suggested reading

Morning Read: Bloomberg Travels The Globe; Manhattan Will Be Gambling-Free Zone

Mayor Bloomberg is visiting Singapore and Vietnam next week to “deliver a lecture on urban sustainability and deliver awards on behalf of his philanthropic foundation.” He is technically remaining in control of the city during his Asian trip.

Manhattan won’t get a casino if the Legislature’s plan to open seven commercial gambling facilities goes through this year.

Governor Andrew Cuomo on this week’s night of dealmaking and pre-dawn votes in The New York Times: “I failed. I failed. … “My legislative proposals were asking for the moon.”

The Post scores Governor Cuomo had a night of “legislative wins.” “I think legislators heard the message, and I think at the end of the day, the legislators did the right thing.” Read More

the big deal

(Photo: Wikimedia)

Albany Announces Casino Deal

As the Legislature debates the sudden onslaught of deals and compromises tonight, Governor Andrew Cuomo sent out a press release touting an agreement with the State Assembly and Senate to amend to the New York State Constitution to allow some amount of casino gambling. The deal would provide for a maximum number of seven additional casinos in the state.

“By taking these important first steps to legalize casinos we are finally confronting the reality that while New York is already in the gaming business, we need a real plan to regulate and capitalize on the industry,” Governor Cuomo said in the statement. Read More

Jackpot?

Domenic Recchia Jr. (Photo: NYC Council)

Domenic Recchia Wants To Be Careful About a Coney Island Casino

Councilman Domenic Recchia Jr. represents the 47th District, which includes Coney Island, and he has a few concerns about the proposal to put a casino there if Governor Cuomo is successful in his attempt to lift the statewide ban on gambling.

“Everybody’s jumping to put a casino in Coney Island and I’m just saying, ‘Whoah, let’s talk about this,” Councilman Recchia said. Read More

Weighing In

Diane Savino (Photo: NYSenate.gov)

Senator Diane Savino On Mitt Romney And The Possible Coney Island Casino

State Senator Diane Savino is not pleased with GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. After watching Mr. Romney’s New Hampshire victory speech, Senator Savino wrote a Facebook post saying, “I sometimes hate this frigging business.” The Politicker talked to Senator Savino this morning to find out why she found Mr. Romney’s speech “offensive” and to get her thoughts on the prospect of a casino in Coney Island, which is part of her seat in the 23rd District.

Senator Savino described Mr. Romney’s speech as “the worst kind of gutter politics.”

“He made direct statements accusing the President of exploiting the politics of envy, the statement that President Obama does not care about America, that President Obama is a socialist. It was really the worst kind of gutter politics,” Senator Savino said. “You want to disagree with President Obama? Fine, but stop trying to insinuate or overtly state that he’s un-American. That’s what I took offense to.” Read More

SOSNY

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Getty)

Governor Cuomo's 'Ambitious Agenda' For 2012

In his annual State of the State address today, Governor Cuomo outlined his ambitious vision for the future New York State including sweeping campaign finance reform, massive construction projects, an entirely new neighborhood built from scratch on the West Side of Manhattan, legalized casinos and a slew of new social programs. Governor Cuomo described his strategy for 2012 as an effort to build on a first year in office where he changed the culture of Albany from partisanship to constructive cooperation. Read More

Frenemies

Mayor Michael Bloomberg (Getty)

Mayor Bloomberg Supports Key Aspects of Cuomo's Agenda

Amid mounting reports of a troubled relationship between City Hall and the governor’s mansion, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he’d support Governor Andrew Cuomo on two of his main initiatives for next year–pension reform efforts and the push for casino gambling. Mayor Bloomberg commented on both subjects during a press conference after he announced that average life expectancy for New Yorkers has reached an all-time high. Read More

Sin City

Governor Andrew Cuomo (Getty)

Governor Cuomo Would Consider a New York City Casino

Governor Andrew Cuomo would consider bringing a casino to the five boroughs if he’s able to end New York State’s ban on casino gambling. In an interview with the Daily News, the governor said the Big Apple is one of several locations he’s consider for potential casinos. “I’m not excluding any locations at this time,” Governor Cuomo said. “New York City is a real location. … Albany is a real location. Buffalo is a real location.” Read More

suggested reading

Bloomberg Businessweek's cover. (via http://www.flickr.com/photos/bizweekdesign)

Roundup: Cuomo Considers a Big Gamble, Duffy Hosts a Private Meeting

Tomorrow: Cuomo, Schumer, Gillibrand, Silver and Quinn among the guests expected at Rangel’s fundraiser. [Jeff Mays / DNAinfo]

NY-9: AFL-CIO endorses Weprin. Goldfeder and Simanowitz too. [Michael Johnson / Capital Tonight]

Israel: Rep. Grimm makes the trip. [The Brooklyn Politics]

Same-Sex Marriage: Maryland Archbhishop tells governor there “I am well aware that the recent events in New York have intensified pressure on you.” [George Matysek / Catholic News Service]

Toll Hikes: Cuomo said he didn’t know hikes were on the way, but was aware of financial trouble at the agency. [Michael Johnson / Capital Tonight]

Gambling: “Cuomo says his administration is “actively” involved in the review that could lead to more than the current Indian-run casinos in New York.” [AP]

Gambling: Cuomo said “It is already happening” so the question is “how should it be done.” [Casey Seiler / Times Union]

Gambling: “It’s a topic that we are looking at actively,” said Cuomo. [Glenn Blain / Daily News]

Nuclear: “Cuomo is right to call for Indian Point’s shutdown and we strongly support his pulling the plug.” [East Villager News]

Fracking: DiNapoli calls for gas-drilling fund. [CNBC]

Food Politics: Brad Lander has a slew of bills. [Molly Culver / Patch]

Economic Councils: “[Lt. Gov. Duffy] said he decided to exclude the press from the initial gathering because he wanted to give the group time to ‘go through all the mechanics of getting this up and running.’ ” [Michael DeMasi / Biz Journal]

Economic Councils: “It was my decision to close it, and I accept full responsibility,” said Duffy. [Jimmy Vielkind / Times Union]

Fallout: Biggest winner from Weiner scandal is Rep. Crowley. “[H]e’ll be freer to play kingmaker in the mayor’s race” and “he’s likely to inherit much of Weiner’s district.” [CHN]

Hospital Beds: 3,593 in Queens, where 2 million people live. [Veronica Lewin / Queens Tribune]

And now, lets all read Andrew Rice’s piece on Ground Zero, in Bloomberg Businessweek.