KIAMESHA LAKE – The Seneca Nation, which has been eyeing Sullivan County for development of a Native American gaming casino, may purchase the entire Concord Hotel property from Louis Cappelli.
At present, Cappelli’s lans include redeveloping the site for a hotel-resort conference center with a racetrack and video lottery machine gaming operation with Empire Resorts.
Apparently, Cappelli approached the Senecas about purchasing his entire Concord property for development as a gaming facility. Michael John of the Seneca Nation of Indians wrote to Cappelli telling him “this is an attractive prospect and we would like to discuss this further with you when we are in Monticello next week.”
Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther said a sale would be “a great partnership” between the Senecas and Cappelli.
“The Seneca Nation has a lot of experience with these kinds of projects and Louis Cappelli has a lot of experience developing hotels in different parts of New York State,” she said.
Sullivan County Partnership President Timothy McCausland said the “time is right with the economy turning around,” particularly with the 18 month to two year time frame in which to build such a facility.
“The Senecas have and are operating casinos in New York State. Their tribal leadership and operating partners seem to be credible guys who are really energetic and enthusiastic about being here in the Catskills in Sullivan County.”
County Legislature Chairman Jonathan Rouis said with a fair amount of the environmental process completed, it would make sense for the parties to team up.
“There is a tremendous amount of property along the master plan of that site so perhaps there will be a joint venture down the line,” he said.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Larry EchoHawk will be in Sullivan County for meetings with representatives of the tribes interesting in development projects in the county as well as public officials and residents opposed to development of casinos.
(Source: MidHudsonNews.com)
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One Response
1. If New York wants casinos, why not legalize them. It is a state law prohibiting casinos. Getting the Seneca (or any other tribe) to open a reservation, especially in an area they never lived in, is a gimmick for the state to evade its own laws. Gimmicks are “shtick” and they don’t work in the long run (just ask your favorite bankers about reliance on gimmicks).
2. The Senecas, like all the American Indians, have a legitimate grievance about having had their
property stolen without compensation. Having had a similar experience, we should be sympathetic. But how would we feel if the goyim as compenation offered to let us run casinos (drug dens, brothels, whatever), services they want to consume but don’t want to get their hands doing themselves – rather than real compensation or their land back. It isn’t like the Senecas came up with an idea to promote business on their reservation – no Sencas lived anywhere near the Catskills.