"You'll forgive folks in Sullivan County for not whooping it up after hearing that Gov. Eliot Spitzer had worked out a compact with the St. Regis Mohawks to open a $600 million casino at Monticello Raceway.

No exchanging high-fives.

No pumping fists in the air.

No popping the champagne.

Not yet. Just some nods and grins, a couple of 'it's about times,' a few 'now whats?' and the always present, 'we'll see.'

Does it mean support for a casino has escaped from the county like the air out of a worn-out balloon? No.

There is relief that Spitzer proved to be a man of his word. He vowed long before ever winning election that he'd support a casino in Sullivan, and he signed off on a deal with the Mohawks less than 50 days in office.

It was a stark contrast to his predecessor, Gov. Procrastinaki, who back in 2001 signed smoke-screen gaming legislation but never really pushed for its reality. To quote Town of Thompson poet laureate Tony Cellini about the former governor, 'he jerked us around for 12 years.'"

Get the Story:
Barry Lewis: Casino coming? Don't uncork the bubbly yet (The Middleton Times Herald-Record 2/22)