By Howard Koplowitz
Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he wants the Aqueduct racino in South Ozone Park to be the site of the nation’s largest convention center during his State of the State address Wednesday.
Cuomo said convention centers are “economic generators” and the Javits Center in Manhattan is not big enough to attract the best shows and conventions.
“Let’s build the largest convention center in the nation, period,” Cuomo said.
He called the Javits Center “not competitive.”
The governor said $4 billion would be needed from the private sector to build a convention center at the Aqueduct racino.
“It will be all about jobs, jobs, jobs — tens of thousands of jobs,” Cuomo said.
State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) said he was supportive of the governor’s proposal but wants the community to have a say in what is built.
“I am an advocate for community input on this project and feel most people would want to see plans or drawings for the proposal,” the senator said in a statement. “Given our current economic situation, I would certainly work toward creating the thousands of jobs and revenue to the city and state the convention center brings.”
Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4573.
