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Debate Could Crush Catskill Casino's Future

NEW YORK – As reported by the Ottaway News: "The Catskill's casino quest reached critical mass here yesterday with politicians, labor leaders and Indian tribes battling between competing proposals allowing either one or three gambling resorts to be built.

"It's a feud that ultimately runs the risk of leaving everyone, the state, the Catskills, the tribes, empty-handed.

"'Three or none,' exclaimed Ed Molloy, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council, at a gathering of construction union leaders pushing for a Senate bill for three.

"But Gov. George Pataki and the Assembly agree that only one casino is viable now. It would be outside Monticello and be owned by the St. Regis Mohawks. Pataki sweetened that proposal yesterday by committing the state to giving $10 million each year to cover the impact a casino in the Catskills would have on education, housing and transportation costs. That's on top of the agreed upon $15 million the Mohawks would pay Sullivan County each year to mitigate the impacts, and it's a long way toward concessions Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, wanted in order to support the one-casino proposal.

"…The $10 million cap Pataki proposed yesterday comes up short of what Bonacic was thinking…"

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