Gov. Andrew Cuomo's seemingly Teflon-coated reputation as a crusader against special interests was sullied somewhat last week by reports that he may have been influenced by undisclosed lobbying from the gambling industry.
First, The New York Times reported that the Committee to Save New York _ a lobbying group aligned with Cuomo that has spent more than $10 million promoting the governor's agenda _ received a $2 million donation from The New York Gaming Association last year. Another $400,000 was donated to the CSNY by Genting Berhard, a Malaysia-based casino company that was in talks with Cuomo to open a casino at Aqueduct racetrack in Queens.
One day later, The Wall Street Journal revealed that in October, Cuomo met with Genting executives at a fundraiser hosted in Westchester by real estate magnate Barry Gosin. The Genting officials were invited to the fundraiser by co-host Jeffrey Gural, who owns two upstate racinos.
Cuomo allegedly watched a 20-minute presentation on Genting's plans for a $4 billion casino resort at Aqueduct during the private meeting. Three months later, Cuomo used much his State of the State address to advocate legalized gambling.
At the beginning of his term, Cuomo launched a website called CitizenConnects, which purportedly lists all of his meetings.
"These are actual schedules," Cuomo said last year of the site. "Legislators, lobbyists, public meetings, official meetings, you know, that's what's all there."
But the October fundraiser was never listed until The Wall Street Journal asked Cuomo in March about the event. Even after Cuomo's office revised the calendar to disclose the fundraiser, the private meeting still wasn't listed _ an "inadvertent" error, according to Cuomo spokesman Josh Vlasto.
Given that Cuomo supported legalized gambling long before he took office, one shouldn't assume his relationship with gambling interests is a case of quid pro quo. But while it's fine for the governor to have a dialogue with private business interests, it's a bit insulting for him to tout his administration's transparency while concealing meetings with private lobbyists.
Cuomo has also tried to have it both ways on the state's new ethics laws, which will require groups such as CSNY to disclose their financiers. Negotiations remain in progress, but unless the rules are made retroactive to 2011, CSNY will not be required to list its donors, and Cuomo has said it isn't his place to call on CSNY to reveal such information.
If the governor wants to be taken seriously as a crusader against special interests, he should lead by example. For now, it seems he's more concerned with maintaining an image as the man cleaning up Albany than with actually cleaning it up.
Opinion
Cuomo should lead by example on lobbying ties
- Opinion
-
-
On our Opinion: Cheers
To the DEP's "The Watershed Experience," the Oneonta High School Envirothon team, and to ROPS rebate funding.
-
Make sure Blodgett project holds water
Many thanks to Dennis Finn and the Planning Commission for allowing unrestricted public comment on the Blodgett Drive housing project at the commission’s May 15 meeting. Most who spoke are residents of the area who know the safety and drainage issues well.
-
We need a law against Google Glass
It’s a technological marvel; a product ahead of its time, or at least ahead of the law for the time being, that is.
-
Make sure you vote in school tax election
School superintendents have it anything but easy in these challenging economic times. In addition to dealing with myriad day-to-day and semester-to-semester issues, they have to have Solomon-like political acumen and management skills.
-
No foreign aid until our needs are met
I couldn't agree more with Sal Furnari's letter published in the Weekend edition. I would also like to add that when I was growing up I was taught to "take care of my own first" and then share with others.
-
THIS WEEK'S POLL
-
It's sad to see Rich Murphy retire
It was a sad day for Otsego County when Rich Murphy announced his intention to retire from the county board at the end of his current term.
-
Liberal media only care about themselves
Sounds like it all depends on 'whose ox is being gored' when it comes to the illegal phone tappings of reporters.
-
Street Talk: May 20, 2013
Do you think that recent high school graduates have a harder time finding a job than previous generations?
- Saturday, May 18, 2013
-
Casino in our area worth talking about
If Gov. Andrew Cuomo has his way, casinos will be awarded to three upstate locations.
-
Public financing could cure pols' paranoia
Paranoia is an irrational fear of persons, places or events that have no basis in reality.
-
Resort proposal is just too big
Belleayre Mountain Ski Center is a New York state taxpayer-owned recreational area. People who have paid for BMSC with their hard-earned dollars should not have to also pay for the infrastructure necessary to assure an enjoyable ski experience for the visitors to a private developer's monster mega-mall/spa resort on a mountaintop.
- Friday, May 17, 2013
-
Take precautions to prevent kidnappings
It has been nearly two weeks since the arrest of Ariel Castro in Cleveland on rape and kidnapping charges for acts that should send a chill through the spines of everyone in America.
-
Redistributing wealth just isn't fair
Yesterday a dozen of us were eating lunch in the break room where I work, most of us complaining that all we could afford was peanut butter and jelly and bologna ... except for Rob.
-
Hoping many will adopt a grave
It's that time of year again; adopt a grave. I am hoping when you buy flowers or a plant for a family member or friend's grave that you will buy some for another grave. I wish everyone would open up their heart and honor someone else by putting flowers on their grave. My hope is that groups, families and youth groups adopt a cemetery or a grave, and at least once a year that person or persons will be remembered. I started out with two and now am up to 14. It doesn't have to be expensive; just what your heart tells you to do.
- Thursday, May 16, 2013
-
IRS, Justice actions violate our trust
After the recent actions of the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Justice Department, belief in the integrity of our government is hanging by a very slender thread.
-
Blame Dems for Social Security woes
In his inaugural address President Kennedy said: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'
- Wednesday, May 15, 2013
-
After 40 years, it was time to get married
This newspaper publishes lots of wedding announcements, but one that appeared prominently in Monday's edition was especially heartwarming.
-
Newman housing would benefit city
I would like to comment on the excellent letter written recently by Alan Cleinman concerning the "Newman Development."
-
Paying what you can afford won't work
Our president said:
-
On our Opinion: Cheers
