Andrew Cuomo Wants Casino’s In New York City

Just one year into his governorship of New York and already Andrew Cuomo is causing waves, announcing this week that he wants to bring casino’s to the big Apple.

Cuomo will begin working with lawmakers next week in an attempt to add a amendment to the New York constitution which will in turn legalize the building and operation of casino’s.

Speaking to the New York Daily News Cuomo revealed:

“I’m not excluding any locations at this time.” While he did mention Queens over Manhattan he also point out that “Albany is [also] a real location. Buffalo is a real location.”

While casino’s bring with them increased crime and compulsive gambling Cuomo says the economic advantage to the state and directly to New York City far outweighs any negative impact the casino’s may attract.

With the money New York would be able to rebuild many of its failing roads, bridges and state agencies which have suffered after years of declining budgets.

To push his new agenda Cuomo used part of his interview time to focus on some of his various achievements in the last year including the states legalization of gay marriage, the state’s very first property tax cap, an on-time state budget that cut spending and new ethics reforms.

According to the New York Times the state could take in upwards of $684 million from electronic gambling at the Aqueduct racetrack and other “racinos” before new structures are even built.

In unrelated Cuomo news he also ruled out a 2016 White House campaign during his interview, noting:

“Not at all,” he says. “I’ve been around too long. I’ve heard too much talk. I’ve seen the movie too many times.”

Do you think openings in New York and New York City is a good idea or do the pitfalls outweigh the additional income raised by the state through taxation?

[Image via lev radin / Shutterstock.com]