Monday, February 9, 2009

Tony betting on a budget solution

From the Queens Chronicle:

Avella cited Bloomberg’s plans to delay the hiring of more police officers and to close some fire companies at night as among the worst of his proposals. “That’s stupid and puts people’s lives in jeopardy,” he said.

The councilman claimed the budget gap could be closed just by eliminating waste in city agencies and by enacting one of his longtime proposals: legalizing sports betting and turning it into a cash cow for the city.

If the city would just go after people who damage public property, it could raise as much as $100 million a year, Avella asserted, saying the Police Department alone spends $3 million annually to fix patrol cars hit by other drivers.

Meanwhile sports betting generates anywhere from $15 to $30 billion a year for organized crime syndicates, he said — money that would close the budget gap and then some.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Meanwhile sports betting generates anywhere from $15 to $30 billion a year for organized crime syndicates, he said — money that would close the budget gap and then some"

That is a misleading statement, those figures (and others) are -nationwide- not just NY.

If gaming is such a blessing I suggest a visit to the area surrounding the Atlantic City strip.

Gambling is just a tax on the stupid and poor.

BTW: Trump's gaming empire is about to collapse.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/15-Companies-That-Might-Not-usnews-14279875.html

Anonymous said...

At first glance, I thought that was a picture of NASA's "mission control" center. Then I realized it's just a bunch of dumb jocks watching TV!

If gaming is such a blessing I suggest a visit to the area surrounding the Atlantic City strip.

Gambling is just a tax on the stupid and poor.


I couldn't have said it any better!

Anonymous said...

Remember the New York State Lottery was supposed to benefit education!

Yeah...right....that was a disappointment!

LET BLOOMBERG CUT OUT
THOSE TAX INCENTIVES WE STILL GIVE
TO BUILDERS INSTEAD !

H-m-m-m-m....but that would
affect his buddies' livelihoods
so he won't!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, we need another vice legalized bc it might make some $$$, LIKE OTB. Pathetic.