August 2000 Newsletter
Dear Members and Supporters:
This is to bring you up to date on our efforts to prevent a gambling casino from being built in this area.
We invited Nevada Gold and Casinos to make a presentation on the benefits such a facility would have at a forum to be held at the Alexandria Bay High School on Sunday August 27; and they have declined. Without their presence, a public discussion on this issue would most likely be a repetition of our May meeting, where all of the comments were opposed to gambling. Therefore this public meeting will remain on hold until such time as we can gather input from both sides of the issue.
Nevada Gold tells us, informally, that there is nothing to discuss as they have dropped a gambling casino from their plans in developing their property on Wellesley Island. However, recent newspaper reports have presented conflicting information. We have asked Nevada Gold to make clear their intentions in writing to the local press, and they have not done so.
We are therefore proceeding under the assumption that this development is moving forward and a gambling casino is probably included in the long-term plans. We are taking the following actions to prevent this from happening:
We have retained the services of Patricia Marks, a Washington DC attorney specializing in Tribal law, with much experience in off-reservation land acquisition for gaming purposes. She will guide us through the processes of making our position heard at the Department of Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington. This is where any application for a gaming permit will have to start. We are planning to send a delegation to Washington at the appropriate time to carry our message directly to these agencies.
We are in the process of looking for counsel to represent us in Albany and take this same message to the Governor’s office.
We are supporting efforts to defeat a proposal by the Province of Ontario to build a gambling casino across the river on the Canadian shore, in Lansdowne, Gananoque, Prescott or Brockville. We do this with the understanding that a casino on either shore will create problems on both shores, problems with which these communities are not equipped to resolve. This is a particularly serious problem in that the Canadian casino is supported by and would be run by the government. If built, pressure will build on the New York side of the border to build a competing casino.
We are carrying on research to explore the impacts of gambling and are becoming more and better acquainted with experts in this field. They will assist when needed.
We will continue to reach out to and educate local community groups and political representatives in an effort to broaden their understanding. We will continue to expand our membership and keep all parties informed on the current status of both gambling casinos and of their potential impacts on the community.
We must all understand that some people will benefit from a casino. Initially, there could be more jobs and those jobs may be year-round or for an extended season. Some associated businesses might benefit as well. But it is our belief that the net effects will be negative, that more people will suffer than will be helped. That more businesses (hotels, motels and restaurants) will suffer losses than will see increased profits. Customers attracted to a casino on the New York side of the river will find food and lodging at reduced rates and tax-free. The social impacts are almost entirely negative, outside of the entertainment factor.
Any effort to build a casino in this area will take many years; so we must gird ourselves for a long haul. They will try to wait us out. They will lie low and wait for us to drop our guard. Most casinos are very profitable and there will always be those who want to profit from them. Gambling efforts are burgeoning across the country, and the pressure for a casino will build. It is up to us to be vigilant in protecting this community.
Our expenses will be high as we hire attorneys in Washington and Albany and send a delegation to Washington. Our plan is to get to the authorities first so they will know that there is strong opposition in this area.
To win, we must grow in numbers. We need a lot of support. You can help by taking the following steps: 1. Learning all you can about gambling and its impacts on communities. 2. Writing and expressing your opinions to your elected representatives locally, in Albany and Washington 3. Educating your friends and neighbors and encouraging them to join us. 4. Calling and donating your time and your talents to our cause. 5. Sending your donations to help cover our expenses.
Thank you for all your help and support thus far!!
Sincerely Yours,
David Garlock and Steve Taylor