[MidHudsonNews reports:] The NY State Assembly late Tuesday afternoon gave final legislative approval to a financial package that will pave the way for the resort that will rise out of the ashes of the old Concord Hotel in Kiamesha Lake.
The Senate passed the measure sponsored by John Bonacic on Monday and on Tuesday, the Assembly carried Aileen Gunther’s bill.
She talked of the many benefits of the involved when the resort, hotel, conference center, harness racetrack and racino are built.
“The contribution to education form the VLTs will be at least double and 2,000 new jobs will be created,” she said. “This is a great day for the people of Sullivan County and the Mid-Hudson region.”
The partnership group plans to invest $1 billion into the facilities, which will include moving Monticello Gaming and Raceway to the new site.
“After 10 years of failure and frustration the champagne cork has finally popped for the Catskills,” said Charles Degliomini, Empire Resorts’ vice president. “After everyone has had a few sips, it’s time to build.”
Governor Paterson has promised to sign the incentive bill, which will provide for the group to retain 75 percent of the profits from the video slot machines, up from the current 50 percent.
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5 Responses
With the help of the Ribono Shel Olem, gambling in the Catskills will continue to be thwarted as they have been miraculously at every turn for the last 35 years.
It always seemed imminent, but never materialized.
#2, I don’t know about the “charm”, but it will sure reinvigorate and bring in all the negative elements known to Las Vegas and other areas of shmutz.
lesstorah – They are attempting to increase the amount of available gambling.
Yes, and the attempt of this bill is to enlarge the amount of gambling from what it currently (already to large) has.
illini – Thanks for the, correct, note. Yet when someone raises a banner demanding less chumras the intent is clearly less Torah, even though technically that is not necessarily the case.