Post by Logan on Jan 19, 2017 1:25:36 GMT -6
ALBANY -- A key senator said Wednesday that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s proposal to re-privatize the New York Racing Association gives the governor a way of maintaining control over the entity that runs horse racing at Aqueduct Racetrack and Belmont Park.
And that’s not a good thing, said Sen. John Bonacic, chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.
Under Cuomo’s plan, unveiled a day earlier as part of his proposed state budget, NYRA’s board no longer would contain a majority of government appointees, which is what the industry wanted, Bonacic said. However, the plan also calls for continued use of a NYRA oversight board – to which Cuomo names three of the five appointees. Further, the oversight board would have the power to “impound” NYRA revenues under certain conditions.
“I have a problem with that because he would still control NYRA through the oversight board,” said Bonacic (R-Mount Hope).
Read more: www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/key-senator-cuomo-proposal-allows-backdoor-control-of-nyra-1.12976313
And that’s not a good thing, said Sen. John Bonacic, chairman of the Senate Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee.
Under Cuomo’s plan, unveiled a day earlier as part of his proposed state budget, NYRA’s board no longer would contain a majority of government appointees, which is what the industry wanted, Bonacic said. However, the plan also calls for continued use of a NYRA oversight board – to which Cuomo names three of the five appointees. Further, the oversight board would have the power to “impound” NYRA revenues under certain conditions.
“I have a problem with that because he would still control NYRA through the oversight board,” said Bonacic (R-Mount Hope).
Read more: www.newsday.com/long-island/politics/spin-cycle/key-senator-cuomo-proposal-allows-backdoor-control-of-nyra-1.12976313