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Old 01-07-2008, 09:21 AM   #889
Indulto
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,138
Cheer up, CH.

Based on some of your earlier posts, I suspect the following article is more in line with your thinking, although I don’t know your position regarding Silver and Slots:

http://www.newsday.com/news/columnis...7413679.column
New York racetracks mismanaged by state
Raymond J. Keating
Quote:
… The ongoing saga over thoroughbred horse racing serves as a glaring example. It shows that the last people you want operating a business or industry are politicians and their appointees.
Quote:

… NYRA is a quasi-government, nonprofit entity that has wasted track assets, been plagued by various scandals, received assorted taxpayer bailouts, filed for bankruptcy and done nothing to stem the dramatic decline of racing in New York.

… For good measure, Silver is opposed to slots at Belmont. He says he's worried about the saturation of gambling. Hmmm, so VLTs could be trouble at Belmont Park, but not at other racetracks? And what about gambling through the state lottery, and government-owned and operated Off- Track Betting sites?

Seems a bit inconsistent, don't you think? The potential benefits to racing and Belmont Park from slots are denied due to the peculiarities and inconsistencies of one politician.

Finally, don't forget the recent cries of poverty at New York City OTB. While long a patronage cesspool, city and state politicians are arguing anew over revenue-sharing rules.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg even threatened to close down the city's OTB without a better deal from the state. Yeah, right, like Bloomberg would dump the patronage plums and 1,400 union jobs.

This is what happens when government is in charge. Battles over political turf are waged. Delays and incompetence become the norm. Politicians wrestle over how to get their hands on more dollars to spend, while protecting their buddies. And failure is rewarded.

… What needs to be done is obvious. Privatize OTB, and either sell off or have a private operator run the state's three racetracks. Socialism doesn't work, including in horse racing. Will New York politicians ever get it?
Perhaps Keating didn’t read the following article:

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...d=479855&rfi=6
Neighbors bet against OTB plans
By Mike Caputo
Quote:
Residents in North Lawrence and Inwood said they are determined to end up in the winner's circle as they fight a proposal by OTB to relocate in their neighborhood.

Nassau Downs Off-Track Betting President Dino Amoroso did not get a warm welcome at a community meeting held in Inwood's Sons of Italy Hall on Dec. 18. Nearly 50 residents were invited to participate in a question-and-answer session with Amoroso, who is seriously considering a move from the current OTB location, …

… "It is a peaceful neighborhood and they are going to disturb our quality of life there," … , a longtime Inwood community leader who set up the public forum with Amoroso. "Everyone knows what OTB brings into the community and we are just not going to tolerate it."

An expired lease at OTB's current North Lawrence location in the Falcaro Shopping Center has forced Amoroso to look elsewhere. …

... Angry residents frequently interrupted Amoroso's opening presentation, expressing concern about OTB's clientele. While loitering outside the current property, OTB patrons have been seen urinating in public, drinking alcohol and bothering pedestrians, some residents said.

… In a phone interview, Amoroso denied that the OTB at its current location was responsible for an upswing in crime after analyzing police reports on file. According to police, there have been six reported incidents at the OTB within the last two years. A detective said none of the documented incidents were "major" and that the establishment is not viewed as a high-crime area.

… Nassau Downs OTB locations do not serve alcohol and are adequately staffed with security personnel, Amoroso said. … Opponents argued that the OTB attracts an undesirable crowd from outside Inwood and North Lawrence.

… Nassau Downs has yet to strike a lease … Amoroso said he is waiting to receive a letter from the community group, which would document concerns from the neighbors. …
It doesn’t sound as if they’d like slots, either.
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