By Matt Youngfrau
ALBANY — February 1, 2002 – After months of speculation, the expected lawsuit to block the state’s casino legislation was filed on Tuesday. Actually, two lawsuits were filed on Tuesday to block the legislation.
On October 31, the governor signed the Gaming Bill into law, which allows six Indian gaming casinos (three in the Buffalo area and three in Sullivan and Ulster counties); Video Lottery Terminals (VLTs) at Monticello, Aqueduct, Finger Lakes, Yonkers, and Vernon Downs racetracks; and state participation in the Powerball Lottery.
Both lawsuits want the law declared unconstitutional. One of the suits was filed by State Senator Frank Padavan, Assemblyman William Parment, Saratoga Chamber of Commerce President Joseph Dalton, Forestburgh resident Lee Karr, and the Coalition Against Casino Gambling, among others. Named in that lawsuit as defendants are New York State Governor George Pataki, the State of New York, Comptroller H. Carl McCall, the Division of Lottery, and all five racetracks set to get VLTs, among others.
"The truth has to come out," Karr commented in a phone interview from Florida. "The casinos will cost far more than they will deliver. An informed public will not want casino gaming."
The other lawsuit was filed by Donald Trump, and Karr's wife, Judy, is one of the plaintiffs. Few details on that suit could be ascertained at press time.
All sides have stated publicly that they wish to resolve this issue quickly, and the defendants have 30 days to respond.