Responsible gambling at Empire City Casino
Benedetto, Gjonaj sponsor MetroCard Mobile Van visit
Assemblyman Michael
Benedetto, in conjunction
with Councilman Mark
Gjonaj, announces that the
MetroCard Mobile Van will
be parked at the curb in front
of the assemblyman’s offi ce
located at 3602 E. Tremont
Avenue, on Friday, July 12,
between the hours of 1 to 3
p.m.
The MetroCard Mobile
Van enables:
• Senior citizens 65 years
of age or older to apply for Reduced
BRONX TIMES R 50 EPORTER, JULY 5-11, 2019 BTR
Fare MetroCard and
receive a temporary card on
the spot (Bring proof of age
such as a Medicare card and
valid photo identifi cation);
• People with disabilities
that qualify, and who present
a Medicare card and valid
photo ID such as a driver’s
license to apply for Reduced-
Fare MetroCard;
• Daily riders to add money
to their Reduced-Fare Metro-
Card; and
• Everyone to get all MetroCard
questions answered.
For further information,
call Assemblyman Benedetto’s
district offi ce at (718) 892-
2235
MGM Resorts International
(NYSE: MGM) has
launched GameSense, an industry
best, MGM Resortswide
program that aligns
responsible gambling policies
with enhanced customer
service and education, at its
recently acquired property,
Empire City Casino in Yonkers,
New York.
MGM Resorts is at the
forefront of defi ning and promoting
responsible gambling
within the industry, and it’s
a major focus at every one of
the company’s casinos worldwide.
Since launching nationwide
in 2017, GameSense
has already sparked more
than 900,000 conversations
with guests.
By implementing GameSense,
responsible gambling
education and support will
be integrated into Empire
City Casino’s guest service
culture. It’s all designed to
help guests make informed
decisions and keep gambling
fun.
“It’s exciting to introduce
MGM programs, such as
GameSense, to our guests,”
said Empire City Casino
president & COO Uri Clinton.
“This program epitomizes
the MGM culture – it’s innovative,
forward-thinking
and puts our guests fi rst. We
look forward to introducing
GameSense to the community.”
GameSense will come
alive through personal interactions
between guests
and trained staff based at
the property’s member rewards
location. In addition
to speaking to trained employees,
guests of Empire
City Casino will be able to
utilize interactive GameSense
touchscreens and pick
up educational materials and
other resources.
For further information
regarding Empire City Casino,
visit www.empirecitycasino.
com.
BY GEORGE HAVRANEK
Nuisance issues are
plaguing residents of multiple
communities within the
Community Board 10 footprint.
Excessively loud music
thumping throughout the late
night into the early morning
hours is causing area
residents to fl ood 311 and local
police with complaints.
In the past party-type boats
in or near area waters were
the dominant sources of our
community’s nuisance noise
problems. However, recent
reports undeniably show that
as Independence Day draws
near we are now in a ‘Revolutionary
War’ one if by land
two if by sea scenario.
The nuisance noise has
become a two-headed monster
with untenable disturbances
emanating from both
our waters and streets.
According to a June 24
report by News 12 the intersection
of Waterbury
and Seabury avenues, a
largely industrial area near
Westchester Square, is a
gathering spot where ‘nuisance
noise hobbyists’ engage
in their ‘battles of the
loudest’ during the traditional
sleeping hours of most
peaceful law abiding citizens.
News 12 reports “The
music enthusiasts and neighborhood
members say they’re
working together to set designated
hours and locations
for playing music, hoping to
fi nd a solution that is good to
everyone.”
I have not located any
elected offi cials, policy makers
or advisory personnel that
are duly authorized to speak
on behalf of the community
that is advocating for these
community nuisances. The
‘music enthusiasts’ blatantly
disrespect our communities
when clearly violating city
noise level ordinances during
their late night into the early
hours of the morning forays.
This begs the question: Why
should the community fi nd a
suitable location for the disrespectful
to engage in a nuisance
hobby?
Sound travels fast and
when unobstructed, very
far. Simply speaking, at an
outdoor temperature of 75
degrees unimpeded sound
waves travel over water at
a rate of approximately 800
miles per hour.
This is the reason venues
with loud music need to meet
strict acoustical standards
before getting community
board approval. It is a rarity
for Mother Nature to provide
a natural setting that meets
these acceptable acoustical
standards. The proper place
for this untraditional hobby
is a sound-proofed warehouse.
It is plausible to suggest
that these community nuisances
do not want to add an
extra overhead onto their already
expensive ‘nuisance
noise hobby.’ These extravagant
sound systems can cost
upwards of ten thousand
dollars. It is quite expensive
to be a noisy nuisance; however,
the cost in the form of
quality of life should never
be passed onto our community.
Our precious quality of
life is neither up for bid nor
up for sale.
Bus Route Change Proposal
The diligence and dedication
of Community Board
10 and the wonderful Susan
Duffy have extended
the commentary period for
the unwarranted MTA bus
route proposal. Tentatively,
we have another 30 days to
gather petition signatures
and comments in opposition
to this blatant attempt to devalue
our community and
our quality of life.
The Spencer Estate Civic
Association is pleased to
announce our friends and
neighbors from the Country
Club Civic Association are
in staunch opposition to the
MTA bus route proposal.
Our association looks forward
to working along side
the experienced and affable
Arlene Grauer and our dedicated
neighbors from Country
Club Civic Association
in this mutual battle to fi ght
this unwarranted change
and maintain our neighborhoods
quality of life.
July 17th Meeting
Multiple communities are
affected by similar problems.
In the past, there have been
talks about multiple community
unifi cations in low-density
areas being necessary to
stave off the unwanted and
procure the needed. Communication
will be made with
leaders of local Civic Associations
in low-density communities
in an effort to bring
them together on the July 17.
In the current political climate
multiple community
unifi cation is integral to the
restoration and maintenance
of our quality of life. There is
strength in unifi ed numbers;
however, there is a distinct
corollary between structure
and function. These two components
are crucial to effi -
cacy of this necessary intercommunity
fusion. Therefore
it is essential to reiterate that
Quality of Life within our
communities is the principle
purpose of this meeting. Topics
of the utmost importance
include:
• Long-term nuisance issues
affecting multiple communities;
• Protection of our lowdensity
zoning regulations;
• Unwanted changes to
area bus routes;
• Reforms to legislations
that hamstring law enforcement;
and
• Budget cuts to essential
services in low -density communities.
No individual is going to
have a magic wand of salvation
to quickly solve all of
our problems; however, there
is handwriting on the wall.
It is time to cast aside petty
differences whether they are
political, social or otherwise
for the good of our communities.
Leadership is about selflessness
before selfi shness.
All of us must band together
to show the politicians, policy
makers, and advisory
powers that we are capable
of the cohesiveness needed
to stand in unison and effectively
fi ght for our right to a
fi ne quality of life. There are
many people dependent on
our ability to forge the relationships
required to make
those that preceded us proud,
and those that will succeed
us appreciative.
Political leaders to gauge
a community’s interest and
fortitude use the attendances
at local civic association
meetings. Large turnouts
by our community show our
elected offi cials that we have
the fortitude and resolve
needed to confront adversity.
It is critical for our community
to continually build on
this momentum.
July is usually reserved
for some sun and fun; however,
our communities have a
great deal of work to be done.
The next meeting of the Spencer
Estate Civic Association
is Wednesday, July 17, at 7:30
p.m., Knights of Columbus.
Any area homeowner or
renter interested in membership
to the all inclusive Spencer
Estate Civic Association
in box George Havranek on
Facebook or send-email with
subject matter Spencer Estate
to gghh55@aol.com.
If we want to ‘keep and
reap the blessings’ of our fi ne
quality of life ‘we must undergo
the fatigue of supporting
it.’
/www.empirecity-casino.com
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/www.empirecity-casino.com
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