New York Franchise Award Recommendation May Come Nov. 21

[NYPlayer]

Originally Posted by PaceAdvantage

This is too funny. PR War? What PR war? I watch TV, I live within easy driving distance from both Belmont and Aqueduct, and I have yet to see this infamous Capital Play ad....and if *I* haven't seen it, you can bet a clear majority of NY State residents haven't seen it either.

Declare Bruno the winner? Winner of what? If anything, he continues to lose face and continues to back peddle on "demands" he made early on in this process.

If anything, it appears that NYRA is inching closer and closer to getting almost everything they have wanted from the beginning.

I'd be shocked if they weren't racing on Jan. 1. It's CALENDAR GIVEAWAY day, dontcha know?

I haven't seen Capital Play the ad either. I think it was aired in November.

It's been said that Bruno has dropped some demands. Some maintain that his latest proposals haven't materially changed. We're now passed the dealine with no deal, and so I'd say that most of the Senate supports Bruno, and that NYRA will not get everything they wanted as they did from Sptizer.

As for the card today, it'll probably be cancelled. It's raining and very windy. Since there's a giveaway scheduled, maybe they can convince the jockeys to ride.

[the little guy]

Originally Posted by NYPlayer

It looks like the agreement was signed late yesterday afternoon, after five days of legal review, and just before it really would have been too late. I'd say some concession was made. The land claim doesn't really matter since NYRA will be around under the new deal anyway. But, if it came to eliminating NYRA, even if the court ruled that they owned the land, the state could recover it under Eminent Domain.

No they couldn't.

[Indulto]

Originally Posted by the little guy

No they couldn't.

Thank you for your ruling, Judge __dy.

NYP, using your debate methodology, tlg is probably right. If the state could have have recovered it under ED, they likely would have.

[Indulto]

http://www.drf.com/news/article/91303.html
Account contracts await board approval
By DAVID GRENING

Though Aqueduct was open for business on New Year’s Day, fans who wished to wager on that track’s races via TVG, HRTV or Tracknet Media Group were shut out.

… Charlie Hayward said the board refused to address any of NYRA’s contracts before an agreement was reached that would allow NYRA to continue operating Aqueduct after Dec. 31, when its franchise was to expire. That agreement wasn’t finalized until mid-afternoon Monday, Hayward said.

… The board on Monday did approve pre-existing simulcasting and wagering contracts for that extension period. NYRA did not have contracts with HRTV and Tracknet – which owns Xpressbet.com and Twinspires.com – and its contract with TVG had changed dramatically from 2007. In fact, according to Hayward, NYRA and TVG on Tuesday were still working on details on a new contract. …

[NYPlayer]

Originally Posted by Indulto

NYP, using your debate methodology, tlg is probably right. If the state could have have recovered it under ED, they likely would have.

Why would they have? The state's disposition is that the tracks are the property of NY. Eminent Domain could be used to reclaim the land if the federal court determined that NYRA owned the land. Without racetracks, the state's thoroughbred horsemen would have no venue for conducting the sport, and would suffer loss. The state has a right to use land for that purpose.

[Indulto]

Originally Posted by NYPlayer

Why would they have? The state's disposition is that the tracks are the property of NY. Eminent Domain could be used to reclaim the land if the federal court determined that NYRA owned the land. Without racetracks, the state's thoroughbred horsemen would have no venue for conducting the sport, and would suffer loss. The state has a right to use land for that purpose.

NYP,
Let's not make this an issue of past, present, or future tense.

IF ED were indeed applicable, why did Spitzer go ahead with the MOU? Are you crediting him with cleverly cajoling NYRA into ceding their claim to the land even while certifying their competence to continue operating the franchise?

Imagine of all that money going to pay off NYRA creditors that could have been used to pay attorney fees!

Curse you, Red baron.

[Indulto]

http://paulmoranattheraces.blogspot.com/2007/12/there-is-little-on-which-it-is-possible.html
Saving Belmont from the VLT Huns By Paul Moran

COMMENTS
… A Friend said...

… The clamor for VLTs at Belmont is one of the final last desperate measures of an organization losing its grasp after a century of domination. The Town of Hempstead Republican party wants the VLTs to financially support their struggle for survival. Any other professed concern for the citizens of Elmont, Floral Park or other "depressed" communities of western Nassau County is nothing more than flotsam and jetsum.

Unfortunately, the opposition of Shelly Silver is rooted in the preceding explanation. The Democratic Party sees the disintegration of the once invincible Hempstead Republican Party and will thoroughly enjoy stomping on its grave. As we've seen with the Franchise morass, there is no shortage of duplicity and cynicism in Albany. …

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=651778&category=REGION&newsdate= 1/2/2008
Mayor: Track's future still strong
New Saratoga Springs chief says concerns about racing are being addressed
By CATHY WOODRUFF

… In his first hours as mayor, Scott T. Johnson was off and running Tuesday in the quest to keep thoroughbred horse racing alive and well in the Spa City.

… Johnson, … , said he spoke with state Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, a key player in top-level negotiations over the state's next racing franchise, late Monday on the issue and has been invited to attend a meeting at the Capitol on racing this morning.

After speaking with Bruno, whose district includes part of the city, Johnson said he felt assured that city residents' concerns about continued payments-in-lieu-of-taxes from any operator selected for New York's racing franchise and protection of the historic and architectural integrity of 144-year-old Saratoga Race Course will be addressed in whatever long-term agreement is reached.

"I have been assured that (continued PILOT payments) will be a part of any agreement reached with any franchise," Johnson told reporters.

He said he also hopes that continued preservation of the racetrack, with its Victorian-era architecture and other historic touches, will be more formally addressed in the next franchise agreement. "I think we deserve, as a community, to have something in writing in that regard," Johnson said. "After all, we host the show." …

tlg,
I think Johnson was even more excited than Kling may have been that Bruno spoke to him.

[Indulto]

http://leftatthegate.blogspot.com/
Just Zip It (Almost) A Winter Classic

… - Paul Moran opines on his blog that "VLTs at Belmont amount to desecration and those who support their installation are little more than would-be vandals." For the most part, I personally have no argument with slots opponents, and I won't quarrel here with Moran's contention that a racino at Belmont will do little for the surrounding community, though that would remain to be seen. However, Belmont Park, in my opinion, is, in its present state, a desecration upon itself.

The cavernous plant, the great majority of which stands unkempt, and unused except on the rarest of occasions, is a stark and dispiriting reminder of the sport's decline; and its sheer size makes it seem depressingly empty even when the crowd is decent by today's standards. If we must have slots in New York - and I suppose we must - I can't think of a better place for them than Belmont Park. It even makes more sense in terms of accessibility via public transportation, assuming that a racino would also entail a refurbishing of the Long Island Railroad station that currently stands as a ruined eyesore. It's a quick half hour or so train ride from Penn Station, while Aqueduct can be reached by subway only by the heartiest of fans. If that makes me a vandal, then so be it. …

http://blogs.timesunion.com/capitol/
Bruno Criticizes NYRA and Public Integrity Boards
by James M. Odato

Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno told reporters today that he wants new blood on the New York Racing Association board and his push for a reconstituted board is one of the holdups in getting a racing franchise deal completed. He said he’s alright with NYRA having the majority of the board members as internal members but the trustees must be different, offering “new imagination.”…

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2008/January/02/Racing-goes-on-as-scheduled-at-Aqueduct.aspx
Racing goes on as scheduled at Aqueduct
by Paul Post

…

Spitzer’s office announced on Monday that a new permanent franchise should be in place by January 24, with NYRA running the on-track product.

“From the beginning of this process, my priority has been to ensure the stability and growth of the horse racing industry in New York State,” Spitzer said. “I am pleased that the parties have entered into this interim arrangement to ensure the continuity of racing. I am even more pleased that all parties are embracing a construct for racing that is consistent with the goals I’ve previously outlined and includes a long-term franchise for NYRA as a not-for-profit entity whose sole interest is the improvement of racing in New York State.

“I look forward to finalizing franchise legislation for presentation to the legislature in January.” …

[Indulto]

http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=e904e2ee-13f3-4d7c-94b3-73fb57bb36be
Bruno Calls on Governor, Speaker for More Racing Negotiations
by: Walt McClure

… Now that the holiday is over, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno wants Governor Spitzer and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver to come back to the table to reach a permanent deal on the state racing franchise.

… Actual developments on a permanent deal were hard to come by Wednesday, but the governor's staff and the legislative staffs were set to meet to see if they could iron things out.

Surprisingly, Senator Bruno says he and the governor are closer to seeing eye to eye than the Assembly speaker is with either of them.

Sen. Joseph Bruno/R-Majority Leader: “We have the opportunity of a lifetime to fix it through the next...permanently.”

But Senator Joe Bruno says that cannot happen without face to face meetings -- preferably in public -- to negotiate differences over an agreement to give NYRA the state racing franchise for possibly another 30 years.

Bruno says there is a lot of uncertainty for the people whose livelihoods come from racing -- and he believes that NYRA and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver are the most to blame for that.

Sen. Joseph Bruno: “They're not as optimistic because they're hanging out over a couple of issues a few issues that we think are important but they're not deal breakers.”

… Sen. Joseph Bruno: “We can fix it now and fixing it now doesn't mean rubber-stamping the status quo that has created the situation that presently exists.”

… A spokesman for Speaker Silver tells me that the issues Senator Bruno is bringing up now are things the speaker has been pushing for from the beginning -- and that it was Bruno who was holding up progress in negotiations until he backed off on some of his positions.

The spokesman also says there will be no announcement on an agreement until a bill is written and the public can see exactly what has been agreed upon.

Any speculation as to what Bruno is trying to accomplish in a high-level public meeting? Based on Bruno's recent rhetoric, why should Spitzer and Silver view this as anything other than a way to provide Bruno with a forum to berate them with no guarantee that any progress will actually occur?

[the little guy]

Bruno is an untrustworthy liar who is now trying to pretend that others are somehow to blame for his disgusting behavoir.

He's a disgrace.

[OTM Al]

I must agree TLG. Simply put, he wants another new board, so he can put his own people in so as to have more people owe him. Split the casinos away, more boards, more appointees, more people in power in his pocket. Trying to get the simulcasting rights away, which of course would destroy the franchise owner, would simply mean to him the same. And he of course is beeing a bully also as this is one of the first big public things since Spitzer bungled nailing him for the improper use of state property with his helicopter rides...which by the way he is guilty of and it sure cost a lot more than what Hevesi cost the state when he lost his position. I would hope his act has caused the voters in his home district to better see that he could care less about their interests, but somehow jokers like him just keep getting elected.

[Bobzilla]

Steven Crist's most recent blog entry in the DRF provides a link to an article printed in the 12/10 issue of the New Yorker. It's a fairly long read, but well worth the time, and goes a long way in illuminating many of the real causes behind the personal animus which has, unfortunately, painted the backdrop to this entire f'd up mess. I agree with many of the past posters in regard to Bruno. I only hope more of his constituents in the Capital Region begin to see the real picture.

[Indulto]

Originally Posted by the little guy

Bruno is an untrustworthy liar who is now trying to pretend that others are somehow to blame for his disgusting behavoir.

He's a disgrace.

Whatever else may be said about you, tlg, you are certainly no coward. To mouth off like that at arguably the most powereful individual in Saratoga who knows who you are, and could really make things difficult for you there, takes quite a pair.

I'm finally impressed.

Here's an article from another obvious skeptic who, hopefully, will be joined by others inspired by your illustrious candor:

http://wnyt.com/article/stories/S301018.shtml?cat=300
No progress on racing franchise
By: Bill Lambdin

… Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno surfaced Wednesday to brief reporters on what, he says, is holding things up.

“One of them that's got to happen is community input. The Assembly is resisting that,” Bruno said.

For Bruno there's blame for the stand-off to be assigned all around -- except him.

The New York Racing Association current operates the state’s three racetracks – Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga – and is the organization that appears will get the racing renewal. But Bruno says they're dragging their feet on reconstituting its board.

“And the real deal breaker is, do you just go forward and rubber stamp the status quo and the mistakes of the past or do we fix the broken model?” the senate majority leader asked.

Bruno complains Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is resisting video lottery terminals at Belmont. He says nobody else has a problem putting the pseudo-slot machines there in addition to Aqueduct where they've been planned for years. It's generally agreed that the machine revenue is needed to offset racing losses.

Bruno blames Gov. Spitzer for not pushing Silver harder and not conducting the racing talks in the open.

… Silver announced and then pushed back a media availability from Wednesday afternoon until Thursday. He wants to talk about sub-prime mortgage problems, although he’ll likely face questions about the racing franchise problems.

[NYPlayer]

Originally Posted by Indulto

NYP,
Let's not make this an issue of past, present, or future tense.

IF ED were indeed applicable, why did Spitzer go ahead with the MOU? Are you crediting him with cleverly cajoling NYRA into ceding their claim to the land even while certifying their competence to continue operating the franchise?

The Spitzer memo is indeed meaningless, as events in the illustrious NY senate demonstrate. The final legislation must, of course, receive a majority vote in the Senate, and I doubt the legislation the Senate votes for matches the terms the governor set forth with NYRA.

Eminent domain is indeed applicable as an option, if the governor was of a mind to fight NYRA. Apparently he is not, and probably signed the memo to placate Hayward knowing Bruno would fight it. Spitzer, by the way, seems awfully nonchalant about the current situation. It's been Bruno on the soapbox.

[Indulto]

Originally Posted by NYPlayer

The Spitzer memo is indeed meaningless, as events in the illustrious NY senate demonstrate. The final legislation must, of course, receive a majority vote in the Senate, and I doubt the legislation the Senate votes for matches the terms the governor set forth with NYRA.

Eminent domain is indeed applicable as an option, if the governor was of a mind to fight NYRA. Apparently he is not, and probably signed the memo to placate Hayward knowing Bruno would fight it. Spitzer, by the way, seems awfully nonchalant about the current situation. It's been Bruno on the soapbox.

I think Spitzer genuinely believes that NYRA was the best option available, and that as long as the land issue is resolved the way he wants it, he comes out on top.

IMO the last remaining obstacle is slots at BEL. Just as Bruno is calling for NYRA performance standards, Silver can be expected to demand the same of the VLT slots operator at AQU before they can be approved at BEL.

The only performance standard for NYRA that makes any sense to me is ensuring that net revenue increases as well as the percentage of net profit from handle. Any financial performance standard is meaningless without eliminating the senseless competition between NYRA and the OTBs.