RONDOUT VALLEY – The New York State Legislature's decision to allow up to seven casinos in the state, with the possibility of two in the Catskills, has been met with enthusiasm in nearby towns... albeit not wholehearted support. The promise of well-paid jobs, together with the economic activity that reopening the Nevele as a gambling mecca could bring, has visions of sugarplums dancing in the heads of most elected officials. Some other residents, however, either aren't sure an Ellenville casino will come to pass, or are downright skeptical of the benefits in the first place.

"This is a great opportunity to create jobs in the Catskills," said Ulster County Chairman Terry Bernardo in a released statement. "I am thankful that Sen. Bonacic was able to overcome the Governor's initial limitation of just one casino per region. We now have two good opportunities. Legislator Craig Lopez and I will be working closely with the Senator to fight for the Nevele project to be approved. We need the jobs!"

Bernardo represents the town of Rochester and a portion of Wawarsing, the legislative district adjacent to the one containing the Nevele site; Lopez speaks for that district in the legislature.

"I'm happy they're looking at two casinos, and I'm hoping that one is at the Nevele," said Rochester Town Supervisor Carl Chipman. "I think it makes sense, have one in the east and another in the west. They would be compatible, and not hurt each other."

Just up Route 209, Marbletown's supervisor, Michael Warren, is also pleased, but sounded a cautious note. "Three would be better," he said. "We know one is going to Monticello, but where's the second one going? The whole county is hoping that the Nevele is one that gets a license."

Warren said that Marbletown may not get as many direct benefits of a casino in southern Ulster as neighboring Rochester; he expects that it could bolster the hospitality industry and shore up flagging mortgage taxes, which are only collected when a new mortgage is recorded. And even if new employees decide to buy homes in Stone Ridge and High Falls, he doesn't expect a marked increase in traffic.

Chipman agrees about the impact on real estate.

"Those fifteen hundred people are going to have to live somewhere," he pointed out. "A lot of the Nevele employees lived in Rochester, and I'd like to see that happen again."

Local real estate professional Mary Collins, however, isn't exactly enthused. She relayed that she is generally not in favor of gambling, and points to the decline of Atlantic City as the main reason why. Among her concerns are that a casino owned by non-local investors will see most of the money flow out of the area, and that the jobs which existing residents obtain will likely be low-paying service positions. In contrast to Chipman and Warren, Collins believes that while the rental market may benefit should the Nevele casino dream come to fruition, real estate sales will not.

Orest Fedash, manager of the Hudson Valley Resort, predicts that the number of promised jobs will pan out much lower. "People think thousands, but it will be at least 500 permanent jobs for each casino," he said. Nevertheless, he echoed the common sentiment that "two is better than one," and added that "this can only help anyone who receives these licenses."

Together with David O'Halloran, owner of the Pine Grove Ranch in Kerhonkson, Fedash made a bid recently to try to bring video lottery terminals, or VLTs, to the two resorts. A resolution in support of the idea failed to gain support in the county legislature, with several members expressing concern that a mixed message could doom the Nevele's chances at a gaming license, and Bernardo recusing herself due to multiple conflicts of interest. However, Fedash points out that they "received overwhelming support" at the local level, with the Rochester town council voting unanimously in support.

Asked about the decision in Albany, O'Halloran said, "I think any expansion of gaming is positive for the state. In this particular case, the Nevele investors wanted two, and they got two. I'm excited for them. Hopefully for the people of Ellenville, this means they will get a casino."

Should the referendum fail in November, there is language in the law just passed which would authorize the creation of four new gaming halls for VLTs. One observer of Ulster County politics remarked, "If that happens, they'll all be asking for video lottery terminals."

At that point, some watchers believe that Hudson Valley Resort, after seeing a chance for VLTs evaporate, could be ready to reach for the brass ring.