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FROM: THE ALBANY TIMES-UNION NEWSPAPER

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories...ategory=STATE&
newsdate=4/28/2005

Saugerties Eyed For A Casino

Oklahoma tribe considers site of '94 Woodstock festival instead of at
Sullivan County resort

By JAMES M. ODATO, Capitol bureau
First published: Thursday, April 28, 2005

ALBANY -- The Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma is pushing to build a major
casino at the farm used for the 1994 Woodstock festival near Saugerties, about an
hour's drive from Albany.

The move, being quietly arranged by the tribal leaders and a potential
development partner, would change plans worked out with the Pataki administration
and Empire Resorts to build the tribe's casino at the Concord Resort in Sullivan
County in the Catskills.

Instead, the Seneca-Cayuga prefer the Winston farm, an 840-acre property off
Exit 20 of the Thruway. It is a more convenient commute from New York City and
Albany and offers a terrific view of the Catskills, says tribal Council
Member Scott

"It really is a very, very nice piece of property and pretty strategically
located," said Wood.

The tribe, Wood said, told Empire Resorts in a letter that it should try to
make the site the casino development location, and is trying to work out a
contract with Empire that deals with the tribe's preference. Empire, a publicly
traded company, controls the Concord and Monticello Raceway. It has been trying
to put up tribal casinos at both Sullivan County sites.

However, Rochester mall developer Thomas Wilmot, with whom the tribe has had
a development agreement for years, has locked up the farm site. He secured an
option to buy the acreage about 90 days ago, a source close to the
Seneca-Cayuga said. Wilmot, who declined comment, and Tribal Chief Leroy Howard may be
unwilling to go forward with Empire in the plans, two sources familiar with the
Ulster County proposal said. "I think Wilmot was obviously thinking ahead,"
Wood said.

Saugerties Supervisor Greg Helsmoortel said county Democratic, Republican and
Conservative party leaders met with Howard and three other tribal members
Wednesday for almost two hours to discuss the Winston site idea. He said the
tribe advised officials they don't yet have a developer for their proposed
project.

Helsmoortel said the Ulster leaders appreciated the tribe's candor and that
he was advised that Wilmot acquired the option on the Winston Farm.

In an interview, Howard did not deny rumors that a break with Empire and a
partnership with Wilmot is possible. "I've been talking with the governor's
office ... Things are a little touchy right now," he said.

The Winston farm has been eyed for various projects that were opposed by the
community, including a large landfill and a cemetery.

Ulster County Legislature Chairman Richard Gerentine said county leaders are
open to the casino concept.

"I see a lot of pluses, a lot of negatives," he said.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey, D-Saugerties, knows the area well, having attended the
25-year anniversary Woodstock festival at the farm, about 50 miles south of
Albany. The event drew some 350,000 people.

"I'm not convinced that that's the best use of that site," he said. "Also, I
think they would have a long way to go. I'm not sure that a casino is what
that community is going to want."

Assemblyman Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston, said he's interested in gathering more
facts but he isn't sure gambling at that site is desirable. Still, he said he
understood why the tribe would be interested in it. "It makes sense. It's a
good location," he said.

A spokesman for Pataki declined to discuss the Oklahoma tribe's
communications. But Wood said the governor's staff has been encouraging.

"This is the message we've gotten: As long as the locals are supportive of
it, then the governor's good with it," said Wood.

Current law allows for three casinos in Ulster or Sullivan counties, but
Pataki has been attempting to expand the number to five so that he can use casino
compacts as bargaining chips to settle land claims against the state from
various tribes.

Pataki withdrew a major land claim/gaming compact bill this month that called
for five casinos in Sullivan County. Amid opposition from county leaders in
the Cayuga and Oneida land claim territories and after a U.S. Supreme Court
ruling on Indian land that made settlement terms difficult, Pataki said he wants
to revise the package. He is trying to renew talks with various tribes,
including the Seneca-Cayuga

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