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Monticello, NY - With the Sullivan County Legislature considering whether to hold a vote tomorrow on Governor Pataki's proposal for five casinos, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today called on the county's lawmakers to hold off on what he said would be a premature vote. Hinchey expressed strong concerns that the county has yet to receive any answers from the Governor to its questions about the economic, transportation infrastructure, and environmental impact that five casinos would have on the area. The congressman noted that an affirmative vote by the Legislature tomorrow could adversely affect the ability to negotiate the best deal for Sullivan County as the process moves along.
"Supporting or affirming the Governor's proposal of five casinos, which blatantly ignores the concerns of Sullivan County residents, would be an unnecessary move that would result in the state moving forward without any real regard for potential negative impacts on the local community," Hinchey said. "Governor Pataki has made up an artificial timeline and is trying to make everyone believe that it is critical that his five casino proposal be approved immediately. There are still a lot of important questions that Governor Pataki needs to answer. Until he is forthcoming with all the details on the impact these casinos will have on Sullivan County residents I think a vote must be postponed."
Hinchey has long stated that he would support casino development in the Catskills if, after being fully informed by the state of all relevant implications, the local community wants and approves such an initiative. The congressman has also said that all of the appropriate state and federal protections must be observed as well. Hinchey had supported the state's original proposal to bring three casinos to Sullivan County, but since Governor Pataki changed his plan and is now calling for five casinos the congressman believes the issue must be examined further. Had Governor Pataki continued along with the plan to build just three casinos in Sullivan County, ground could have been broken for construction as early as this spring.
"While the potential economic benefits to constructing and operating five Indian casinos in our communities seem clear, the cumulative costs and impacts have yet to be carefully studied and considered, as was done with the previous authorization for three casinos," Hinchey wrote in a letter to Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Christopher Cunningham and the eight other members of the Legislature. "In order to ensure that the Governor and the State Legislature incorporate and respect the needs of Sullivan County in the final legislation, it is incumbent on all of us, at every level of government, to continue to serve as tireless advocates for the people of Sullivan County. Our collective ability to do this will be greatly diminished and undermined if the County Legislature chooses to endorse the proposal in its current form."
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The text of the letter is as follows:
February 9, 2005
Honorable Christopher A. Cunningham
Sullivan County Legislature
100 North Street, PO Box 5012
Monticello, New York 12701
Dear Chairman Cunningham:
I'm writing to you concerning the Sullivan County Legislature's consideration of the Indian Land Claims Settlement Legislation recently proposed by Governor Pataki. As the Legislature prepares to convene a special meeting to discuss, and potentially vote on, the Governor's proposal, I feel compelled to share some thoughts and concerns I have regarding this situation and the effect that a premature affirmative vote could have on the ongoing negotiations with New York State regarding casinos in Sullivan County.
As I've indicated previously, the decisions made by you and other leaders in Sullivan County concerning casinos will impact the region and its residents for generations to come. While the potential economic benefits to constructing and operating five Indian casinos in our communities seem clear, the cumulative costs and impacts have yet to be carefully studied and considered, as was done with the previous authorization for three casinos.
I commend the Legislature, under your leadership, for seeking inclusion of some of your initial concerns regarding this proposal in the revised version of the Governor's legislation. I was disappointed to learn, as I'm sure you were as well, that the Governor chose to ignore many, if not all, of those important concerns. The result is a legislative initiative that falls short of adequately addressing the needs of Sullivan County and that discounts New York State's role in helping the County meet the many challenges it will face as the host to these proposed casinos.
In order to insure that the Governor and the State Legislature incorporate and respect the needs of Sullivan County in the final legislation, it is incumbent on all of us, at every level of government, to continue to serve as tireless advocates for the people of Sullivan County. Our collective ability to do this will be greatly diminished and undermined if the County Legislature chooses to endorse the proposal in its current form.
I'm hopeful that you and your colleagues will agree that there is too much riding on the outcome of this proposal to act in haste or to forgo a fully informed decision in order to meet an artificial deadline being imposed by the Governor. You continue to have my full support as you work to evaluate the cumulative social and economic costs of the Governor's proposal and seek to obtain and guarantee commitments from New York State to mitigate those costs. I'm confident that by working together on this issue, we can ensure that the State takes all of your concerns into account and that the final legislation regarding this matter will protect and promote the interests of the constituents we serve.
Thank you again for your continued leadership on this important and complicated matter. Please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance.
Best regards.
Sincerely,
Maurice D. Hinchey
cc: Hon. Kathleen LaBuda; Hon. Greg Goldstein; Hon. Jonathan Rouis; Hon. Rodney Gaebel;
Hon. Jodi Goodman; Hon. Leni Binder; Hon. Ron Hiatt; Hon. Sam Wohl |
