New York Casino: Cuomo Bets on Aqueduct; Cabbies Rejoice

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has proposed tearing down the Javits Center on Manhattan's West Side and is proposing that Aqueduct Raceway, now a racino (raceway & casino) be developed into a full-fledged convention center, which might then be called a Crackino, that is, a Convention-track-casino center. The proposal would allow a major expansion of the racino development that was recently awarded to Genting New York. On a recent cab ride to JFK, the following conversation about the governor's proposal took place:

Passenger: I hear they want to tear down Javits. Build a convention center out at Aqueduct.

Cabbie: Great fares, Aqueduct.

Passenger: I thought you could take the A train to Aqueduct.

Cabbie: The airport's by JFK. You take a train?

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Passenger: I dunno, it seemed too complicated and long.

Cabbie: That's why everyone like rides to the airport. Besides, the deal's just a deal, as usual.

Passenger: What do you mean?

Cabbie: Remember Yankee Stadium? That was supposed to be a great deal for us. Jobs, tourists, big expanded stadium so you could finally get a ticket to the game. Steinbrenner got the taxpayers to cover all that subway and parking lots and stuff, and what did we get? Tickets that cost over $2,500 a game at ground level by first base. I think it added like 22 permanent jobs, too

Passenger: Then why do you think Cuomo wants to do this crackino?

Cabbie: Maybe he figures, if he can actually tear down Javits and sell off the land, or lease it, he can use the dough closing his budget gap. Make another exclusive community out of it, like Battery Park City.

Passenger: That doesn't sound very neighborly.

Cabbie: You're heading home, aren't you?

Passenger: Why yes, I'm from Dubuque. Why do you ask?

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