Jobs or addiction? Casino measure still divisive
Despite opposition, Capital Region will host one of the first new casinos
November 12, 2013
The passage of proposal one, the measure to allow up to seven Las Vegas-style casinos in New York, passed last week by a margin of 372,842 votes statewide. The decision has lawmakers championing the creation of new jobs while critics of the measure are still unhappy about the potential negative implications of widespread gambling in New York.The unofficial results from the state Board of Elections show that, of the 62 counties reporting results, 57 percent of voters voted to pass the amendment and 43 percent voted against it.
"The passage of proposal one is a big win for local governments, school districts and taxpayers across New York state," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "This vote will keep hundreds of millions of dollars spent each year in neighboring states right here in New York, while increasing revenue for local schools, lowering property tax taxes, and bringing proper regulation to the industry."
Now that the amendment has passed, the state Gaming Commission will set up a committee to review proposals from companies looking to build casinos in upstate New York. The first four casinos, under a plan from the state Legislature will be designated for three regions including the Catskills, the Southern Tier and the Capital Region.
Notably, proposal one failed in the Capital Region with 82,495 voting for the measure and 91,311 voting against it. Despite the lack of support, the region will be one of the first to host a casino, state leaders have said.
The Catskill Region voted overwhelmingly to pass proposal one 39,196 to 21,079 in Sullivan and Ulster counties and the Southern Tier passed the proposal 47,915 to 29,001 in Broome, Tioga, Chemung, Steuben and Allegany counties. These regions are also expected to host the first of the new casinos.
"Now we put up the sign that says New York 'open for business' and the sign says we have these regions," Cuomo said on WCNY's Capitol Pressroom last Wednesday. "Resort developers from around the world, bid if you're interested and we will pick the best bids in these specific regions."
Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow, D-Mount Vernon, chairman of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, and the Assembly sponsor of the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act — the bill that authorized proposal one to be on the ballot — highlighted the jobs that will be created from the creation of new casinos in New York.
"The biggest benefit initially is going to be the construction jobs, after that we're looking at between four and six thousand additional jobs throughout the state at the casinos themselves," Pretlow said in an interview with The Legislative Gazette the day after the amendment passed. "Each casino generally hires around two thousand people of all levels. Some people have said 'Well, these are low-paying jobs.' That's BS: they're jobs. People that aren't working now will be happy to have a job, put food on the table and move on."
Jody Wood, public education campaign director at the Institute for American Values, said she is disappointed about the approval of proposal one, but is not surprised by its passage.
"I think it's a poor policy to solve economic problems and it will create more problems than it solves," Wood said. "[The amendment] will create more people with gambling problems because they'll be living closer to casinos and people that wouldn't be traveling outside to other states, money that we're supposedly losing, there will be more money spent in the state by people who wouldn't be gambling before and people who can least afford it."
According to Pretlow, provisions were made in the initial legislation requiring companies opening casinos to pay a surcharge of $500 per machine which will go to a problem gambling fund, allowing the state to have money to work with problem gamblers.
Stephen Shafer, chair of the Coalition Against Gambling in New York, agrees with Wood, saying the passage of proposal one marks "a sad day in the history of our state."
"New York will continue with its addiction to collecting revenue for the government through predatory gambling," Shafer said. "We were hoping that New York, which by some including the governor is supposed to be a progressive state, could see through this sort of pyramid scheme of ever increasing amounts of revenue from gambling and saying 'We need it because if you're against predatory gambling you must be against education.'"
Shafer said that although proposal one has been passed in New York, his group will continue to fight gambling.
"We are not going to go away, there is nothing we can do at the statewide legislative level at this point, but we will remain doing all we can to prevent further damage to the fabric of New York society by increased and expanded gambling," Shafer said.
Senate sponsor for the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act Sen. John Bonacic, R-Mount Hope, said he sees the passage of proposal one as an opportunity for New York.
"I am very pleased that the Casino Gaming Amendment passed. This creates a tremendous opportunity to revitalize tourism in the Catskills," Bonacic said. "I was pleased to sponsor the constitutional amendment to authorize gaming and am enormously grateful for the tremendous leadership of Governor Andrew Cuomo, and our partnership, for bringing this to a successful conclusion."
Cuomo sees the amendment's passage as a milestone for his administration.
"This vote builds on the landmark agreements we reached with Native American tribes this year, ending expensive court battles and unnecessary discord and restoring hundreds of millions of dollars to local governments," Cuomo said. "Since taking office, my administration has focused on reviving the state's economy, and today's vote will further pave the way for the creation of new jobs, construction and increased tourism in communities across the state."
http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2013-11-12-85804.113122-Jobs-or-addiction-Casino-measure-still-divisive.html
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