Do you have any idea at all what kind of money the ONLY slot palace in NYC would take in?
Are you kidding me?
They coulda been in two years ago and purses would already be huge.
These politicos have hurt the trainers, owners, municipalities, taxpayers, everyone.
WHy? Because every politician had a special interest group tossing money at them or rewards when they left office if they could help swing the new contract there way.
Problem was that even that became gridlocked, different politicians and factions trying to get the franchise to different folks. What a bunch of whores.
Don't think for two seconds any of these guys care about who actually gets the place or how they run it, they only want a care package of some sort sent to them "for their help and support".
In reality, Spitzer may help more than he can hurt NYRA. Two things Spitzer puts above everything else, control and power. He feasts on them.
If you just give away the franchise to a private group he loses the large majority of his control and power over their actions. I just can't see him doing that and he doesn't need a care package. Hes now Governor after being Attorney General and has much larger political ambitions. Hes all set. He can seek higher office, stay Governor for years if he chooses(very hard to unseat a dem incumbent in NYS) or leave the political life and become a mega lobbyist some day.
His biggest issues will be revenue, control, and power when it comes to awarding the Franchise. Guess who that favors?