Pocono News Section

Will DeNaples' Troubles Cause Township Trouble?

Will DeNaples' Troubles Cause Township Trouble? - Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 4:30PM EST

? Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Wednesday, Feb 6, 2008 @04:30pm EST
PARADISE TOWNSHIP, MONROE COUNTY- Mount Airy Casino Resort owner Louis DeNaples is in trouble with the law and some have asked whether that would cause trouble for Paradise Township - where the casino is located.

Tuesday the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board decided to keep Mount Airy open but keep DeNaples off the property. A trustee will now oversee operations there.

WBRE News asked Paradise Township Supervisor Reda Briglia what she thought about the decision. She said, "We're very pleased the casino was allowed to stay open considering the number of employees there and the tax revenue for both the state, county - and locally."

Paradise Township received its first check from casino taxes last week. It was for $148,000. "So we're looking at probably over a year's period of time - it will be $600,000," said Briglia.

The township plans to use the money for several projects. They include construction, buying open space and adding staff if necessary. "We sort of have it scattered all over our budget so that we can use it where we need to," Briglia explained.

She told WBRE the casino and its owner have been good neighbors. "From day one he was very concerned about the community and I believe he is still very concerned about the community and we look forward to this moving forward," said Briglia.

She hopes people withhold judgment on DeNaples until his case is over. "I want to believe in the American way that you're innocent until proven guilty," she concluded.