| Onondaga County OTB Defeated Again |
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On April 5th, under a shroud of secrecy, Onondaga County Chairman James Rhinehart (R-Skaneateles) and County Legislator Marty Masterpole (D-Syracuse) schemed to bring a vote allowing Off-Track Betting into Onondaga County before the County Legislature.
Thankfully, New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) and other legislative allies received a tip and were able to testify before the vote. While NYCF remains strongly opposed to any form of gambling expansion, we were particularly offended by the manner in which this measure was being brought for a vote. It was deliberately brought in a manner that denied the public the ability to organize and speak out against the measure. Had NYCF and others not seen a Syracuse Post-Standard article that morning that spoke of the possibility of a vote, the measure would likely have passed.
Instead, ten county legislators chose to stand for principles of good government. They rejected the proposal on the grounds that it was not being done the right way. The right way would have been a fair, open and honest debate on the merits (or demerits) of gambling expansion, but instead Rhinehart and Masterpole took a different route with this controversial measure.
Masterpole promises to bring the measure back for another vote on May 3rd, but for now good government won a great victory.
Onondaga County residents are urged to contact county legislators and urge their opposition to any gambling expansion in Onondaga County.
The voting record on the issue is as follows:
Voting “No” on the OTB
Voting “Yes” on the OTB
Absent from Voting |
