900 Doses Set Aside for Belmont Workers to Get Vaccinated Beginning April 14 at 1:30; 50 Doses to Be Administered Per Day
Vaccinations Will Initially Be Conducted Six Days Per Week; After May 1, Vaccinations Will Be Conducted Three Days Per Week and Will Continue On A Rolling Basis Until All Belmont Workers are Vaccinated
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Northwell Health will begin vaccinating union workers on the Belmont Park Redevelopment Project today, April 14, at 1:30 p.m. 900 doses have been set aside for workers and will be administered at a rate of 50 per day. Vaccinations will proceed at the Belmont site six days per week until May 1. After May 1, vaccinations will be conducted three days per week and will continue on a rolling basis until all Belmont workers are vaccinated.
Governor Cuomo also toured the UBS Arena today, the future permanent home of the New York Islanders.
"The transformative Belmont Park Redevelopment Project will revitalize an area, create new jobs and provide a permanent Long Island home for the New York Islanders, and it's important that our local workers are safe as they build this critical project for New York's future during a pandemic," Governor Cuomo said. "We're glad to announce that workers from the site will be vaccinated, and I thank Northwell Health for its tireless efforts for these workers and so many others throughout this incredibly difficult time. The pandemic doesn't have to hinder construction and development, but it's vitally important to keep everyone as safe as possible as they conduct work that will be an important part of New York's post-COVID future."
"Bringing the vaccines to the laborers building the new UBS Arena will make it easier for them to protect themselves, their coworkers, their families, their neighbors and their communities," said Northwell Health President & CEO Michael Dowling. "Northwell is honored to be working with the Governor, the union leadership and the Islanders in expanding our vaccination efforts to these front-line workers."
On October 9, Governor Cuomo announced the "topping off" of the UBS Arena, the new home of the New York Islanders at Belmont Park. The UBS Arena at Belmont Park will be the home of the New York Islanders starting this fall with the 2021-2022 season and is the centerpiece of the $1.3 billion Belmont Park Redevelopment Project, which also includes a hotel, office space, and world-class retail village. In conjunction with the project, the MTA will construct a new LIRR station at Elmont -- the first new, full-time LIRR station built in decades. The majority of the station's cost will be privately funded by the arena developer. Construction on the arena was delayed for two months when COVID-19 peaked in New York and non-essential businesses were closed, but is now back on schedule.
The pandemic doesn't have to hinder construction and development, but it's vitally important to keep everyone as safe as possible as they conduct work that will be an important part of New York's post-COVID future.
Islanders Co-owner Jon Ledecky said, "Thank you to the construction workers at UBS Arena who, every day, throughout the pandemic, have worked through a most challenging environment to get the job done. We look forward to the opening of UBS Arena at Belmont Park this fall and to celebrating the bright future for both New York and the New York Islanders."
NSBCTC President Matty Aracich said, "As we build critical infrastructure projects for New York's future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, it's important that the thousands of brave and hardworking women and men who toil directly on those sites are kept safe. I am glad to hear that Northwell Health will vaccinate the workers who contribute to the vital Belmont Park Redevelopment Project, and this announcement will help those workers do their jobs safely and effectively. I thank Governor Cuomo and Northwell for their leadership making sure the millions of eligible New Yorkers get vaccinated and their tireless work to defeat this terrible pandemic once and for all."
First announced in December 2017, the Belmont Redevelopment Project is transforming 43 acres of underutilized parking lots at Belmont Park into a premier sports and hospitality destination. Construction of the arena, retail village and hotel are projected to create 10,000 jobs and generate $2.7 billion in economic activity. Once complete, the project is expected to sustain 3,200 full-time jobs and produce $858 million in annual economic activity while generating tens of millions of dollars in new annual tax revenue.
The Belmont Redevelopment complements the billions of dollars invested on Long Island since Governor Cuomo took office - supporting the region's world-class academic and research institutions, revitalizing downtowns, bolstering the agriculture, manufacturing and life sciences sectors, improving infrastructure and investing in the region's tourism industry.
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