New York will soon have a ‘racino’ at Aqueduct Race Track in Queens, New York. (A racino is a race track that also has slot machines.) Governor David Paterson chose Aqueduct Entertainment Group to build and run the racino. New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is quoted in the New York Post as saying that no investor could have a felony conviction, “or any other crime or offense involving . . . misappropriation of funds, or tax evasion.”
It turns out that one of the partners in AEG is Queens developer Darryl Greene. Mr. Greene, according to the Post doesn’t have any convictions. However, companies he’s involved in owe $1 million in state income taxes.
Well, that’s still not a conviction…
This has apparently been a big story in Albany. The process is clearly political and with elections coming up this Fall, expect the Republicans in the New York legislature to hold hearings and make this into a political football.