Artistic rendition of what the proposed Indian casino would look like. Image courtesy of Empire Resorts.
Red tape, growth and outrage over the proposed Indian casino in the Catskills
Red Tape
Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s accord with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to build a casino at the Monticello Gaming and Raceway may have overwhelming support from state government and officials, but some groups, and it seems the federal government, still believe a casino in the Catskills is not a good fit for New York.
In February the Tribe reached a formal agreement with Spitzer to build the casino with prominent officials, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, in full support.
Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s accord with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to build a casino at the Monticello Gaming and Raceway may have overwhelming support from state government and officials, but some groups, and it seems the federal government, still believe a casino in the Catskills is not a good fit for New York.
In February the Tribe reached a formal agreement with Spitzer to build the casino with prominent officials, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, in full support.
But before the Tribe can begin the highly anticipated construction on their casino, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne must approve their application to place roughly 30 acres into trust for the project.
Kempthorne has yet to act on the Tribe’s application.
On Halloween, the Tribe filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C., against the Secretary. The Tribe’s lawsuit charges that the Secretary has “acted with undue delay and bad faith” with respect to their application. They hope the lawsuit will serve as a “motion to compel” Kempthorne to take action and make a decision.
Growth
Kempthorne has yet to act on the Tribe’s application.
On Halloween, the Tribe filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C., against the Secretary. The Tribe’s lawsuit charges that the Secretary has “acted with undue delay and bad faith” with respect to their application. They hope the lawsuit will serve as a “motion to compel” Kempthorne to take action and make a decision.
Growth
The decision to construct the $600 million, 766,000 square-foot, two-story casino has been fully endorsed by Spitzer and the Tribe, who claim the casino will boost the Catskills’ already pitiful economy and create some 3,000 full-time jobs.
“This agreement is 10 years in the making,” said Leslie Logan, spokeswoman for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. “It’s not only the right time but it’s overdue,” she said, pointing to the casino’s broad base political support on the state and local levels.
“Sullivan County has been left in the dust,” Logan said. “This casino is a ripe opportunity to generate jobs and create economic development.”
The casino will make an estimated $300 to $400 million its first year, with 20 percent of its revenues going directly to the state, according to Logan.
“This agreement is 10 years in the making,” said Leslie Logan, spokeswoman for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. “It’s not only the right time but it’s overdue,” she said, pointing to the casino’s broad base political support on the state and local levels.
“Sullivan County has been left in the dust,” Logan said. “This casino is a ripe opportunity to generate jobs and create economic development.”
The casino will make an estimated $300 to $400 million its first year, with 20 percent of its revenues going directly to the state, according to Logan.
Outrage
However, some, including various coalition and community groups, do not see the casino as a simple venue for growth -- a big-time employer and moneymaker -- but as a terrible burden with drastic consequences.
These groups, including Casino-Free Sullivan County, Orange Environment, Inc., and the Natural Resources Defense Council, feel the state government has failed to assess the casino’s adverse effects, such as pollution, traffic, and crime, on the surrounding community and environment.
“The state may benefit because of these revenues, but the host community certainly does not benefit,” said Joan Thursh, president of Casino-Free Sullivan County.
These groups, including Casino-Free Sullivan County, Orange Environment, Inc., and the Natural Resources Defense Council, feel the state government has failed to assess the casino’s adverse effects, such as pollution, traffic, and crime, on the surrounding community and environment.
“The state may benefit because of these revenues, but the host community certainly does not benefit,” said Joan Thursh, president of Casino-Free Sullivan County.
Thursh said the casino is not right for New York, pointing to the extremely negative effects the casino would have on her community.
“There are economic consequences, social consequences, environmental consequences … studies have shown traffic would become unbearable … a disaster for the community,” Thursh said.
Michael Edelstein, president of Orange Environment, Inc., said nobody really knows the impact of the casino because the consequences have not been fully studied. “We know the consequences are adverse,” he said, “but we need to be able to express their full impact on traffic, pollution, the economy, and quality of life.”
Jenny Powers, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the state government has failed to identify the casino’s effects and propose measures to mitigate them.
“There are economic consequences, social consequences, environmental consequences … studies have shown traffic would become unbearable … a disaster for the community,” Thursh said.
Michael Edelstein, president of Orange Environment, Inc., said nobody really knows the impact of the casino because the consequences have not been fully studied. “We know the consequences are adverse,” he said, “but we need to be able to express their full impact on traffic, pollution, the economy, and quality of life.”
Jenny Powers, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the state government has failed to identify the casino’s effects and propose measures to mitigate them.
“And until we know what they are,” she added, “We can’t do anything to solve them.”
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