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Yonkers casino opened despite fire violations
Message was posted: 09:26 Oct 27th, 2006

User: BearsFan Rank: Casino Gold: 2775CG Contributor rating: 5840 Status: Offline

Gambling newws from http://www.thejournalnews.com/ October 25, 2006 YONKERS - The state allowed Yonkers Raceway's new video lottery casino earlier this month, despite more than 50 fire safety violations, according to a report in the Albany Times Union this morning. Violations include nonfunctional fire detection, alarm and extinguishing equipment, blocked exits and no emergency plans for Empire City Gaming at Yonkers Raceway, which opened Oct. 11, the paper reported. Fifteen of the 56 violations were rated "serious" by the state, and another 37 "significant." Timothy Rooney Jr., the track's general counsel and son of owner Timothy Rooney, said this morning that many of the violations are in areas that are not yet publicly accessible and still under construction. The temporary certificate of occupancy issued by the state only covers areas of the casino open to the public, Rooney said. Track officials are meeting this afternoon to check on progress in addressing the violations, he said

Yonkers casino opened despite fire violations
Message was posted: 10:44 Oct 28th, 2006

User: Snake Eyes Rank: Casino Gold: 4404CG Contributor rating: 9600 Status: Offline

Update from http://www.thejournalnews.com/ State agencies pledge to fix fire hazards at casino YONKERS - The state agencies involved in opening and operating a $240 million video lottery casino at Yonkers Raceway maintain that the facility is safe as they address dozens of fire code violations. The state Office for Fire Prevention and Control took the state Lottery Division, Office of General Services and Racing and Wagering Board to task for not complying with a temporary certificate of occupancy that OGS issued Oct. 10 for Empire City Gaming at Yonkers Raceway. The failure to comply with the temporary certificate of occupancy was one of two "severe" violations cited among the 64 that fire inspectors uncovered Oct. 16, according to a report made public Wednesday. It showed some state officials had qualms about the safety of the casino even after it opened Oct. 11 and uncovered eight more violations than an earlier inspection, which was completed Oct. 5. Casino, Lottery and OGS officials said the casino remained safe. Violations are in areas of the casino that are still under construction - only about a third of the building is open to the public as work continues. OGS spokeswoman Christine Burling said her agency received a copy of the second inspection yesterday. "We are working with the office, building owners and local fire department to ensure that the items cited are corrected," she wrote in an e-mail. The agencies are not in compliance with the temporary certificate of occupancy because basement corridors were obstructed and the fire alarm system was not fully operational at the time of the inspection. Smoke detectors and horns were covered in occupied areas of the casino, spokesman Larry Sombke wrote in an e-mail. Burling, however, maintained that the system was operating and reiterated that OGS required the casino to hire two off-duty Yonkers firefighters to patrol the building 24 hours a day, until the other violations were corrected. The state Racing and Wagering Board is expected to meet today to consider Empire City's application for its racing and simulcast licenses. Daniel Toomey, a spokes-man, said the licenses would not be granted until a clean fire report has been issued. The track hoped to resume live harness racing Nov. 3. "We're confident we're going to have them all resolved by next week in time to start racing Friday," said Timothy Rooney Jr., the track's general counsel and son of owner Timothy Rooney.