Orthodox Jewish Activists Rally Against Casinos At Gaming Commission Meeting by Jacob Kornbluh The New york State Gaming Commission’s casino siting board, consist of Paul Frances, Stuart Rabinowitz, and William C. (Bill) Thompson, on Monday announced the minimal capital investment for casinos in each zone and region. The investment must include the cost of a casino in a specific area and at least one hotel with additional amenities. In the Catskill region, where developers are proposing casinos from $650 to $750 million, the siting board is looking for an investment of at least $350 million. Over 30 people from the Orthodox Jewish community were in attendance at the public meeting, including one woman who even brought her small kids along. Following the meeting, Robert Williams, Acting Executive Director of the New York State Gaming Commission, assured the group the the communities opposing the project’ voices will be heard and that a public hearing will be scheduled to take place in the Catskills. As of now the board is planning on scheduling this hearing for after the Labor Day weekend. Williams was informed that this would be unfair to the summer residents who return home at that point of the year, therefore insisting a hearing take place in the summer when residents are able to participate. On May 14, the board is scheduled to release responses to questions that were posed prior to the May 7th deadline. Several activists gatehered outside the building were holding up signs that read: “we plea to keep Sullivan County free of violence and crime caused by casino gambling. the group was joined by Reb Nachman Caller, Republican District leader of Borough Park and a possible Assembly candidate, and Jewish comedian legend Reb. Yankel Miller from Monsey. Organziers of the group told JP they plan to gather at much as 50,000 petitions against building the casinos in the Catskill and are planning a rally before and during the months of June-August, when most City residents and yeshivas are up in the mountains. Scroll down for photos jpupdates/2014/05/12/ny-orthodox-jewish-activists-rally-casinos-gaming-commission-meeting-photos/
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 16:25:00 +0000