Senecas Like Rochester For Future Casino, Richards Cautious
By: Amy Young
Updated: February 7, 2013
The Seneca Nation wants Governor Cuomo to add Rochester to a list of seven possible sites where the state might build a casino, but Mayor Tom Richards says not here and not now.
Richards says he is cautious about bringing a casino to Rochester. The Seneca Indian Nation says before it pays state and local governments any of the more than $570 million it owes them in casino revenue-sharing money, it wants the rights to develop in downtown Rochester.
"I don't want a casino downtown. I think it would change the character of our downtown and I don't think we need to do that. You know we can improve our downtown. We are well along on it now. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be in favor of a casino somewhere...we could do that," Richards said.
Richards said he is not ruling out the possibility of someday bringing a casino downtown and possibly utilizing the Kodak space. But for now it is just on the maybe list.
Richards says he is cautious about bringing a casino to Rochester. The Seneca Indian Nation says before it pays state and local governments any of the more than $570 million it owes them in casino revenue-sharing money, it wants the rights to develop in downtown Rochester.
"I don't want a casino downtown. I think it would change the character of our downtown and I don't think we need to do that. You know we can improve our downtown. We are well along on it now. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be in favor of a casino somewhere...we could do that," Richards said.
Richards said he is not ruling out the possibility of someday bringing a casino downtown and possibly utilizing the Kodak space. But for now it is just on the maybe list.
