To the editor:

Between 2013, when the Monticello Casino was approved, and 2018, when it finally opened, $1.2 billion was spent on its construction and promotion. The vision behind the project was to bring back the glory days of the 1950s Borscht Belt era, a time when the area thrived as a resort destination. Bankers, builders, and promoters in the county profited handsomely from the deal.

However, the reality was far different. In its first three months, the casino lost millions, and it’s been a downhill slide ever since. After briefly closing in April 2019 to reorganize, the casino continued to lose around $10 million a month.

Now, Resorts World Catskills is asking the county for a $585 million bailout by purchasing the resort’s non-gaming assets. Haven’t we learned from the last seven years of struggles? Why continue to pour money into a losing proposition?

John Goodfriend

Jeffersonville