Aqueduct Casino Deadline Set Despite Senate Turmoil In New York

Governor David Patterson wants a casino up and running by October of 2011. That may be an overly optimistic plan considering the turmoil that is taking place in the Senate in New York.

A deadline has been set of August 1st. That will be the day the six bidders to run the casino at Aqueduct will find out their fate. There is some question, however, as to how that deadline could be set with nobody really knowing who is the current leader of the Senate.

The Senate has a 31-31 split on the balance of power between Republicans and Democrats. That was created because two Democrats flipped, and then one came back to his original party. Now, nobody actually knows who is the Senate president.

Senator Malcolm Smith was the Senate president before the coup decided that Senator Pedro Espada should be in charge. Smith claims the coup was illegal, and that he should still be the leader of the Senate.

The outcome of this legal battle could determine when the casino at Aqueduct can finally be built. In order for a plan to be approved, the heads of the Senate and House. Patterson has acknowledged that he still considers Smith to be the head of the Senate.

The six bidders for the casino license, meanwhile, have been sent letters and told they will know their fate by August 31st. The legality of the Aqueduct project is not in question. Laws have already been approved to allow for the gambling expansion at Aqueduct.

June 20, 2009
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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