Tioga Downs is good location for gaming

Dear Editor,

On Wednesday, Sept. 24 over a period of many hours, I listened to a number of speakers present their thoughts on the best location for a gaming resort in the Southern Tier region. A number of speakers had a similar message emphasizing two points. They felt that the best location was Traditions due to its central location to a dense local population (including the universities) and that Broome County needs “help” in creating jobs.

First, I thought the idea of a resort was to attract people from outside the area to support the new jobs being created, but more importantly, we need to address the logic of locating a gaming facility near so many young individuals. SUNY Broome with an enrollment of over 6,000 is a ten minute drive to Traditions, while Binghamton University with an enrollment of over 16,000 is a mere five minute drive. The recently announced Pharmacy School will be even closer.

The gaming application requires the facilities to be actively involved with the issue of problem gambling. Would the location of a gaming facility so close to these universities be consistent with the Gaming Commission’s mission of addressing problem gambling? Science tells us that the cerebral cortex of the brain is not fully developed until the age of 25 and that one of its functions influences a person’s ability to reason. Location of a gaming facility so close to over 22,000 students is not a sound plan.

Secondly, Broome County is getting “help.” In the last two months we have been informed of a new Pharmacy School and the new Southern Tier High Technology Incubator. These two projects represent $79 million of government-funded help in creating jobs in Broome County. The START-UP NY initiative also creates 10-year tax free zones on and near the university where private companies can invest and grow jobs; jobs that will have little impact on the population living in the western portion of the Southern Tier.

As I stated at the public hearing, Tioga Downs offers the best location to impact jobs in the entire Southern Tier region. It is in the center of the “true” Southern Tier, creating job opportunities for all counties including Broome, Tioga, Chemung, and Steuben.

Respectfully,

Douglas W. Barton

Owego, N.Y.