Sullivan and Albany to exchange casino views

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Legislature will be hosting Governor Pataki’s casino counsel and listening to a variety of opinions on Friday, January 7.

Greg Allen will sit in on an 11:00 a.m. session of the Legislature’s Executive Committee, which will be followed by pro and con statements for and against casino gaming in the county, Legislative Chair Chris Cunningham said on Monday.

“I’ve offered both sides an opportunity to speak and I believe both will be taking advantage of it,” Cunningham said.

The two positions will be represented by the Catskill Casino Coalition and Casino Free Sullivan County. No other public comment will be heard. “I know we’re going to be hearing a lot more of it, but just not on Friday,” Cunningham added.

Allen’s visit comes on the heels of Tuesday’s reported withdrawal by the Cayugas, from their management agreement with Empire Resorts at Monticello Raceway. In a statement to the Associated Press, Cayuga Nation spokesman Clint Halftown said the tribe is “walking away” from the deal because the developer “has failed to deliver on promises” to win federal approval for a $500 million casino.

Other published reports Tuesday cast doubt on Halftown’s authority to make the decision.

In addition, Casino Free Sullivan County on Monday filed a state Supreme Court action to negate the Town of Thompson Planning Board’s approval of the final environmental impact statement for the St. Regis Mohawk casino project at Kutshers.

Cunningham said state and federal legislators, town supervisors and school district superintendents have also been invited to the Friday meeting. “We’re trying to be responsible, given the terrain we find ourselves in and it’s part of my responsibility to guide the process, despite my personal opinion,” the long time casino opponent said.

A majority of legislators have voiced concerns about creating as many as five casinos in the county and Cunningham’s sense of it was that those concerns will remain. “If the pitch is for five, he’s going to have his work cut out for him,” Cunningham concluded.