Worsening relations between the tribe and state was evident in two dueling media events: one called by the head of the state transportation department a few miles outside the tribe's Cattaraugus reservation to deliver the project cancelation threat and one later in the day by Seneca officials to declare the Cuomo administration's actions may be putting motorists at risk.
"We're getting to the breaking point and the state's willing to jeopardize public safety to achieve political purposes," Seneca Nation President Robert Odawi Portersaid
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/capital-connection/albany/article981998.ece
And speaking of the Senecas, Gambling Opponent attorney Neil
Murray is keeping his pr and litigation pressure in opposition to the Senecas
construction and opening of the permanent casino in Buffalo.
Counsel for the Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie
County issued a stern reminder yesterday in a letter to the attorney
representing the Seneca Nation of Indians with respect to the Tribe's plans
announced last Wednesday to proceed with the construction of a $130 million
permanent casino in downtown Buffalo despite ongoing litigation in Federal
court challenging its legality.
The anti-gambling coalition's attorney, Cornelius D. Murray,
noted that the same court had already struck down two previous approvals of
such gambling by the National Indian Gaming Commission ("NIGC"). On
July 25 the court issued a final briefing schedule before issuing a
determination with respect to the NIGC's latest attempt to get around the
Court's prior rulings. The Senecas' attorney was in court when the court issued
the scheduling order, just one week before the Tribe's announcement on August
1.
"It's remarkable," Murray said, "that the
Tribe would presume to move forward as if the Court's decision won't matter one
way or the other. Without advising the court of their plans, the Senecas have
apparently adopted a 'damn the torpedoes' approach. I can't imagine putting
that amount of money at risk before knowing how the judge will rule."
Murray added.
"This project has been on-again, off-again, ever since
the Senecas announced a $330 million project with a 22-story hotel and parking
garage nearly five years ago. This latest proposal is a significant scale-back,
but it still involves over $130 million. "At the very least, the more
prudent course for everyone would be to wait and see how Judge Skretny
decides," Murray said.
http://www.buffalorising.com/2012/08/dump-trucks-dont-impress-casino-opponents.html
The first week at Saratoga produced some great numbers, but those seem to be slacking off a bit. However, the genral trend of betting on Saratoga races is up.
While on-track business has been a bit weaker than 2011,
total wagering on races at Saratoga Race Course is up 7.6 percent through the
first 16 days of this year's meet.
According to NYRA stats, attendance for the first three
weeks of the meet ending Monday was 319,806, a 1.9 percent decrease from
325,909 in 2011.
On-track handle totaled $48,208,874, up .7 percent from
$47,896,094 last year. Wagering downstate at Belmont Café and the Aqueduct
simulcast center was $8,849,611 for a combined NYRA facilities handle of
$57,058,485, up 2.2 percent from $55,835,011 in 2011.
The total handle, which includes wagers on Saratoga races
both on-track and from simulcast outlets nationwide, was $233,380,247, up 7.6
percent from $216,977,479 last year.The average betting interests per race for the 16 days were 8.5 (1,411 total) compared to 8.6 (1,372 total) in 2011. There have been 73 turf races and 13 races taken off the turf and moved to the main track, compared to 65 on and 12 off in 2011.
Attendance on track Monday was up eight percent to 15,667,
the on-track handle was up 16 percent to $2,471,581 and the all-sources handle
was ahead 26 percent to $10,939,600.
http://centralny.ynn.com/content/special_coverage/594339/the-spa-spot--total-handle-up-as-third-week-wraps/
Gamblers wagered a record $1.13 billion at the "racino" at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York City last month, the latest evidence that the popular electronic gambling operation is putting a dent in neighboring states' casino revenues.
The Resorts World Casino New York City in Queens reported to state regulators that the amount gambled and the net revenue for July were at an all-time monthly high since its opening in October. The casino — often called a racino because it overlooks the Aqueduct thoroughbred track — has about 5,000 electronic slots and other games.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/record_wagered_at_aqueduct_racino_6up3YlmWizSuyrTSVWMbJM#ixzz22yyg6xyG
The New York Post is reporting that the long-awaited report on the 20 racing-related horse deaths that occurred over Aqueduct’s inner dirt track last winter will be released Tuesday, Aug. 21.
The New York Task
Force on Racehorse Health and Safety was formed March 22 in response to a
letter sent from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office to the New York Racing Association
expressing concern over the rash of fatal breakdowns, which totaled more than
twice the national average per 1,000 starts.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/horse_racing/aqueduct_report_on_race_horse_deaths_oTsvnMZ5wriOdOHltshf8M#ixzz22yfcJqyM
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