ALBANY – A number of Sullivan County area officials and union representatives met with members of Governor Cuomo’s economic development team in their effort to get casino gaming off the ground in the Catskills and Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D-Forestburg), who attended Wednesday’s Albany session called it positive.

The locals were told the governor is interested in jobs and economic development. They are pressing Cuomo for a letter of support for the Stockbridge Munsee Tribe’s proposed casino, Gunther said.

“They have to have that letter in the [Bureau of Indian Affairs] in order to move forward, so that’s one of the issues, and certainly Empire [Resorts] is important to us. It already has 400 jobs,” she said.

Empire Resorts owns and operates Monticello Casino and Raceway.

Also at the meeting were Sullivan County Legislature Chairman Jonathan Rouis, Thompson Town Supervisor Anthony Cellini, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 38 President and Business Manager Stephen Quaranto.