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    Despite Hochul’s Pledge, Her Policies Have Helped Husband’s Firm

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    108 views1 page

    Despite Hochul's Pledge, Her Policies Have Helped Husband's Firm

    Uploaded by

    edwinbramosmac.com
    Amazing...

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    a TheNew dork Times Despite Hochul’s Vow, Her Policies Have Indirectly Aided Husband’s Firm Although Gov. Kathy Hochul says she has taken no role in matters directly affecting Delaware North, the company stood to benefit from her administration's decisions. onmene yy Root ‘The day before she was sworn into office, Gov. Kathy Hoch of New York signed an unusual recusal policy forbidding her from using her position to help Delaware North, a global giant in ‘entertainment and hospitality services, ‘The privately held company — which owns or manages 11 ‘gambling venues and numerous hotels, and handles concessions at scores of stadiums, airports and parks — employs Ms. Hochul's husband, William Hochul, as its senior vice president and top lawyer ‘Yet Ms. Hochul’s recusal, and an even more sweeping addendum. she signed two months later, hasnt stopped the governor from taking actions that could benefit Delaware North or hurt its competitors, especially near Buffalo, the governor's hometown, "There is no evidence that Ms. Hochul has used her influence with the intent tohelp Delaware North. But in three recent cases involving matters relating to gambling or concessions, the state took actions that aligned with the interests of her husband's ‘company. Seven months after Ms. Hochul became governor, she said it was time for the state to play “hartball” with the Seneca Nation of Indians, Delaware North's biggest competitor in the Buffalo ‘gambling market. The state froze the Senecas’ bank accounts to force the tribe to turn over $564 milion in gambling revenue — ‘money that had been in dispute for four years. ‘She then directed $418 million of that money toward the financing ‘ofa new home forthe Buffalo Bills. The move drew questions over ‘whether the governor should be subsidizing a football stadium for the team’ billionaire owners, especially since the Bills have a more than threedecade relationship with Delaware North, as their concessionaire. (The team has since announced that it has chosen Legends Hospitality to run its concessions starting in 2026.) ‘Then last month, Ms. Hochul agreed to an Iith-hour provision to the state's budget deal calling for restructuring the quasi ‘government board overseeing the lucrative Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel in western New York, another direct Delaware North competitor. The restructuring could make it easier for Delaware North to attempt to acquire Batavia Downs, which sits ‘between two Delaware North gambling facilities. Now, as the 2023 legislative session comes to a close next month, Ms. Hochul's handling of matters that may benefit Delaware North ‘will again be under scrutiny. At issue isa renewal ofthe Seneca Nation gaming compact, with billions of dollars at stake. The Senecas and state officials must hash out the state's cut of gambling revenue atthe Nation's three ‘casinos, and define the area in western New York where the Senecas have exclusive casino rights —a decision that will affect Delaware North's gambling market share in the region. ‘The governor says she is recusing herself from the matter, as is her ‘husband, whose $650,000 in compensation last year helped push ‘the Hochuls’ combined income to just under $1 million. Mr. Hochul has signed his own recusal policy with Delaware North on matters. ‘concerning the company’s New York operations. ‘Governor Hochul has taken unprecedented steps to restore trust ingovernment, including releasing her recusal policies, and seeks to avoid even the appearance of conflict while executing the duties that New Yorkers elected her to do," said Hazel Crampton-Hays, a Hochul spokeswoman. ‘The wrangling over the Seneca-run casinos highlights how difficult itis for Ms. Hochul to create an unimpeachable firewall between her duties as governor and the thicket of Delaware North interests tied to state regulation or management. Delaware North was founded more than a century ago in Butfalo, beginning as a peanut stand run by LM. Jacobs and his brothers, ‘and eventually expanding to stadiums and horse and dog tracks all lover the country. ‘The family company’s growth was accompanied by some controversy. In 1972, a Los Angeles federal court convicted the ‘company, then known as Emprise, on felony charges for conspiring ‘with known Mafia figures to conceal their ownership stakes in a Las Vegas hotel and casino, The founder's sons, reeling from the ‘stigma of Emprise's reported ties to organized crime, eventually reorganized their holdings under the name Delaware North, {derived from its location atthe time on Delaware Avenue and North Street in downtown Buffalo, ‘The company, which reported revenues of $4 billion last year,

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