Gov. Andrew Cuomo is usually a whirling dervish of activity, politically and governmentally, but not everything he does is brilliant.
As the saying goes, "in the land of the blind the one-eyed is King." And so it is with Cuomo's proposed gambling plan. It is a one-eyed monstrosity. It cedes a vast swath of upstate to Indian gaming interests and protects them from competition. Why? The Native American tribes have been playing hardball with the government by withholding agreed-upon shares of the profits, and/or paying no tribute to the government at all. By getting them to pay up or start paying, Cuomo has agreed to grant two tribes exclusive franchises in Central and Northern New York. This settlement is not altogether a positive step.
When the government restricts competition, all good things do not follow.
Why should the Oneida and Mohawk Indian tribes be rewarded with exclusive franchises as a result of their reluctance to pay taxes, and/or share profits?
It sends a clear signal: Play hardball with the state and we will reward you.
The legalization of gambling in New York should be done without regard to the pre-existing Native American casinos, except as they impact the market.
Hopefully, the Legislature will weigh in on gaming in a positive way, and we can get it right, to the overall benefit of all New Yorkers. Rushing to adopt a plan because of a truce with the tribes would be wrong. In that case, it is they who would be the winners, and we in upstate New York who would be the potential losers. Let's hope for the better bet.
Sullivan lives in Saratoga Springs. He is a former Oswego mayor and former co-chairman of the New York Democratic Party. Email jtsullivanjr@gmail.com.