Casino committee wonders what's in the cards

By Hallie Arnold , Freeman staff Daily Freeman June 7, 2005

KINGSTON - The Ulster County Legislature's newly appointed Casino Impact Committee will meet for the first time June 16 to begin analyzing the potential effects of an Indian casino in the county.
The formation of the committee was announced Friday by Legislature Chairman Richard Gerentine.
Legislator Wayne Harris, R-Clintondale, will chair the panel. The other members will be Legislators Michael Berardi, D-Ulster; Brian Hathaway, R-Bloomington; James Maloney, R-Ulster; Robert Parete, D-Boiceville; and Joseph Stoeckeler, D-Ellenville.
Gerentine, R-Marlboro, said another Republican legislator will be appointed to the committee shortly so that the membership will include four Republicans and three Democrats.
The panel, which will supersede prior casino committees, is expected to research both the positive and negative implications of casino gambling in Ulster County, allowing lawmakers to make an informed decision about any specific casino proposals, Gerentine said in a prepared statement.
While prompted in part by the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe's proposal to build a casino and resort on the Winston Farm in Saugerties, the committee will study the issue on a countywide basis.
"My own perspective is that the local municipality needs to be, probably, the decision-maker, but I don't think that means the county shouldn't provide the information, and I think that's what this committee really should do," Harris said.
Harris said he would like to work with county departments, including the Sheriff's Office, the Department of Social Services and the Department of Mental Health, to determine the possible social, economic and criminal impacts of a casino.
In addition, the committee will co-host, with the Ulster County Development Corp., an informational forum on casino gambling at 9 a.m. July 13 at the Ulster Performing Arts Center on Broadway in Midtown Kingston. Among he featured speakers will be representatives of both pro- and anti-casino groups, as well as public officials from communities that have casinos, including the town of Verona, N.Y., where the Oneida Indian Nation's Turning Stone Casino is located; and Ledyard, Conn., home of the Foxwoods Resort and Casino.

©Daily Freeman 2005

AREA NEWSPAPER
CONTACT INFORMATION

ULSTER/ DUTCHESS

Poughkeepsie Journal
PO Box 1231
Poughkeepsie, NY 12602
(845) 454-2000
For an on line letter to the editor. Fill out this form

ULSTER COUNTY

Saugerties Times
Monday deadline
P.O.Box
Phone:334- 8200
FAX your letter 334-8202
saugertiestimes@ulsterpublishing
(Attention Erica Freudenberger, editor)
P.O.Box 3329
Kingston, NY 12402

Albany Times Union
Times Union
90 State Street
Albany, NY 12207
(518) 454-5091
For an on line letter to the editor. Fill out this form

COLUMBIA COUNTY
The Independent
Indenews (online)

P.O. Box 360
Hillsdale, NY 12529
Phone (518) 325-4400
FAX (518) 325-4497
Parry Teasdale, editor

letters to editor require form through website

***NOTE: Our websites make an effort to glean info for our readers from local papers. This is no way a substitute for subscribing or picking up a local paper. We gratefully acknowledge the efforts local newspapers and publications make to our community.