Nyra

[Kash$]

Audit Criticizes NYRA on Capital Projects (http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/95104/audit-criticizes-nyra-on-capital-projects?source=rss)

[Tom]

And the beat goes on......

[thespaah]

NYS Taxpayer dollars( that fund politicians and other appointees paychecks) at work..
I swear on a Stack, nothing within the borders of New York State ever gets done on time, within budget and absent of "problems"...
The politicians are crooks. The political appointees are crooks. The people that run the unions that represent the public and private sector( that perform state contract work) are crooks....
And why is this? Because "its always been done this way".....
Is it any wonder why it takes a month for a pothole to get filled by the mandated minimum 4 workers?

[OTM Al]

The State is now investigating the State. NY at its best.

[thespaah]

The State is now investigating the State. NY at its best.
Ok...Now I am cracking up...
Kind of reminds me of.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqkkNtn-2wk....
Skimming the skim.....Watch

[whodoyoulike]

The State is now investigating the State. NY at its best.

What does this mean?

Are you implying that the NYRA being audited was not a good idea?

Audits of major expenditures, I thought was always a good thing to do to make certain they were in compliance.

[Red Knave]

What does this mean?

Are you implying that the NYRA being audited was not a good idea?

Audits of major expenditures, I thought was always a good thing to do to make certain they were in compliance.
Audits are a good thing.
But, imagine you are asked to audit yourself. What happens?

[whodoyoulike]

Audits are a good thing.
But, imagine you are asked to audit yourself. What happens?

This audit was performed by the State's chief fiscal watchdog. Besides, New York State isn't Pennsylvania after all.

Is the NYRA audited annually by an unbiased outside auditor?

If not, that would be dangerous.

[burnsy]

And the beat goes on......

Of course it does. All of us from NY knew it would. People from around the country were calling for NYRA's head, to put NY state in there. I warned them all. The skimming is probably worse and their idea of "improving" customer service has been to charge for everything.....including picnic tables in the sun for crying out loud. No family day at Saratoga which they willfully ruined by running off the charities over the years. Then they have the nerve to hire a "Customer Service CEO", whatever that means, its a joke.

Whose doing those "Capital Improvements"? Someone's son, brother in law or uncle? How much over charging will there be? All the pigs will be at the troth for that one. Tom knows it and so does most of NY's residents. At times I wondered if that whole "exacta fiasco" was a "set up" so they could get their hands on horse racing. I feel they dropped the ball, let it slide and then stabbed backs to get in. This is what you get folks. We have people getting indicted here monthly. One guy (state senate) went up the river a couple months ago and his lawyer (mouthpiece), he pretty much gets all the upstate cases, a real piece of work, suggested if the law makers made more, them and their families would not be crooked.......imagine that? No problem NY State will fix NYRA.....dream on........ :mad:

Why did the casino deal take 12 years? The right people had to get promises and payments (envelopes)........that's why. I can go to that "political farce thread" and read about how great Republicans and Democrats are......gee thanks. :lol:

[Saratoga_Mike]

Nice rant as usual.

1) How was Saratoga attendance and handle this year?

2) On a net basis, NYRA underspent their capital budget over the past few years (they should still do a much better job of planning and projecting specific projects, no doubt) - please read the article.

3) There was NO accusation of contractor shenanigans. I suspect the auditors would have loved to uncover such a finding, no such finding, at least not in this report.

4) The matter has very little to do with political affiliation. It has to do with the govt. Believe it or not, even political "independents" can be corrupted.

[Tom]

The State is now investigating the State. NY at its best.

We have met the enemy...it is us!
We are watching us!
Just who do we think we are, anyway?

:lol::lol:......:(

[OTM Al]

We have met the enemy...it is us!
We are watching us!
Just who do we think we are, anyway?

:lol::lol:......:(
I just wonder if the State can take the franchise away from the State. If anyone can figure out how to do this it would be Cuomo, though he better hurry before he to gets indicted.

[Saratoga_Mike]

On the charity front, I believe the in-house charity for backstretch workers had a great year, and the opening-day charities were given an opportunity to raise funds on Mondays. Facts should never get in the way of a good rant.

[OTM Al]

On the charity front, I believe the in-house charity for backstretch workers had a great year, and the opening-day charities were given an opportunity to raise funds on Mondays. Facts should never get in the way of a good rant.
Charities had a table pretty much every day in the past right by the silks room. I would always watch for the day TRF was there to donate. Backstretch worker charity has always been heavily supported by Mary Lou Whitney so glad to hear it has been doing well.

[Saratoga_Mike]

Charities had a table pretty much every day in the past right by the silks room. I would always watch for the day TRF was there to donate. Backstretch worker charity has always been heavily supported by Mary Lou Whitney so glad to hear it has been doing well.

It was everyday? Thanks for the correction - I thought it was just Mondays.

[OTM Al]

It was everyday? Thanks for the correction - I thought it was just Mondays.
I don't know what they did this past meet as I didn't get there this year. It was there every day in previous years. That is why saying they would have the table this year but no open house, which was for charity as well was a little misleading as the table was aready part of it when there was an open house

[Tom]

I just wonder if the State can take the franchise away from the State. If anyone can figure out how to do this it would be Cuomo, though he better hurry before he to gets indicted.

If we are not careful, we will answer to US! :lol:

Hey Big Mac.....you can't make this stuff up!

[OTM Al]

If we are not careful, we will answer to US! :lol:

Hey Big Mac.....you can't make this stuff up!

I believe we always get the politicians we deserve, but that discussion is for another part of the site.

[OTM Al]

http://www.saratogian.com/general-news/20151015/hendrickson-blasts-state-audit-of-nyra

[burnsy]

Nice rant as usual.

1) How was Saratoga attendance and handle this year?

2) On a net basis, NYRA underspent their capital budget over the past few years (they should still do a much better job of planning and projecting specific projects, no doubt) - please read the article.

3) There was NO accusation of contractor shenanigans. I suspect the auditors would have loved to uncover such a finding, no such finding, at least not in this report.

4) The matter has very little to do with political affiliation. It has to do with the govt. Believe it or not, even political "independents" can be corrupted.

Of course I read the article and of course people like you believe it. Even the information is "tainted". Read what the others said, the auditors are pretty much the audited. Oh, its all above board of course. And of course it doesn't have anything to do with party affiliation. Both parties are in on it. Guys from both parties are getting popped up here and one had a direct tie to NYRA. I've got news for you, if you are that gullible. Even the articles and information is inaccurate or lies. Not to mention names but people very close to the NYRA "board"were in on the "no show" jobs that guys are getting busted for as I write. I live up here, I follow the trail. Don't believe me? Try a little research. I've got news for you, the articles are usually a mixture of truth and BS, they come right from NYRA and Albany NY. Who do you thing runs the Times Union and some of the other publications? Not to worry, Burnsys making this up. Yeah, ok. Fine.

Try reading what Mary Lou's husband keeps saying. One of the honest ones that keeps outing them. He also threw them under the bus on the family day debacle. I guess he's a nut job too. The state just made itself owner of NYRA for another year......with a bogus audit...oh, how convenient. This is all smoke and mirrors for state control, with temporary control and lack of planning.........code, for pissing money away here in NY. Of course it was a banner year, all the more reason to hold on to it.

[burnsy]

I just wonder if the State can take the franchise away from the State. If anyone can figure out how to do this it would be Cuomo, though he better hurry before he to gets indicted.

Early in the summer some were calling for it but it didn't go anywhere. Some on the board of NYRA gave him hundreds of thousands to get elected......and then got appointed to NYRA. Its all public record. I know I ranted but that Saratoga Mike does not have a clue. The handle and attendance has nothing to do with this. That was his brilliant counter. If anything that's the motivation to audit yourself, have a semi- negative outcome to justify state control for another year. Please read between the lines man. His other "proof" was that Blood Horse article....nothing to see here folks...give me a break. Are people this gullible? Donate to my campaign, be the chairman. Oh, your Senator buddies kid needs a job? We got a nice "no show' 100 k deal for him. No, he's right I can't prove every thing I ranted, but these people are stealing and cheating left and right, some are unlucky enough to get caught, others are apparently too powerful to get caught. Its all there if one reads up on the facts. But they treat NYRA and horse racing like church? Ok fine. Mike don't let your crappy facts that have nothing to do with the corruption going on here hit you in the ass on the way out. Because your facts don't have a clue to what I'm saying here. Its hilarious how people still question me on here, even though at least 90% of what say is usually accurate. Its at least 25% percent more accurate than the crap they read and re hash on the internet. Oh, its in an article, they blew the lid off of that one......lol Bank failures? Oh yeah, we audit ourselves......lol

[OTM Al]

Early in the summer some were calling for it but it didn't go anywhere. Some on the board of NYRA gave him hundreds of thousands to get elected......and then got appointed to NYRA. Its all public record. I know I ranted but that Saratoga Mike does not have a clue. The handle and attendance has nothing to do with this. That was his brilliant counter. If anything that's the motivation to audit yourself, have a semi- negative outcome to justify state control for another year. Please read between the lines man. His other "proof" was that Blood Horse article....nothing to see here folks...give me a break. Are people this gullible? Donate to my campaign, be the chairman. Oh, your Senator buddies kid needs a job? We got a nice "no show' 100 k deal for him. No, he's right I can't prove every thing I ranted, but these people are stealing and cheating left and right, some are unlucky enough to get caught, others are apparently too powerful to get caught. Its all there if one reads up on the facts. But they treat NYRA and horse racing like church? Ok fine. Mike don't let your crappy facts that have nothing to do with the corruption going on here hit you in the ass on the way out. Because your facts don't have a clue to what I'm saying here. Its hilarious how people still question me on here, even though at least 90% of what say is usually accurate. Its at least 25% percent more accurate than the crap they read and re hash on the internet. Oh, its in an article, they blew the lid off of that one......lol Bank failures? Oh yeah, we audit ourselves......lol

Cuomo's day is coming. They are close to him now from what I've seen, but they have to make it air tight. Silver is a real piece of work though and had major influence and you know he'll say whatever it takes to stay out of jail. The bad thing of course is if the political upheaval continues, the state will continue to keep the franchise as they wont feel it is proper to let it go without stable structure.

[westny]

:eek: The State is now investigating the State. NY at its best.

[Saratoga_Mike]

Try reading what Mary Lou's husband keeps saying. One of the honest ones that keeps outing them. He also threw them under the bus on the family day debacle. I guess he's a nut job too. The state just made itself owner of NYRA for another year......with a bogus audit...oh, how convenient. This is all smoke and mirrors for state control, with temporary control and lack of planning.........code, for pissing money away here in NY. Of course it was a banner year, all the more reason to hold on to it.

John Hendrickson, Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s special advisor on Saratoga racing matters, says the state took a “cheap shot” by criticizing New York Racing Association’s capital planning policies.

"How many more layers of government do you want looking at this? To say they (NYRA) don’t have a plan? NYRA had a good year. There are always issues that have to be addressed. This one seemed like a cheap shot.”

Now re-read my post. How is my position different than Hendrickson's comments? I even went further by saying on a net basis NYRA underspent on the capital front.

Is there corruption in NY State government? Absolutely. You can trust I follow NY state politics as closely or more closely than you do. I'm fully aware of what's going on in the Assembly and Senate.

Mr. Hendrickson did seem to disagree with the Open House change, noting that he "doesn't like surprises." That was another reasonable reaction on his part. He seems like a reasonable person. I'm glad you hold his opinion in such high regard. He appears to conduct himself in a very professional manner.

[OTM Al]

Mr. Hendrickson is the only person involved on that board that even seems to care and he doesn't even get a vote. His most telling comment was earlier this year dealing with the open house issue when he said something to the effect of "why am I the special advisor when they never ask my advice on anything?" He and Mary Lou are tremendous representatives for Saratoga.

[Saratoga_Mike]

Mr. Hendrickson is the only person involved on that board that even seems to care and he doesn't even get a vote. His most telling comment was earlier this year dealing with the open house issue when he said something to the effect of "why am I the special advisor when they never ask my advice on anything?" He and Mary Lou are tremendous representatives for Saratoga.

I did not agree with him on the Open House, but he should have been alerted to the change sooner, no doubt. Everyone complains that tracks aren't run like other businesses. What happens when Saratoga is run like other businesses, doing away with a costly Open House, charging for premium seating, or raising admission*? They're criticized.

*I know the reaction on the admission will be "no business with declining or flat attendance trends would raise admission." Incorrect - see movie theater attendance vs. movie theater pricing.

[Tom]

Mr. Hendrickson did seem to disagree with the Open House change, noting that he "doesn't like surprises."

If he was competent at his job, he would not have been surprised.

[Saratoga_Mike]

If he was competent at his job, he would not have been surprised.

I don't think that's fair. He is not part of the management team. He is the gov's special advisor on racing. Chris Kay decided to cancel the open house, then Kay informed Hendrickson. He certainly didn't mince words in the press about not being consulted on the matter.