Monticello Celebrating Casino Push

The people of Monticello, NY have been trying to get a casino approved for decades, and on Monday the governor of New York reached a deal with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to make the casino a reality. The casino will cost $600 million and bring in 3,000 jobs, so it was truly a day to celebrate.

Mayor Jim Barnicle said that the people of his town have been struggling for years because there are no jobs. There aren’t jobs for the adults, nor are there jobs for their kids when they graduate. This will now enable more graduates to stay home if they choose to, instead of having to move because there isn’t enough work.

He says that by the casino coming in it will also revive the area as it was once known as an entertainment and vacation destination – and it could be that again. As far as the casino itself, he says it isn’t all that far of a stretch from the 1,500 video gaming machines that came in two years ago to Monticello Raceway.

The only thing that could be better, is if the tribe goes ahead with a rumored hotel as well. Local merchants cannot wait for the casino to come in as they know it will drive people to their businesses as well. They say more people will move there, more money will be brought in, and more businesses will be built – it will be a total revitalization of the town.

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