A showdown is expected Tuesday afternoon, on a big step towards a Racino to be built at Syracuse's Hancock Airport.

Developer Wilmorite, which originally wanted the 'video lottery gaming facility' at the State Fairgrounds, could not do it there because of environmental issues, and is now looking at Syracuse land at Hancock Airport.

Onondaga County's Legislature will vote Tuesday afternoon, on sending a supporting resolution to the State Legislature, necessary in the fight to get a state license.  However, Legislature Chair Jim Rinehart has two conditions:
that state funding be released for the Oncenter Convention Center Hotel, and that some profits come back here:
"That the state does take some of those wagering and racing funds that they recieve from these racinos, and put them back in the various communities around the state.  So, we would like to have a nice deal hammered out in New York State guaranteeing that, so the taxpayers here would receive some relief.  (Laura:) In other words you want a piece of the action? (Rinehart:)  No kidding.

Rinehart admits the memorializing bill's passage is not a done deal:  'I know in the past with OTB, the gambling thing has always made it sort of controversial, so we'll just have to see how it plays out tomorrow.'

There is other opposition, spearheaded by a PR firm hired by the Turning Stone Casino to oppose the racino project.  They've saturated area radio stations with ads against the project, and have also set up a web page.