Ignoring the evidence

When New York State legalized OTB, the betting parlors were placed in poor neighborhoods.

Promises of riches sucked the lifeblood out of communities, leaving devastation behind.

Will they ever learn?

Casinos ‘in every borough’

By DAVID SEIFMAN City Hall Bureau Chief

 August 18, 2012

Mayor Bloomberg wants to put Vegas-style casinos all over the city — even in suburban Staten Island — if the state decides to authorize them.





“If you’re going to have it, I think you should have it in the city. And I think we should have it every place. Why should the people of Staten Island not have a casino?” he asked on his weekly WOR radio show.

“Brooklyn? Great place for it at Coney Island.”

The mayor went so far as to endorse a return to the days when slot machines could be found in shops all over town.

“Why not?” he asked. “If it were up to me, I guess I would say no. But we’re going to have gambling.”

The state Legislature has taken the first steps to authorize up to seven Vegas-style casinos around the state, including at least one in the city.

The racino that opened last October at Aqueduct Racetrack, in Queens, is already taking in more money through its slots than any casino in the country. Last month, a record $1.13 billion was wagered.

But Staten Island Borough President Jim Molinaro isn’t ready to roll the dice.

“From Las Vegas to Atlantic City, they bring problems. We don’t need that here,” Molinaro said.

The No. 1 cheerleader for a city casino right now is Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, who lobbies for one at Coney Island practically every chance he gets.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/casinos_in_every_borough_NTZgQ87lFhZgO50JAuONnI#ixzz23zpsf1cy

Bloomberg Not Sure NY Gambling's A Good Bet

Bloomberg Not Sure NY Gambling's A Good Bet
BY Celeste Katz

Mayor Bloomberg was overwhelmingly positive in his assessment of Gov. Cuomo’s budget during his testimony before state lawmakers Tuesday. But the mayor’s praise cooled rapidly when, during a Q&A with reporters afterward, he was asked about Cuomo’s plans to legalize casino gambling in the state and whether a casino should be placed in Manhattan.

Our man on the scene, Glenn Blain, passes along this transcript of the mayor's response:

“I’ve always thought that if we are going to have gambling that New York City should share in the revenues. Where you put them? People always want to locate them in places where they think the neighborhoods would benefit from the jobs. I think history shows they don’t do an awful lot for the surrounding neighborhoods and I don’t think they are all that profitable, but every government in this country seems to think that gambling is a newfound source of revenue and I suppose I think the governor should probably try it as well.

"Do I think it is the panacea for everything? No. If you wanted to have it, I am not even sure why you shouldn’t have it everyplace. I’d prefer to have it no place.”