With assistance from Shawn Ness
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman is raising concerns about the fairness of the bidding process for the three lucrative casino licenses. Blakeman believes the process may be biased against him, but he remains optimistic that Nassau County will win the license due to its prime location. He expressed these concerns during an interview on a right-leaning radio show, emphasizing the importance of a fair process.
This is the first time Playbook has heard Blakeman question the integrity of the bidding process, which has come under scrutiny. There are concerns that the bid for a casino on Long Island could be at risk, especially with Governor Kathy Hochul’s influence over the Gaming Commission. The involvement of GOP donor Miriam Adelson, who has ties to the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, has raised further questions about potential biases.
Meanwhile, other casino bids, including those from Mets owner Steve Cohen and Bally’s Corporation, face obstacles that could impact their chances of success. Blakeman remains confident in the potential of the Sands project to bring significant investment to Nassau County, despite current setbacks.
When asked about his concerns regarding the bidding process, Blakeman stressed the importance of a level playing field and the need to ensure honesty and integrity without political interference. He hopes that the process will be fair and free from any biases.
In other news, Assemblymember Scott Bendett is facing ethics action for statements related to religion and national origin. The Assembly’s Ethics Committee has ordered him to undergo sensitivity training following the incident. Bendett, who is a top target for Democrats in the upcoming election, has expressed remorse for his actions.
State laws are also working to expand New York’s law against revenge porn, with a bill under consideration to strengthen penalties for non-consensual release of intimate images. State Sen. Monica Martinez is leading the effort to include threats of dissemination in the legislation, aiming to better protect victims from coercion.
Additionally, the state Democratic Committee has endorsed the goals of the New York Health Act, a bill that would establish a single-payer health care plan in the state. The resolution calls for legislative solutions to ensure universal health care coverage for all New Yorkers, marking a symbolic victory for supporters of the bill.
Gustavo Rivera.
“This resolution unifies the Democratic party in the goal of passing the New York Health Act, the only legislation that offers comprehensive health care to all New Yorkers without barriers to care,” said Melanie D’Arrigo, executive director of the Campaign for New York Health and former Democratic congressional candidate.
State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs told Playbook that the measure was approved “understanding that there are complex issues to be determined” given opposition from key sectors such as labor.
But Jacobs can point to clearer areas of agreement for Democrats at their two-day state convention: A resolution condemning anti-Semitism also passed in the wake of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses across the country that have caused political headaches for Democrats in an election year.
“The fact that it was unanimous speaks volumes about where Democrats stand on this issue,” Jacobs said. —Maya Kaufman and Nick Reisman
— HOCHUL’S BIG BUFFALO BILLS ISSUE: An ethics watchdog agency has subpoenaed Empire State Development for records related to the use of the state-owned “I Love New York” box at the Buffalo Bills stadium, which has been enjoyed by top state legislators. (NYFocus)
— CALL IT A RETURN: The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that an appeals court was too quick in dismissing the NRA claims. Even Democratic judges, like Sonia Sotomayor, who regularly opposed the NRA, turned the tables and voted in its favor. (POLITICAL)
— TRUMP’S TESTIMONY: Donald Trump said he wanted to testify during his hush money trial. But it was too little, too late, and he didn’t want to face a possible perjury charge. (DailyNews)
Did you miss this morning’s New York Playbook? Read it here.
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