Column: Smoke and mirrors on Catskills casino

Monday, March 5, 2007  

"The Spitzer administration was apparently blowing some smoke in its initial suggestion that a Mohawk casino in the Catskills would be smoke free, but the governor's office is still hopeful at least a partial ban will be in place.

The administration also now says getting the smoking issue even partially dealt with in the compact was an unprecedented breakthrough.

When the proposed deal for a casino in Sullivan County was disclosed two weeks ago, the state said the tribe agreed to comply with state tax, labor and health laws. Under state law, smoking would normally be prohibited in a workplace.

What state officials didn't say was that the actual language of the proposed compact allows smoking in the casino, stating, 'there shall be smoke-free environments maintained within portions of class III gaming and related facilities in Sullivan County.'

Tribal spokesperson Leslie Logan put it succinctly: 'The Catskills casino will not be smoke free.' Sections of the gaming floor would be smoke free, similar to the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino on the tribe's reservation."

Get the Story:
Capitol Confidential: Smoke, mirrors in casino suggestion (The Albany Times-Union 3/5)