SULLIVAN COUNTY FARM BUREAU TO DROP SUIT AGAINST MONTICELLO RACEWAY CASINO

AKWESASNE, NY, -- In a letter to the Sullivan County Farm Bureau, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe and Empire Resorts, the partnership that is developing and will operate the Casino at Monticello Raceway, today congratulated the farmers on their decision to not pursue the lawsuit against the project. 

The decision follows a recent vote of the Farm Bureau's Board of Directors. The Farm Bureau has instructed attorneys for the remaining plaintiffs to file the necessary papers to dismiss them as a party to the litigation.

“The Sullivan County Farm Bureau is dedicated to supporting and enriching the rural way of life. It provides an opportunity for individuals involved in agriculture to join together and make their voices heard. We are heartened by the collective actions of the local farmers who clearly seek to work in the best interests of the area, as does the Tribe,” said Tribal Chief Lorraine White of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe.

"We are glad they share our vision to revitalize Sullivan County and we look forward to working with the Farm Bureau to find ways in which we can combine efforts to create economic opportunities for years to come."

The Farm Bureau was the only local organization to join the lawsuit.  Its discontinuation as a plaintiff leaves only entities based outside of Sullivan County as opponents to the project.

“We look forward to a positive relationship with all local businesses and farms," said Dave Hanlon of Empire. The Sullivan County Farm Bureau has a 12-person Board of Directors and represents several hundred people involved in the County’s agricultural industry.

(Sullivan County drop suit press release is available in . pdf format, Adobe reader is required, to download Adobe Reader go to www.adobe.com)

--30--