The odds against the Seneca-Cayugas (an Oklahoma-based tribe) establishing a casino in Cayuga County are overwhelming. They must receive a gaming compact with the state of New York, despite the fact that Gov. George Pataki is unwilling to negotiate with out of state tribes and the fact that Eliot Spitzer (Pataki's probable successor) is even less likely to do so.

The tribe must also seek approval from Congress - which seems unlikely given that there are bills currently gaining momentum that would forbid a tribe based in one state from opening a casino in another state.

Furthermore, with the dismissal of the Cayuga land claim, the legal basis for the Seneca-Cayugas establishing a casino in the state has all but disappeared. As it stands, the tribe has no more legal basis to open a casino in Auburn than I do. So, the bottom line is that the hurdles the tribe must overcome are just about insurmountable. While there is a very slight chance it could happen, wasting resources on the project is a lot like putting all of your money on double-zero in a game of roulette. It may be thrilling for some people, and you may even hit jackpot, but the idea can hardly be classified as economic development.

The kinds of jobs that our highly educated population needs are not created by a casino. We need a firm that is knowledge-based, that will provide engineering and computer-related jobs as well as the blue-collar ones. However, if you ask any professional in the economic development field, they will tell you that these kinds of companies will start looking elsewhere (and everyone is trying to lure them) if local leadership is saying we want a casino.

Now, I am not necessarily saying that a casino would be bad for the area. That is another debate for another time. What I am saying is that the odds of a casino opening in the area anytime soon are beyond remote. Yet, by even speaking of this as a possibility, leadership could be scaring other potential employers away. That is not responsible. And, that is why I co-sponsored the resolution opposing casinos. Instead of debating a proposal whose chances of moving forward are very remote regardless of whether we want it to happen or not, let's work together and try to create economic development that is actually possible. It can be done.

But, it isn't going to happen by betting against the odds.