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ALBANY, N.Y. (Associated Press) — A judge on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit challenging a referendum on Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s proposal to authorize seven more casinos in New York, ruling it was filed too late.
The suit by Brooklyn lawyer Eric Snyder contested the language of the Nov. 5 ballot proposition, claiming it was biased in favor of approval. It was reworded by the Cuomo administration and legislative leaders to promise benefits including jobs, lower taxes and school aid without mentioning any potential downside to casinos, including problem gambling and crime.
Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard Platkin agreed with the state's argument that the lawsuit was filed too late. The Board of Elections didn't post the new wording to its website until Aug. 23, days after the deadline to file a suit.
Snyder says he plans to appeal.
Cuomo has estimated that casinos would provide Albany $1 billion more a year to spend.
Cuomo and the Legislature passed a law that will allow video slot machine racinos even if voters reject the Las Vegas-style casinos. Racinos provide less revenue but don't require approval by voters. The electronic games aren't forbidden by the state constitution's ban on casinos.
The gambling industry spent more than $2 million on campaign contributions in Albany and $14 million more on lobbying in the past two years alone. That includes more than $242,000 to Cuomo, a Democrat; $404,000 to the state Republican Campaign Committee; and $372,000 to the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.
Also, $76,000 went to Senate Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman John Bonacic, a Republican representing the Catskills, where one or two casinos are likely to be located; and $59,000 went to Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman Gary Pretlow, a Democrat from Yonkers, where a harness track with a large video slot machine center is located.
In addition, the lobbying group formed to run promotional TV ads for Cuomo and his policies, the Committee to Save New York, received $2 million a year ago from gambling interests. The donations were made just weeks before Cuomo called for expansion of gambling.
