TRR photo by David Hulse U.S. Senator Charles “Chuck” Schumer

Schumer will press for casino approval

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO — New York’s senior U.S. Senator last week assured a group of local officials and media that he planned to cut through the red tape that would delay federal approval of a new Indian-operated casino application.

Park Place Entertainment and the St. Regis Mohawks have submitted an application for a casino to be built at the existing Kutsher’s Sports Academy.

“I will be like a blowtorch,” Schumer told a small gathering at Thompson Town Hall on June 8. “I stand ready to help in any way. I want the [Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)] to move quickly. This is not going to be another four-year deal,” the Brooklyn Democrat said in reference to the earlier approval process for a now-defunct casino proposal for the Monticello Raceway.

Thompson Supervisor Anthony Cellini and Gerry Skoda, members of the county’s casino advisory committee summarized still uncompleted town and county negotiation efforts to resolve annual multimillion-dollar “host benefit” payments with Park Place.

The senator responded, reiterating his position that he would not support anything that did not have town and county support and did not include organized labor.

Michael Sullivan, president of the Sullivan County Partnership, reported that consultants and engineers for the Mohican Sun group, who are planning another casino near Bridgeville, have been “very, very busy.”

Sipping chicken soup for a sore throat as he listened, Schumer said, “once the first one starts, others will just come.”

Regarding Donald Trump’s lobbying opposition in Albany, the senator said that Park Place could take care of itself. “[Trump] has someone just as big opposing him in the legislature,” he said.

County Attorney Ira Cohen reported that a state Supreme Court decision, which would strip the Governor of his sole approval power for compacts allowing the Indian casinos, was being appealed.

“Why not appeal and work on legislative support?” Schumer suggested.

The senator invited members of the casino advisory committee to come to Washington for a meeting with BIA officials.

Schumer, who has repeatedly visited the county and been a vocal proponent of casino gaming, got a warm, bi-partisan welcome.

Both Greg Goldstein, county Republican Committee chairman and Joe Wasser, a former Democratic Committee leader lauded Schumer’s efforts on behalf of the county, each noting that neither of Schumer’s predecessors, Republican Alfonse D’Amato and Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan, had never set foot in Sullivan County during their terms in the Senate.

Asked why he has devoted so much time to a county with such a small population, Schumer said in a matter-of-fact tone, “It’s my job.”