Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder (D-Ozone Park) and State Senator Joe Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) both received political donations in recent months from Genting New York, the parent company of Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park.
The political gifts came around the time Gov. Andrew Cuomo started pushing for legalized table gaming and announced plans in January for Genting to build a 3.8-million-square-foot convention center in Ozone Park.
Goldfeder received $4,100 this September, and Addabbo has received a total of $5,000 in two donations since November.
The money is part of the first-ever political donations Genting has given in New York that total $100,000, the New York Daily News first reported.
The News reported Genting also spent $1 million on lobbying in Albany last year.
A Genting representative did not respond to questions.
Other donations focused on more members of the NY State Senate and Assembly whom Cuomo is pushing to change gambling laws.
Cuomo himself did not receive donations from Genting, but he has been outspoken about an amendment that would legalize full table gaming.
The amendment would have to come before voters for approval.
Goldfeder previously said he favors legalized gaming regardless of donations or lobbying.
“As we move forward, I will look at every proposal that comes from the governor or from Genting objectively and make the best decision for my district,” Goldfeder said, when asked about the money from Genting.
His campaign’s donation from the casino giant came in September of last year, the same month he won a special election to take office.
“I’m happy that they believed in my platform for the district, and I’m happy the believed in my vision for the district,” Goldfeder said, and added that he raised $200,000 in his campaign ranging from personal to corporate donations.
Addabbo, who wants to raise the age requirementfor gambling to 21, also supports the gaming amendment. He said he has for some time now and a campaign contribution doesn’t affect his positions.
“I’ve had a track record that shows I vote the will of the people not because of contributions,” Addabbo said.
The senator said he’d prefer stricter limits be put on corporations donating in Albany, but said that doesn’t stop him from currently accepting them.
“If somebody wants to say thank you, they can contribute to my campaign,” he said. “I’m confident it’s not influential.”
The two lawmakers have been cautiously positive about the proposed convention center, which would be the largest in the nation. Both have asked that residents surrounding the racino get a fair chance to weigh in on the plans.
“We’re scratching the surface,” Addabbo said. “The more serious issues of parking and public safety as well as job creation, these are the issue we still need public input on.”
Some other sizable donations were $20,000 to the NYS Senate Republican Campaign Committee,$10,000 to the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee and $10,000 to Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Genting also gave $9,050 to NY Gaming Association Political Action Committee based in Queens.
By Jeremiah Dobruck
Forum Newsgroup Photo by Luis Gronda
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
