Ulster County Legislator Mary Sheeley (D) appeared at recent meetings for the Town of Wawarsing and the Village of Ellenville in an effort to get each municipality's feelings about whether or not to support a bill in the New York State Legislature sponsored by Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D). The non-binding resolution will be voted on by the Ulster County Legislature on Wednesday, April 11.

The bill in question seeks to augment a 2001 law that placed Ulster and Sullivan counties on a list of areas where the governor could negotiate to place a casino without a mandate from the area. Currently, there are allowances for as many as three casinos to be placed within the two counties.

Cahill's bill would remove Governor Eliot Spitzer's power to negotiate such a deal and make it the responsibility of the State Legislature to make the decision. But several local officials feel that Cahill's measure falls short in one way or another.

Ellenville's Village Manager Elliott Auerbach and Mayor Jeff Kaplan both feel that the bill is not meant to protect the county from the governor, but from casinos. Kaplan said, "If we ask for our name to be removed any interested tribes will look to Sullivan." Kaplan went on to say that, due to what he and what many local residents felt was underhanded dealing by the Ulster County Legislature when casinos were proposed some years ago he felt that, "it would be better to deal with the governor."

Auerbach said that, "If you support Cahill's legislation it will send an anti-casino message. We [the community] need an opportunity to digest [a possible casino]. I don't think we can close the door on any opportunity." Auerbach then said that, "I will go toe to toe with Kevin on this one."

Ms. Sheeley expressed her feelings on the subject saying, "It doesn't matter to me if it's the governor, the state legislature or the county legislature. If we (Wawarsing residents) don't get to make the decision it's not good enough."

The Town of Wawarsing echoed Sheeley's sentiments as they endorsed a "friendly" amendment that would ask that any decisions regarding casinos go before whatever host municipality is involved.

The Village Board passed a resolution asking that, should a casino take interest in the Wawarsing area, that the Village of Ellenville be seen as a stakeholder and that it be afforded the proper input.

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