Sunday, March 01, 2009
Report: At least the governor is happy
With firmly grounded and well-founded doubt that the long-delayed video lottery terminal facility at Aqueduct will ever be completed, the government of New York State has again turned its attention to Belmont Park.
Ridiculous, perhaps, but a study suggests that two casinos about six miles apart is a good idea. The report, which deals only in broad generalities and suppositions, supports what most believe was a foregone conclusion, since Gov. David Paterson – the man who would tax soda -- beneath whom the report’s authors serve, is on record in support of the absolutely blasphemous concept of a casino at Belmont. The facility, under terms of last year’s franchise deal with NYRA, is owned by the state. The state owns the track at Saratoga, too. What defamation is in the future there?
The Belmont study, the work of Empire State Development president Marisa Lago and New York State Racing and Wagering Board chairman John Sabini, is unlikely to serve a greater purpose, since Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who controls the fate of bills in the Democratic-run House, has opposed the concept. Then again, we’re dealing with Albany, where anything can happen, none of it good.
Yeah, right.
The chosen operator of the Aqueduct facility, Delaware North, has been unsuccessful in financing the development amidst the current credit climate and without concessions will likely balk at going forward under threat of state-supported nearby competition. So, Patterson’s stance on Belmont is likely to further delay the Aqueduct project, the beginning of which has disappeared beyond the horizon.
Excelsior indeed. – PM
Written by Paul Moran
Check out Paul Moran on Blogspot At the Races
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