The Catskill Chronicle

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY (April 27, 2014) – The Catskill Chronicle received the following letter from Scott Samuelson, Chair of the Sullivan County Legislature:

“Sullivan County officials are pleased to see the overwhelming faith that developers, operators and gaming experts have shown in seeking a Casino license within the confines of the great locations that Sullivan County has to offer. For generations, Sullivan County has been recognized as the premiere vacation destination in New York State and has historically served as host to some of the New York’s most famous destination resorts. With four well organized, financed and developed plans to choose from within Sullivan County, the NY Gaming Facility Board is well equipped to select operators who can ensure that Sullivan County is the premier destination for generations to come.

“We, in Sullivan County, have been waiting for this day to come and we are ready to work with the developers to ensure Sullivan County receives two sites. The announced projects to be located in our county will provide much needed private sector jobs and infusion of capital into the regional and state economy. The County formed a Casino Legislative Task Force and is well on the way to fully vetting these projects to ensure they are viable and can return the most money to the State, region, county and host community. Our projects are shovel-ready and we are excited to revive our history of being the resort destination for this State.

“When the State sought to authorize full scale casino gaming, it did so to improve and grow the State’s economy, particularly in distressed communities. There is no better example of realizing the economic and job generating value of Casinos than Sullivan County. Sullivan County has experienced a significant downturn in its tourist economy over the last half century and stands now as one of the most economically challenged areas in New York State. Sullivan County ranked last in New York State in year 2013 job creation and was the only area in the Hudson Valley that experienced a year-over-year decrease in private-sector employment, according to Johnny Nelson, labor market analyst for the state. This is why this past November, Sullivan County voters overwhelming voted in favor to authorize Casino gaming in New York. Our community, county leaders and our businesses are all one voice with one message – Sullivan County must be home to two Catskill Casinos.

“Throughout its history, Sullivan County has always sufficiently handled all economic, social and environmental direct and indirect impacts of the many destination resorts, visiting tourists, and the employees who worked in these facilities; and in selecting sites within Sullivan County the State can rest assured that Sullivan County and its elected officials will supply all the necessary resources to maximize the success and economic benefits intended for and envisioned by the Governor and State Legislature.

“To that end, for decades Sullivan County has worked with the State officials to bring resorts and casinos to the region to help revive and restore both the history and economy of our County. The time is now for all that dedication and work to pay off and we encourage the NY Gaming Facility Board to select two of the four highly competitive and qualified bids within Sullivan County for siting in the Catskill Region.

“With two casinos, Sullivan County can guarantee, unlike any other county in the region, that the State will be preserving the integrity of other gaming facilities (racinos) in the area, maintain the value of the horse racing industry of the state, and most importantly restore the confidence and growth to a County that has historically meant so much to our great State.”