| Gambling
and Monticello
Opinion by Mayor Gary
P. Sommers,
Village of Monticello
For more than
30 years, casino gaming has been dangled in front of Sullivan County
residents as the saving grace that will bring back our glorious
resort days. Numerous developers have presented attractive proposals
that seemed to lack one element or another. One cannot fault residents
who have grown weary of big promises from outside developers only
to have the hopes of revitalization dashed away. Perhaps the most
frustrating of all is how close Sullivan County has come to realizing
economic prosperity.
Although casino
gaming is the key element of the past resort development proposals
for this area, it is clear that in order to be successful any casino
must be a part of the world-class entertainment destination resort
that showcases the best our area has to offer.
Only recently
have I come to realize what a tremendous opportunity we have for
a new resort casino in Sullivan County. I have heard all the critics
and listened to all the rhetoric. Having met with Park Place Entertainment
representatives, I now have a greater understanding of how committed
they area.
Monticello
once was the entertainment and dining hub in the county, benefiting
greatly from guests at Kutshers, Grossingers and The Concord, as
well as the bungalow communities. I am confident that the Village
will once again, be the beneficiary of the influx of tourists. In
addition, thousands of hotel rooms that will benefit our existing
local hotels will be needed to handle the excess tourists not staying
at the Park Place Entertainment resort.
I am sure that
others have noticed Park Place's significant involvement in and
presence at numerous civic and charity events in the area. I am
confident that this is only the beginning of the benefits their
resort will provide.
No one questioned
the desire of previous casino companies to build in Sullivan County.
Why should they? Sullivan County's demographics indicate that the
right type of casino resort would be highly successful.
We welcome
all of you!
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