In the battle over the future of Belmont, Aqueduct and Saratoga race tracks, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno’s camp has lobbed criticism at the role of lawyer Neil Getnick, who’s made a career of helping crack down on private-sector fraud. Getnick was appointed in federal court to monitor the New York Racing Association when the organization faced criminal charges. As of July 25 his firm was retained as its integrity counsel.
Bruno’s crew, wary of NYRA’s recent selection by Gov. Eliot Spitzer to run the tracks, opposed a recent effort to keep Getnick on as monitor. Getnick tells Newsday:
"NYRA is right where it should be. It has reformed itself and it has
committed itself to stay on the path of reform, and to bring the rest of
the industry along with it. The sad fact is that those very good things
that NYRA has done and which NYRA stands for, is what makes some people
upset."
"I am not at all concerned about partisan political attacks. But I am
concerned that we be very careful to preserve the future working
relationship between NYRA and the Racing and Wagering Board. I am
absolutely determined, if it is at all possible, to work today, tomorrow
and into the future successfully with the Board. I'd ask everyone who's
playing politics to remember this is a very important state asset. Let's
preserve it, make it work for our citizens, and let's get beyond the
petty politics."
This story will have legs, so to speak, and there is much more to review. Stay tuned.
Dan Janison