Gov. Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign the Upstate New York Gaming Economic Development Act, which has been called the "legal blueprint" for casinos if state voters agree in November to a constitutional amendment to allow gambling on non-tribal land.

Michael Treanor, CEO of Nevele LLC, the group planning to rehabilitate the Nevele resort and add a casino, praised Cuomo and the legislature, adding that the bill provides the opportunity to create two economic development engines for the region: a casino at the Nevele and another at the former Concord resort.

"I look forward to the day we can return the Nevele Hotel back to its former glory as a family destination and as a source of good jobs and economic opportunity," Treanor said.

State senator John Bonacic, who heads his legislative body's gambling committee, had been pushing for five or more casinos statewide, and had been meeting with representatives from the Connecticut-based Foxwoods regarding a possible tie-in to the old Grossingers Resort outside Liberty, was pleased at the fact that a measure to approve gambling will finally go before state voters this November.

"For fifty years, the Catskills have sought gaming as a way to grow our tourism based economy. New Yorkers now have a choice — keep our money in-state — creating jobs, improving education, and providing resort entertainment experiences; or help Connecticut, New Jersey, and Massachusetts," he said when introducing his bill last Tuesday. "With any number of casinos, the Catskills can and will successfully compete against any other part of the state and nation for gaming and entertainment dollars. We are the closest region to the City. We are an historic tourism destination. We have large gaming vendors ready to go. This is a key opportunity to change our economy for the next several decades."

Bonacic's bill was hammered into a compromise form in time for an okay by both the state Assembly and Senate last Friday.

Ulster County Executive Mike Hein, who lobbied hard for the Nevele's plans, also expressed hope at the legislature's actions... and optimism for the chances of a public okay come the fall, and a state gambling commission's approval for his county's casino plans soon after.

Acccording to the new legislation, the state — led by Governor Cuomo — will appoint a commission to handle actual allotment of the casino franchises after its voter approval.

"The Ellenville and Wawarsing area has a rich history as a vacation resort destination," said Hein. "The Village of Ellenville, the Town of Wawarsing and the County of Ulster have been unwavering in our support of a casino at the Nevele. I would also like to thank Governor Andrew Cuomo for being responsive to people of Ellenville and Wawarsing."

Wawarsing Town Supervisor Scott Carlsen said this week that the legislature's action is a huge win for his town.

"I believe that the news about the Nevele is going to be a game changer," Carlsen said. "A $500 million construction project, unlike that ever seen in Ulster County, will bring jobs and growth to our area."

Red Roudis, board director of the Ellenville-Wawarsing Chamber of Commerce, said she believes most of the chamber's members support the Nevele casino resort plan.

"You have to think about it as a trickle-down effect. People who work there will be living here. They will be shopping here, and their kids will go to school here," Roudis said. "We do need some kind of business; why not a casino? I can't see how it would hurt, how it would harm anyone, as long as it follows the rules and the laws that it has to follow."

There is quite a bit of skepticism in the local and regional community, however, just starting to surface. Steve Krulick said that a casino would not help the area. Earlier, he strongly fought a plan for a Walmart store in Napanoch, saying that it would not live up to its promise of jobs. He has a similar feeling about the casino.

"This is not a panacea, not a solution" to the poverty and lack of jobs in the town, Krulick said, adding that the bill's passage isn't as big a win as people think: The other companies vying for casinos in the area — such as Empire at the Concord Resort, and Foxwoods at Grossinger's — still have far more money, connections and power. "The belief that the Nevele is up there as a contender is wishful thinking... I'm not a betting man, but if the chance of the Nevele being built goes up by five percent, that's not a horse I'd put my money on."

Krulick added that one doesn't have to look far to see the effects of gambling: Atlantic City has waves of crime, prostitution, drugs and gambling addictions.

"I'm disappointed that some people whom I consider intelligent and who think critically have drunk the Kool-Aid and are backing this thing," Krulick concluded. "It's the disease of desperate people; desperate people make bad decisions."

But the leader of a community agency that helps those with addictions, including gambling addictions, feels otherwise.

"I think a casino would be wonderful, given the economic devastation in the area," said Michael Berg, founder and director of Family of Woodstock, which maintains an office in Ellenville. "We're losing population because people can't afford to live here. This could provide jobs that offer close to a living wage, and benefits."

Although his agency sees firsthand the effects of all kinds of addictions, Berg said he doesn't feel a casino at the Nevele would increase gambling addictions.

"People who are complaining about that aren't complaining about the Lottery," Berg said. "This isn't an area where people go to Vegas and gamble millions of dollars. They make very little money and spend five dollars, ten dollars on a lottery ticket. If you're going to talk about gambling, why is the governor allowing the sale of lottery tickets?"

Representatives of Ulster Needs Nevele, a local grassroots group formed this month to support the Nevele, said they are poised to continue the drive for a casino at the faded resort.

"Governor Cuomo and the state legislature deserve credit for listening to the voices of their constituents who understood the importance of creating multiple casinos in a single region," said Julie Cohen Lonstein, chair of the Ulster Needs Nevele Committee. "Our committee is now looking forward to making sure the Nevele project is designated so that Ulster County and the surrounding areas can benefit from the thousands of jobs and millions in economic benefit from the project."

Treanor, meanwhile, was in Hong Kong this week. His purpose? Maybe funding?

Stay tuned...