Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Sullivan casino high on Spitzer's list
Times Herald-Record
Times Herald-Record January 10, 2007
Monticello - A Monticello casino will be at the top of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's list, his point man on casinos says.
"This is on our radar screen," said Richard Rifkin, special counsel to the governor and advisor to Spitzer on Indian casino proposals in the Catskills.
Last month, the feds gave environmental approval for a $600-million, St. Regis Mohawk casino at the Monticello Raceway. For the process to move forward, Spitzer now must concur with the findings, and reach a revenue sharing agreement with the Mohawks.
"It is high on the agenda," Rifkin said. "He is well aware of what the federal government has done here in the finding of no significant impact. We now have to consider our response. We are not going to take a year and three months to evaluate this."
But Rifkin said the governor probably won't complete his review of the Mohawk casino, until after the state budget process is completed in about two months. Rifkin would not say whether the governor would be willing to concur with the environmental findings quickly, then settle on a compact later with the Mohawks; or plans to concur only after the compact is in place.
The Mohawks and their supporters are hoping for a quick environmental concurrence, sending a strong message of support to the Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Kempthorne has the final say. He opposes off-reservation casinos.
On Monday, Spitzer held an hour-long, one-on-one meeting with Sen. John Bonacic-R-C-Mount Hope. Bonacic and Spitzer talked about the Mohawk casino, health care and property taxes, sources in government say.
Rifkin has also met with Dave Hanlon, president and CEO of Empire Resorts, owners of the Monticello Raceway and partners with the Mohawks in the casino project.
Times Herald-Record January 10, 2007
Monticello - A Monticello casino will be at the top of Gov. Eliot Spitzer's list, his point man on casinos says.
"This is on our radar screen," said Richard Rifkin, special counsel to the governor and advisor to Spitzer on Indian casino proposals in the Catskills.
Last month, the feds gave environmental approval for a $600-million, St. Regis Mohawk casino at the Monticello Raceway. For the process to move forward, Spitzer now must concur with the findings, and reach a revenue sharing agreement with the Mohawks.
"It is high on the agenda," Rifkin said. "He is well aware of what the federal government has done here in the finding of no significant impact. We now have to consider our response. We are not going to take a year and three months to evaluate this."
But Rifkin said the governor probably won't complete his review of the Mohawk casino, until after the state budget process is completed in about two months. Rifkin would not say whether the governor would be willing to concur with the environmental findings quickly, then settle on a compact later with the Mohawks; or plans to concur only after the compact is in place.
The Mohawks and their supporters are hoping for a quick environmental concurrence, sending a strong message of support to the Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne. Kempthorne has the final say. He opposes off-reservation casinos.
On Monday, Spitzer held an hour-long, one-on-one meeting with Sen. John Bonacic-R-C-Mount Hope. Bonacic and Spitzer talked about the Mohawk casino, health care and property taxes, sources in government say.
Rifkin has also met with Dave Hanlon, president and CEO of Empire Resorts, owners of the Monticello Raceway and partners with the Mohawks in the casino project.
