State IG: public's best interest was of "militant indifference" to state leaders in Aqueduct project
A report out today from the State Inspector General criticizes pretty much all the state leaders involved with the failed AEG bid for the big Aqueduct racino project. The report alleges that leaders ignored vetting, leaked info, took questionable campaign contributions or just didn't try to stop a process they knew to be flawed.
Says state IG Joseph Fish in the press release:
This process was doomed from the start, and at each turn, our state leaders abdicated their public duty, failed to impose ethical restraints and focused on political gain at a cost of millions to New Yorkers ... Unfortunately, and shamefully, consideration of what was in the public's best interest, rather than the political interest of the decision makers, was a matter of militant indifference to them.
The IG's office says it's forwarding the report to federal and local prosecutors, as well as the state Legislative Ethics Commission.
The Aqueduct project has since been won by another investor, Genting New York. Some of the revenue from the deal will be used to prop up horse racing in the state -- including $100 million in improvements at Saratoga Race Course (though it could be 2012 before that happens). [TU CapCon] [Saratogian]
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Comments
Why...why...they should all get sternly worded letters!
That'll teach them!
(Can't wait to see what black hole this goes down...)
... said ChuckD on Oct 21, 2010 at 3:04 PM | link