Ellenville, Wawarsing back tribe's casino bid

Times Herald-Record

July 25, 2008

WAWARSING — Ellenville and Wawarsing have backed the Western Mohegan Indian Tribe and Nation's bid for recognition and its own casino.

The two municipalities approved nearly similar resolutions in recent weeks. The measures urge the state to grant recognition to the tribe and its reservation at the former Tamarack Lodge on Route 52 outside Ellenville. The resolutions also ask the state to "promptly" approve a contract allowing the tribe to set up a casino.

The tribe told the municipalities it would build a hotel of 2,000 to 4,000 rooms, 200,000 to 300,000 square feet of gambling facilities, multiple restaurants, retail space and a 3,000-seat theater, among other things.

It has been an uphill battle for the tribe since it bought the Tamarack in 2001. It has locked horns repeatedly with the town and county over taxes. Its chief, Ron "Golden Eagle" Roberts, was convicted in 2004 of falsifying documents in an application to the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The BIA has rebuffed the tribe's effort to be recognized. David Lenefsky, the tribe's lawyer, said the tribe does not need BIA approval.

Instead, the resolutions from the village and town may open up another path to a casino through the state.

The Ulster County Legislature has required the tribe to get backing from the municipalities involved before it will consider anything further.

And state Sen. John Bonacic said in a statement Thursday that he will not support any state legislative action without county support of any proposal.

County Legislature Chairman Dave Donaldson said Thursday that no one from the Western Mohegans has approached the Legislature to his knowledge. County Administrator Mike Hein said he had not been contacted either. Gov. David Paterson's office could not be reached for comment.

Lenefsky said what the county needed was the approval of the town and village, which legislators now have. He declined to say if the tribe will ask the county for further steps. He also refused to say when or how the tribe will go to the state.

Wawarsing Supervisor Ed Jennings said the tribe wanted to use the state route to get around the BIA's rejection.

Jennings has his doubts. "I think it is a real, real long shot," he said.

Ellenville Manager Elliott Auerbach said the area needs the economic shot a casino would bring. "We need to do everything we can to make this happen," he said.

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