect photo opportunity. Fortunately, much of Sin City’s manmade beauty can be found right on the famous four-mile strip and nearby downtown area. If you need a break from the dimmed gaming rooms abuzz with constant beeps and chimes, check out some of the best vantage points to capture all that glitters in Las Vegas.

With all the overstuffed slot machines and tempting blackjack tables in Las Vegas, it can be hard to resist the siren calls of Lady Luck when you are in pursuit of the perfect photo opportunity. Fortunately, much of Sin City’s manmade beauty can be found right on the famous four-mile strip and nearby downtown area. If you need a break from the dimmed gaming rooms abuzz with constant beeps and chimes, check out some of the best vantage points to capture all that glitters in Las Vegas.

More than 40 percent of the state’s population lives here in New York City, and when you count the other downstate counties, the number soars above 60 percent. Put simply, this is where the people are.

So why does Gov. Cuomo want to see new casinos built upstate only? And why would he continue to deny Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Race Track the full table gaming he would allow upstate?

It’s been 30 years since the New York Islanders won their last Stanley Cup, and frankly, they have been abysmal for most of the years between 1983 and now. During this labor-dispute-shortened National Hockey League season, the Islanders played respectably enough to earn their first playoff berth in seven years as they clinched the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference.

The Islanders drew the unenviable assignment of playing Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Pittsburgh Penguins, long an NHL powerhouse, in the first round. To their credit, the Isles showed that they weren’t merely happy to be there, as they battled hard to force the series to six games. Unfortunately for the Isles, they lost two overtime games at the Nassau Coliseum, including Saturday night’s finale.

Ten blocks west of Resorts World Casino New York City, a billboard over Rockaway Boulevard advertised casino table games less than two hours away in New Jersey.

To anyone with even the slightest knowledge of marketing, the ad seems to make sense — targeting gamers leaving Resorts World perhaps disappointed that New York City’s first casino lacks real roulette wheels and craps tables.

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn,Queens) came to the May meeting of the Lindenwood Alliance, in the Fairfield Arms Co-op, to meet some of his new constituents.

Jeffries told the audience that he was concerned with resolving any issues that residents had with the Federal Emergency Management Agency regarding Hurricane Sandy.

A high-ranking member of the Gambino crime family who literally got away with murder for decades has finally been found guilty of that crime and others and could go to prison for life.

Bartolomeo Vernace, 64, variously known as “Bobby Glasses,” “Pepe” and “John Canova,” was found guilty on April 17 of a racketeering conspiracy that included his participation in the 1981 murder of two Queens bar owners — killings sparked by a spilled drink.

(NAPSI)—Planning where to go on your next vacation can be one of the most exciting aspects of traveling. Since you’re in control of where you and your suitcase land, creating long-lasting travel memories can start with selecting the right destination.

If you’re 17 and you enjoy a burger from the food court at Resorts World Casino New York City, make sure you bring your mom, dad or older sibling.

Anyone under 18 have always been banned from the casino floor, but are allowed in common areas outside the casino, such as the food court, and guards stopped anyone who appeared to be underage from entering the gambling area. But some civic leaders and residents near the track said teenagers were congregating in common areas, especially those from nearby John Adams High School.

Dear Editor:

There’ve been rumblings and rumors about a casino in Willets Point and I ask, why do we need something so destructive in our community?

Casinos are notorious for destroying communities that are already teetering on the brink. Willets Point has the potential to be great if only we are given a fighting chance.

The current proposal to revive Willets Point is something the entire community has gotten behind. We have given up so much to get to this point that adding a casino will set us back. When we should be talking about jobs, economic development, improving the pockmarked streets and other infrastructure, we are discussing further obliteration.

Even elected officials who represent Willets Point and the surrounding communities have spoken out against what would be a doomed casino project. Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras, whose district encompasses Willets Point, stated that “it is unprecedented to convert part of an existing economic development project that provides affordable housing and retail jobs for the purpose of building a casino, which would obviously affect the social fabric of the community.”

Andrew Rocco, president of the College Point Civic Association, said our government should focus on investing in the things we already have instead of creating and investing in the gambling industry. To echo Mr. Rocco’s words, I say we need sound investment in the people and cultural institutions that surround Willets Point.

A casino would not add to revitalization. All it would mean is a loss of jobs and closing of area businesses. Not many can withstand the onslaught of a casino. There will be no infusion of tourism dollars to the neighborhood. Patrons of the casino will undoubtedly spend both their money and time inside it.

The current Willets Point Plan, which will be a great improvement to the community, is something that has been vetted and approved. Adding a casino was never part of the original plan. I speak for many who would’ve never have supported the restructuring if we’d known that a casino could be part of the package. Instituting something of that magnitude without our consent is not only unfair, but disrespectful. Do we not get a say in what happens in or to our community? Are we that irrelevant?

We ask our legislators to not destroy what we are trying to build up. Give us the respect that you demand, for our community.

As Gov. Cuomo mulls plans to open new casinos in New York State and eyes full gambling — including table games — two Queens legislators are renewing their call to have the gambling age raised to 21 for all of the state’s casinos.

A gaming company, an Indian tribe and three developers walk into Willets Point …

The collective, including the Mets’ parent company Sterling Equities, bet in 2011 the city would approve a casino as part of the proposed redevelopment of Willets Point. They lost and were sent back to the drawing board by the city’s Economic Development Corporation. But groups opposing the mayor’s plan for the Iron Triangle suspect gaming may re-emerge in subsequent portions of Willets Point’s multi-phase rejuvenation.

Months upon months of talks over teacher evaluations broke down Jan. 17 only hours before Gov. Cuomo’s deadline to submit a deal or lose $250 million in state education funding.

In an email to members, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew said the union had told Cuomo that negotiations with the city have ceased and that they do not expect to meet the deadline of midnight, Jan 17.

A day after the city and teachers union failed to reach an agreement on a teacher evaluation deal, costing the city $250 million in state aid, the Cuomo administration is asking the city to get its act together.

Gov. Cuomo reiterated his support for full casino gaming — including table games — in New York State, but under the plan he outlined in this week’s State of the State speech, Queens residents will have to drive a good long while on the Thruway to get to roll real dice at a real craps table or sit with an actual blackjack dealer.

Gov. Cuomo reiterated his support for full casino gaming — including table games — in New York State, but under the plan he outlined in this week’s State of the State speech, Queens residents will have to drive a good long while on the Thruway to get to roll real dice at a real craps table or sit with an actual blackjack dealer.

Gov. Cuomo offered a number of excellent proposals in his State of the State Address Wednesday, on issues from gun control to election reform to education.

But he messed up on one topic of great importance to Queens in particular — casino gambling — flip-flopping from the position he held just a year ago and proposing an idea that really just doesn’t make much sense.

Los Angeles has always had an appealing fantasy image. It has long been the home of the film industry, as well as a large chunk of the rest of showbiz. The carefree image of its sun, sea and surf were promulgated in pop music by the Beach Boys, Jan & Dean, the Mamas & Papas and many others.

Of course no place is Nirvana and LA’s seamy underside that came along with its post-World War II growth spurt has been detailed in Raymond Chandler’s detective novels and in films such as “Chinatown,” “Mulholland Drive,” “Bugsy” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” The latest entrant in the modern-day film noir look at the City of Angels is “Gangster Squad.”

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown had a lot to be proud about last year, and the 22-year-veteran cited some of his office’s major 2012 accomplishments during his year-end address, which he delivered on Jan. 2 at his Kew Gardens office.

Those accomplishments include handling more than 70,000 arrest cases, having no appellate backlog, being recognized as a nationwide leader in the number of court-authorized wiretaps, having the lowest case dismissal rate in the city and taking more pre-indictment pleas than the rest of the city’s DAs combined.

If you’ve been procrastinating about what to get the special people in your life or simply want to reward yourself, here are some last-minute ideas.

Electronics have long been the consumer goods holiday marquee item. The good news is that the combination of competition and advances in technology have reduced the prices of some once very pricy gizmos.

“There’s an ad for that.”

The phrase could be a campaign slogan for mayoral hopeful Tom Allon. As a newspaper publisher in Manhattan, Allon knows the strength and value of advertising. And it’s one of the things he wants to bring to City Hall.