Monticello, NY – The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Saturday approved off-reservation gaming in the Catskills.
Tribal officials said voter turnout was good at 936 with the measure approved by an unofficial vote of 538 in favor to 371 opposed with 27 ballots voided.
The Tribe said the next hurdle is to clear the so-called Kempthorne decision, made during the Bush Administration. That rule disallowed off-reservation gaming at Monticello.
The Obama administration is currently reviewing that and is being pressured to change it by the likes of US Senator Charles Schumer and New York governor David Paterson.
The Tribal Election Board will later officially certify the results of Saturday’s vote after a five day period, pending any appeals.
(Source: www.MidHudsonNews.com / YWN-112)
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8 Responses
Mazel Tov! Just one more thing that the yeshivos and camp directors have to be worried about in the Catskills.
this is great news . say whatever you want , gaming means jobs and that is the bottom line. people with jobs tend to spend money.
1. The Mohawks never lived in the Catskills. It is a farce to “rent” them a reservation for the sole purpose of legalized gambling.
2. The law prohibiting casinos in New York is a state law, so if New York wants casinos in popular areas (Manhattan would probably be the most prosperous), the legislature can pass the necessary legislation. At worst it will require a referendum.
3.Planning to fund the state budget, and promote employment, by opening casinos is a bit sleazy. Maybe factories producing something in demend would work better.
Do not worry this will never happen no one is interested in driving 2 1/2 hrs to spend a few hours gambling in the Catskills. Atlantic City has much more to offer for the same 2 1/2 hour trip. Its been pointed out many times the Catskills hotel business is dead now that people have air conditioning in the city & can fly anywhere in the world for a decent price. These investors are dreaming if they think gambling will be the attraction. After they lose hundreds of millions of dollars, a Chasidishe Mosad will take it off their hands for a bargain deal & hold its Rebbes Tish in the main casino.
ani oymer, lol!!
If this casino project is completed, it could provide many job opportunities for unemployed frume bochurim. They could be operators of the game tables, repair slot machines or do other jobs which could provide training opportunities. I’m sure they could work with the management so they could avoid any problems about working on shabbos and yom tov or being negatively influenced.
The promise of jobs and windfall tax revenues were what got gambling into Atlantic City. The jobs were almost all of the minimum wage variety (skilled workers were imported for thye better jobs) and tax-law loopholes have kept the state from receiving anything like a windfall.
As I remember, gambling is NOT forbidden in halacha if it is for recreational purposes. One is, however, prohibited from making a living at it.
2, it worked really well in Detroit…nisht.