Bflo Takes One on the Chin in the NYTimes

[WestCoastPerspective]

Buffalo Looks For Work But Debates Casino’s Value
By KEN BELSON

BUFFALO — The gray girders going up in an uninviting stretch of the Cobblestone District near downtown Buffalo seem a promising sign. Almost any economic activity is usually welcomed in this city that has become an emblem of faded industrial glory.

But these gray girders are the bones of a 6,000-square-foot gambling hall that the Seneca Indians intend to open in May, a marker for a far larger, $125 million casino that the tribe hopes will attract gamblers from Cleveland and Pittsburgh and transform Buffalo into a leisure hub.

Continues.....

But even in a city from which jobs and residents continue to flee, many business and political leaders see the casino as fiscal and civic poison.

Some casino experts say the city has an image problem. The winters are long and harsh, and with so many other casinos around — including the Senecas’ own competing outlet 30 minutes away in Niagara Falls and new slot parlors in Philadelphia — luring gamblers here may be a long shot. “I find it difficult to look at Buffalo as a competitor to Atlantic City or Las Vegas or the Catskills,” said Eugene Martin Christiansen, chief executive of Christiansen Capital Advisors, a gambling industry consultant. “It takes a lot of time to get there, and once you’re there, you are in Buffalo.”

Later in the article Giambra takes a swipe at Niagara Falls:

"There is no evidence of new economic activity because of the casinos,” said Mr. Giambra, the county executive. “In downtown Niagara Falls, even the tumbleweeds have left.”

Full story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/19/ny...gewanted=print

[300miles]

said Eugene Martin Christiansen, chief executive of Christiansen Capital Advisors, a gambling industry consultant. “It takes a lot of time to get there, and once you’re there, you are in Buffalo.”

Harsh. But I'd bet Eugene has never actually been to Buffalo.

[Timmy]

Well its true....the casino deal was Patakis answer to the downstate school funding lawsuit....that NYS lost when a judge declared that NYS public schools are not meeting the minimum education requirements called for in the constitution....so when asked where he was going to get hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue without raising taxes...Pataki decided to make a deal with the devil and undermine the constitution's ban on gambling by exchanging Indian Soveign Casinos in exchange for revenue sharing and settlement of Indian Lawsuits....

Doesnt anyone watch "Inside Albany" or "This week in Albany" on PBS...they tell you everything you want to know...

The business community is correct that the Senecas are a huge threat. Its to bad that they didnt voice this when Pataki was putting forth his plan.

Any non-casino business is going to threaten the municipal and county tax base by depriving Buffalo of taxes from Hotels, Restaurants, Spas, Conferences, Conventions, Retail, etc...and anything else the Senecas decide to involve themselves....and lets not forget that the revenue sharing compact is only limited to 25 years....and again only limited to slots.

Worse, if you thought corrupt and incompetent politicians ran the city with bribery and patronage ... the potential of the Senecas using casino money to buy lock stock and barrel every politician has not even been tapped. We could very easily loose control over our city....though considering Albany, unions and the present business lobby...the average citizen must wonder if we have control over our city now or ever did.

At most (if the Senecas decide to be good stewards and community members) we could find a world class complement to Niagara Falls, Ontario integrated in three locations with different themes:
1) Niagara Falls, Ontario....in direct competition with Ontario
2) Salamanca themed after turningstone with resort style amenities, spas, etc.
3) Buffalo the business, transportation and cultural gateway. Tourists to Niagara Falls and Salamanca will arrive via the Buffalo Airport, Buffalo Bus Station, Buffalo Rail Station or possibly bringing Great Lakes Cruises to the Port of Buffalo with junkets to Niagara Falls or Salamanca....perhaps even a light rail connection to connect them....

Its a very dangerous gamble for Buffalo. Niagara Falls was a dead and demolished city....there was little choice there....and Salamanca is on their reservation...no change there...but for Buffalo its a dangerous gamble and the coin has yet to stop spinning...we know not which side it will land.