Key points:
- The Governor was concerned that pushing the deadline up could harm certain bidders
- Proposals would have been due this August under the new law
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has shot down a bill that would have accelerated the process for casino bids in New York City, according to a New York Post news report.
The Governor said changing the timeline for the bidding process “would likely have the impact of helping certain bidders and hurting others.”
Empire State lawmakers passed the bill in June. The new law would have pushed up the deadline for bidders to submit proposals by this August, even without gaining necessary approvals that included local zoning.
Hochul noted in her veto message that she “cannot support a bill that aims to change the rules in the middle of the process.”
She went on to add that lawmakers agreed to the casino selection process as part of the 2022 state budget.
She commented, “As part of the process, applicants are required to work with local governments so that their projects fall within the respective zoning laws of the municipalities.
“Potential applicants have been continuously working toward ensuring that their projects are compliant.”
In other state news, the Gaming Commission recently launched a TV and radio ad campaign called “A Chance to Dream.”
Through its partnership with creative agency McCann New York, the commission released two TV spots and two radio spots that range from 15 to 30 seconds. The commercials are available in both Spanish and in English.
The ad’s premise is a reminder to New Yorkers that each dollar they spend on state lottery games goes to benefit the Empire State’s public schools.
