Sullivan Says 'Yes' to Five Casinos

The passage of the resolution was seen as critical to Pataki's proposal that still must pass muster with the State Legislature and Congress. Current state law allows for a maximum of three casinos to be built in either Sullivan or Ulster counties. The governor's bill will also provide for state approval of five Indian land claim settlement agreements between the state and tribal governments to settle land claims by the Oneida, Mohawk, Cayuga and Stockbridge-Munsee Indian tribes. State officials believe that the settlement of the five Indian land claims is critical to obtaining Congressional approval of casino gaming in the Catskills.

In front of hundreds of spectators, mostly union tradesmen who turned out in support of the five-casino plan, Legislator Gregory J. Goldstein introduced the resolution and said, "It is time for this. It has been 30 years."

Chris Cunningham, chairman of the Sullivan County Legislature, voted against the resolution, terming it "bad negotiating strategy. I think we should try to negotiate up front…Once we endorse something, it's hard to go back."

The governor's five-casino plan must be approved by the State Legislature and by Congress. State Senator John Bonacic, chairman of the Senate Committee on Housing, Construction & Community Development, announced on Wednesday that the committee has scheduled hearings on the governor's casino plan on Feb. 28 in Albany and on March 3 in Monticello.

"I think it sends a clear message to the state and Congressional leaders that this is really a long time coming, needs to happen and will happen," said developer Louis Cappelli, who is partnering with Empire Resorts on a casino project with the Cayuga Nation of New York at Monticello Raceway. Cappelli, who attended the Sullivan County legislative hearing, said he is confident that Native American casino gaming will come to Sullivan County and he is hopeful that construction could begin this year on the Cayuga Nation of New York's project in Monticello.

The yes vote on the five-casino proposal was a major victory for the region's construction trades and business sector that have lobbied heavily for Native American gaming development. Todd Diorio, president of the Hudson Valley Building and Construction Trades Council, said the vote was the culmination of a grass roots effort that must go forward and make the case before the State Legislature.

While he said there was still work to be done, Diorio, who is also business manager of Labors Local 17 and a board director the Catskill Casino Coalition, said he is confident casinos will be built in the near future in Sullivan County. Prior to the vote supporting the governor's five-casino bill, a proposal to table action on the resolution failed by a slim five to four margin.