Poll: Constitutional change for casinos presently in trouble
About three quarters of people polled recently would vote “no” to change the state Constitution to allow for up to seven casinos based on the scant information and uncertain local control so far discussed by the state leaders, a new report said Thursday.
The Benenson Strategy Group did the poll for New Yorkers for Local Approval of Casinos, a group partly underwritten by the Oneida Indian Nation, operators of Turning Stone Casino in Verona.
Findings released by the group, which is comprised of local government activists and communications consultants, suggest that most people liked the idea of amending the Constitution as Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposes, but they want more information.
“Without local control, the amendment’s supporters are left with little path to victory. Even when their strongest argument is pitted directly against one for local approval, by an overwhelming margin voters agree that the governor can’t ask any New Yorker to vote for this amendment without guaranteeing them the right to vote to prevent casinos in their own communities if they don’t want them,” the group said. Poll results show:
-59% of likely voters agree that Albany shouldn’t expand gambling without communities being protected and given a vote in the process.
-33% agree with supporters who say this amendment “will boost tourism, create tens of thousands of jobs and provide a billion dollars in revenue to the state which will be invested in the surrounding community and schools across the state. A nonpartisan Gaming Commission will decide where casinos make the most sense, without local politics being injected into the process. We need to vote yes on this proposal so we stop losing out on the revenue and jobs going to other states.”
[Well, at least the majority know the facts!]
-After hearing the messaging from both sides, without disclosing the location of proposed casinos or guaranteeing local referendums on them, 73% say they would vote no, and only 21% say they would vote yes.
-30% of voters say they would be more likely to vote for the amendment and 37% say they would be less likely to vote for it if the locations of the new casinos would be decided upon by a nonpartisan state Gaming Commission (a Cuomo proposes.)
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