Monticello, NY – The operators of the racinos in New York are calling on the state’s top officials to “stop the clock” on the proposed Wisconsin Stockbridge Munsee casino proposal in the Town of Thompson.
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The operators of Fingerlakes Racing Association, Buffalo Trotting Association, Saratoga Gaming and Raceway, Empire Resorts, Inc./Monticello Casino and Raceway, Empire City/Yonkers Raceway, and Resorts World New York, said the land settlement and compact inked by former Governor David Paterson just days before he left office “poses significant, negative budgetary impacts for New York State that should be carefully re-evaluated.” They said the current state administration should withdraw the compact and inform the US Department of Interior it no longer supports it.
The Interior Department has a 45 day time period in which it must rule one way or another on the proposed casino.
“There has not been any consideration given to how an out-of-state Tribe’s off-reservation casino would negatively impact New York racino jobs, as well as racino financial contributions to the New York State education and local economies,” said Charles Degliomini, executive vice president of Empire Resorts. “Commercial racinos, taxed at a blended rate of about 60 percent, cannot compete with an out-of-state Indian casino, which pays zero percent tax on table games and up to a mere 25 percent for slot machines. Moreover, it is astonishing to realize that, even after signing their own compact years ago, presently no Tribe in New York is making any casino revenue payments to New York State, exacerbating our New York State budget deficit by hundreds of millions of dollars.”
The letter from the racino operators, signed by James Featherstonhaugh, said an Indian casino 10 minutes from Monticello racino “would result in the near-certain closure” of the racino, and take away higher-end and weekend customers from Yonkers, Resorts World New York and Saratoga racinos.
He said coming on top of the closure of New York City OTB, the opening of the Sullivan County casino “may well spell the end of the New York racing industry.”
The racino officials request the new state government launch a comprehensive economic analysis to confirm whether or not the state can sustain “the significant negative financial and employment impacts.”
They are all just trying to keep their own fat share of the pie. Sullivan County is a poor county with tons of properties for sale. The revenues/taxes generated by a new Casino could help pull them out of the red. Like it or not locals would get jobs at some level and overall the new Casino would be a major boost to the repressed ecomomy of Sullivan County. The influx of summer residents and visitors helps but the tax exemptions that many bring add nothing to the counties coffers. I know many will object on moral issues, but that argument is stale. There are already serious crime issues,gang problems, prostitution issues and plenty of places to buy alcohol, a new casino won’t make them any worse.
So what? This is America. The rancinos aren’t really casinos. There heavily regulated slot machine and racetrack casinos. This proposed casino is a mega resort like Foxwoods and Mohegan. The whole wal mart thing in NYC is the exact same thing. Why Shud a city not be able to advance because ur worried about ur business. That life. Step up ur game or deal with the competition.
Why not let the free market decide? If these “racinos” are providing a service and a product people want, they will do fine. If they are providing an antiquated service or product that people just “settle” for since they can’t GET what they want, then they deserve to go out of business.
Why do these people think it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that their outdated product maintains the only option in NY? It is like asking the government to block the building of the first NY computer store because it will put the typewriter dealers out of business.
It is just plain ridiculous.
The State of NY should allow sports betting at this casino. That would VASTLY increase the prosperity of Sullivan County, and help fill the state’s depleted coffers.
As for the operators of Monticello Raceway, where I wasted lots of time and money back in the 1960’s when I was a bellhop, then waiter at the Concord Hotel (now a pile of rubble), in the immortal words of my paternal grandpa, “they can go fish a herring.”
The new Indian casino in Monticello would bring badly needed economic development to Sullivan county and also provide job opportunities to the heimeshe community in upstate new York. It would also provide great family entertainment during the summer when there is nothing else to do motzi shabbos and Sunday nights other than the pizza place or the Walmart.
According to an article in a local Sullivan County newspaper dated Jan 4, 2011. The plans for a new Sullivan County jail (which is badly needed) are on hold because of funding. This county is poor, the new Casino/Racino, whatever ..could make a world of difference. They have more criminals than they can hold..what a mess.
#7 , there was nothing wrong with #4 ’s comment. Don’t know why you needed to be rude about it in your post.
With regard to Monticello….other than the 8 weeks when the Yidden are there it is a poverty ghost town. Even the main street of Broadway has very few stores that are open. IT has taken 2 summers and the town was not even able to finish paving a 6 block stretch which made things yet worse for the few stores left on that strip.
The whole place is mismanaged. They could use a Trump or someone like that to knock it all down and rebuild from scratch.
#5, I don’t quite understand how heimishe people will get jobs from casinos. I have never seen a frum person working in one.
Can you picture a hostess coming over to offer drinks wearing a shpitzel or a long skirt? or a frum man as a dealer?
am i missing something here?