Publisher / Editor Brian Harrod provides hyper local news for Yonkers, NY, that is also continually updated from thousands of sources on the Roundup Newswires Network
Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, and the Genting Group – parent to the Resorts World brand – are three casino operators that have recently sent lobbyists to the Albany state capital.
THE SANDS HAS MORE MONEY: Las Vegas Sands – the world’s richest casino operator in terms of revenue – says the state should hold a competitive bidding process if it wants to expand gaming operations downstate.
A SECRET WEAPON: Sands has hired former New York Gov. David Paterson (D) to make its case.
QUOTE: “Open competition builds a pathway for local careers and vocational training programs and stable good paying jobs with quality, dependable benefits that build up working class families,” former New York Gov. Paterson says.
“However, this is all at risk if the state takes the easy way out by stifling competition and providing giveaways to select operators.”
New York City agrees to build a very costly cover over a North Yonkers reservoir
BIRDS ARE UNHAPPY: New York City agrees to build expensive cover over Yonkers reservoir and to kill birds in the area.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: New York City will build a cover over the reservoir that supplies its drinking water and pay a fine as part of a consent decree with the federal government
YONKERS: The Hillview Reservoir is a massive, open-air structure that gets almost a billion gallons of water via aqueducts daily, and is the last stop before water enters the three city water tunnels.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: Federal regulations call for open-air reservoirs like Hillview to be covered to protect the water from viruses that can come from animals like birds or their waste.
New York City in previous years tried to get a waiver, or the deadline delayed
In the 1990s, EPA issued a national one-size-fits-all rule that requires a cover on even an extraordinarily well protected asset like Hillview Reservoir and now New York City residents will spend $1.6 billion to build a redundant cover.
The feds filed a lawsuit in 2017 saying the city was violating the Safe Water Drinking Act at the reservoir, which is the last stop for drinking water before it is distributed to New York City taps.
Sen. Charles Schumer, who was a vocal opponent of the concrete cover plan has previously said it wasn’t cost-effective and lacked common sense.
Andrew Wheeler, the former coal lobbyist who heads the President Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency has repeatedly hailed the agreement in press reports.
The cover project is estimated at $1.6 billion, and other connected projects raise the total estimate to almost $3 billion.
The entire project is scheduled to be completed and running by 2049 The measures would include elimination of Cliff Swallow nests and live capturing or lethal removal of duck and other waterfowl, as well as other actions concerning the waterfowl in the area, such as a bird census.
The agreement indicates that such efforts have been underway since 2010, and says bird culling will be enhanced, but it does not explain how that will be done.
Check out highlights from DMX’s appearance at Kayne West’s Sunday Service below
Kanye West delivered another edition of his soulful Sunday Service over the weekend (March 17). Yeezy invited a special guest to take part in the new tradition, as DMX arrived to lead the group with a powerful sermon.
The uplifting prayer was met with a resounding round of applause by attendees in the Hills. Kim Kardashian-West also posted a few adorable clips of daughter North West jamming out to her dad orchestrating live performances of “Power” and “Lift Yourself.” Kim K went on to say that North’s “favorite part of the week is dancing during Sunday Service.”
X’s unpredicatable comeback tour continues. The Yonkers native flew out to join Kanye in California on the heels of his performance for REVOLT’s SXSW showcase on Saturday (March 15) in Austin, Texas.
DMX is also gearing up to hit the road once again in honor of the 20th anniversary of his acclaimed It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot debut. The tour kicks off in Boston on Apr. 3.
BAD JOURNALISM: The Journal News, News 12 And The Yonkers Rising Are Failing To Report All Sides Of The MGM Casino In Yonkers. Maybe They Are Hoping For Casino Ads As They Fail To Report On How Yonkers Homeowners, School Children And Seniors Will Be Effected.
SURPRISE: But that might not even be the hardest part. Neither Governor Andrew Cuomo nor other key legislators have bought in yet on a Yonkers casino or on mobile sports betting.
NOT A FAN OF GAMBLING: In fact, Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie, a Bronx Democrat, told The Capitol Pressroom public radio show on Wednesday, “Personally, I’m not the biggest fan of gambling.”
EVERYONE WANTS A NYC CASINO: Will MGM’s Yonkers Empire City Casino Under Perform And Fail To Live Up To Expectations In The Coming Casino Explosion
Genting has offered a bid for an Orange County casino at the Sterling Forest ski resort area that straddles the New Jersey border and is a larger property that can offer more family focused amenities than Yonkers’s MGM casino
As MGM’s latest lobbying for a real Yonkers casino plays out, the New York state law only opens the door for up to three casinos in the New York City area once 2023 rolls around.
And there are a lot of big casino players ready to fight to be one of those casinos four years from now.
Soon New Yorkers can forget about #MGM, as they take a $3.00 the subway ride to play casino table games like poker, roulette and craps at Aqueduct. Resorts World at Aqueduct Raceway joined MGM in its backing of new casino licenses.
The Queens site has the same parent, Malaysian gaming company Genting, as Resorts World Catskills.
So while the latter could be harmed somewhat by the addition of more gambling at Yonkers, the Queens site would benefit the parent company enormously if live dealer games and sports betting were made available. Will the nearby Meadowlands Sports Complex have a casino by then?
The landscape of the tri-state area — don’t forget about MGM’s proposed Bridgeport, Connecticut casino! — will change dramatically in the coming decade. It will be fascinating to see who wins big, and who loses by the same margin.
The lag in bringing sports betting to the four new casinos also doesn’t bode well for MGM in Yonkers.
What Yonkers taxpayers are not being told is that one of the aspects of the New York state law passed in 2013 to allow for four new commercial casinos was that no casino be built in the New York City region before 2023.
The upstate casinos already are entitled to as much as $300 million or so in rebates from their upfront costs if the 2023 timetable is moved up for MGM in Yonkers , and this massive penalty is something that New York State can’t afford right now
The question is whether MGM in Yonkers and Genting in Queens can promise enough dollars to offset the rebates due to the four existing casinos.
BAD BLOOD: Yonkers Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins is objecting to a nasty tone coming from Andrew Cuomo. The governor has been especially critical of Andrea Stewart Cousins’ leadership skills that killed Amazon’s plans to build a new second headquarters in Queens.
DEMS ARE FIGHTING: Democratic leaders of the Senate and Assembly, are defending their budget proposals and noting that disagreements over the details of the budget are to be expected two weeks before the deadline.
“We’re going to go forward and try to do this budget, do it on time,” said Senate Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-#Yonkers in upstate press reports.
Governor Andrew Cuomo Cuomo argues lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate want a budget that is too bloated when compared to his $175 billion budget proposal.
Andrew Cuomo also blasted the Assembly for not including a provision in its budget recommendation that would make permanent the 2 percent property tax cap implemented in 2012.
According to Andrew Cuomo’s budget office, the Senate budget proposal would spend $3.5 billion more than his plan.
Democrats won control of the Senate in last fall’s elections after a decade of Republican rule in the chamber.
Andrew Cuomo last week criticized the Senate’s new Democratic leaders as inexperienced and said they’re putting politics over good governance. “They have not governed, and they’re political,” Andrew Cuomo said to reporters upstate
Yonker’s Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins says she spoke to Andrew Cuomo about the criticism and that she hopes the governor and lawmakers can work together.
“I question obviously why there is a constant criticism,” Andrea Stewart-Cousins said of Andrew Cuomo.
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) has declined 19.35% since March 9, 2018 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 23.72% the S&P500
NEW YONKERS HOTEL? Empire City sits on a 97-acre property and serves approximately 16 million eligible gaming customers in southern New York and one wonders if they will propose putting a hotel on the property.
YONKERS: MGM’s purchase of Empire City: What may happen: MGM’s purchase of Yonkers Raceway and Empire City Casino, to be finalized in early 2019, will have ripple effects through the region
YONKERS FUTURE: The MGM Springfield is scheduled to open on Aug. 24 and is trying to attract gamblers with a television, print, billboard and social media advertising. The $960 million Massatuchets casino is the latest addition the MGM brand
Empire Casino / Yonkers Raceway Managers And Employees Will Get To Keep Their Jobs For At Least A Year…. However, Yonkers Mayoral Liaison Dennis Robertson’s Casino Cleaning Contract Could Be Gone Before 2019 Is Over…..
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mayor Mike Spano announced today that MGM Resorts International’s acquisition of Empire City Casino and Yonkers Raceway will result in a transfer tax payment of between $7 million and $8 million to the City of Yonkers.
They should withdraw the lawsuit if they want to proceed, if they want to be in our community. This is not a good way to begin their relationship with Yonkers, or frankly, the victims of gun violence.”” New York State Senator Shelley Mayer
LET’S MAKE SOME DEALS: It’s Another Day And IDA Chairman Mayor Mike Spano Is Talking About Even More Deals……
QUOTE: “I’ve had a number of conversations with them. Clearly, they are very guarded about what their plans are,” Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said. “That being said, they have said over and over again that they do have plans and that they’re huge plans.”
MEET THE NEW BOSS: Corporate Leaders At MGM Name A New Head Honcho For Yonkers’ Casino And Racetrack
MGM STATEMENT: Uri Clinton, will be president and chief operating officer of the Empire City racino. Uri’s proven leadership and wide range of skills have been instrumental in the company’s development efforts in New York and Connecticut, and he will continue to build on those successes with this new role,” MGM Resorts President Bill Hornbuckle
When The Yonkers Newswire Reports Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Shelley Mayer and J Gary Pretlow Listens
BREAKING NEWS: Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman J Gary Pretlow reports that the $850M deal on hold between Empire City Casino and MGM
SURPRISE: A deal between a Yonkers casino and MGM Resorts has been postponed after Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Shelley Mayer and J Gary Pretlow got called out by the Yonkers Newswire
HIT THE BRAKES: The New York State Gaming Commission posted on its Facebook page last night, saying the meeting scheduled for today at 11 a.m. has been “postponed until further notice.”
NOT SO FAST: New York State Gaming Commission Cancels Meeting on MGM’s Yonkers Raceway and Empire City Casino Purchase By MGM The NYS Gaming Commission was expected to announce its decision on MGM’s Yonkers Raceway and Empire City Casino acquisition during today’s canceled meeting
The New York State Gaming Commission announced late last night that it has decided to cancel its Thursday meeting.
The JOURNAL SNOOZE And SNOOZE 12 Wont Tell You This, But The Devil Is The Details Of The Sale To MGM…..
YOUR FIRED: Empire City Casino Workers To Be Fired If $850 Million #MGM Casino Deal Closes With The Rooney Family
THANKS TIM ROONEY: MGM To Swing Layoff Axe In Yonkers To Boost Earnings If The New York State Gaming Commission Approves Sale
LABOR WILL PAY FOR THE DEAL: In Their Reports To Constituents Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Shelley Mayer And Assembly Gaming Committee Chairman J Gary Pretlow Have Failed To Mention That Casino Operator MGM Resorts Is Sharpening Its Layoff Axe As Part Of The Company’s New Plan To Boost Earnings By $300 Million By 2021.
LODUD MISSED THIS PRESS RELEASE: On Thursday, the day that the New York Gaming Commission was supposed to approve the #Yonkers Casino sale, MGM announced its new ‘MGM 2020’ plan, a transformation that the company expects will deliver “annualized Adjusted EBITDA uplift of $300 million in aggregate, consisting of $200 million by the end of 2020 and an additional $100 million by the end of 2021.”….
FAIL: Yonkers Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Is Going To Let The MGM Rubber Stamp Happen On Monday As Yonkers Homeowners Face A 50 Million School Budget Deficit…..
WTF YONKERS: New York Gaming Commission To Allow MGM To Buy Yonkers Casino On Monday Morning But School Children In The City Of Hills Won’t Get A Damn Dime, Because Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Shelley Mayer. Assembly Gaming Commission J Gary Pretlow and Assemblyman Nader J. Sayegh Refused To Fight For These Children
POLITICAL HYPOCRITES: Just two months ago Senator Shelley Mayer and other Yonkers Dems were threatening #MGM’s approval over a gun lawsuit, but they wont take such a strong stand to get underfunded Yonkers school children their fair share of casino revenue…..
Wham ! Bam ! Thank You Ma’am ! #MGM Finally Gets Empire City Casino Deal Over The Line With Its Valuable Yonkers PILOT…..
DONE DEAL: Hours After Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Shelley Mayer, J Gary Pretlow and Nader J. Sayegh Allowed MGM Closed On Getting Its New York Gambling Licenses The Rooney Family Got Paid And Yonkers School Children Got Screwed Over Again
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MGM Resorts International And MGM Growth Properties Complete Transaction To Acquire Empire City Casino In Yonkers…..
OPINION: Yonkers clearly has a giant budget deficit problem its leaders don’t want to face
YONKERS: The city’s budget deficit is rapidly growing, but Mayor Mike Spano and the city’s leaders don’t seem interested in truly facing the implications and refuse to talk about it.
ALBANY WILL SAVE US: The projected Yonkers city / school budget deficit is said to be double last years numbers and local politicians seem to think that Majority Leaders Andrea Stewart-Cousins…….
JUST SCREW YONKERS SCHOOL CHILDREN: Yonkers City Council members Shanae Natalee Williams, Corazon Pineda Isaac, Majority Leader Michael Sabatino, Council President Mike Khader, Minority Leader Mike Breen, Council members Anthony Merante and John Rubbo just announced that they are holding a last minute emergency city council meeting tomorrow night to pass a resolution asking that New York State convert the existing #Yonkers racino video lottery terminals to full casino gaming for #MGM, without getting rid of the horrific Rooney Family’s Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (#PILOT) that has children holding classes in hallways and seniors on the verge of losing their homes in the city of hills.
EVERYTHING IS FINE: #Yonkers Casino Operator #MGM Resorts International (MGM) Stock Value Declined While Highfields Capital Management LP Lowered Its Stake By Over A Third
Highfields Capital Management LP decreased its stake in MGM Resorts International (MGM) by 35.56% based on its latest 2018 Q4 regulatory filing with the SEC.
Highfields Capital Management Lp sold 1.21 million shares as the company’s stock declined 3.38% while stock markets rallied. The hedge fund held 2.20 million shares of the hotels and resorts company at the end of 2018 Q4, valued at $53.37 million, down from 3.41 million at the end of the previous reported quarter.
Highfields Capital Management LP who had been investing in MGM Resorts International for a number of months, seems to be less bullish one the $14.23 billion market cap company.
MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) has declined 19.35% since March 9, 2018 and is downtrending. It has underperformed by 23.72% the S&P500…..
The JOURNAL SNOOZE And SNOOZE 12 Wont Tell You This, But….. GOV NOT ON BOARD: Governor Andrew Cuomo Has Told Reporters Earlier This Year That He Is Aware That MGM is Seeking Full-Scale Casino License for Yonkers’ Empire City Casino, But Has No Opinion Or Intention To Make Any Changes For Now….
H. Guy Leibler has 35 years of experience in the real estate industry
This breakfast is on Tuesday, March 19th, 7:30 am at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, 127 South Broadway, Yonkers
Early Bird Coffee and the opportunity to network with members starts at 7:30 am with Breakfast at 7:45 am. The cost is $15 for members, $20 for guests of members, and $25 for non-members.
Come early for networking and bring an ample supply of business cards and hand outs.
To reserve, call the Chamber office at (914) 963-0332 or RSVP on the Chamber’s Website www.yonkerschamber.com
Mayor Mike Spano believes that hundreds of dog waste containers will get rid of dog poop that litters the city sidewalks and will improve public health.
PRESS RELEASE: Additionally, every building or structure that allows dogs with 51 or more units shall provide two or more dog waste disposal stations.
QUOTE: “This is an important piece of legislation that not only helps keep our neighborhoods clean, but also maintains a healthy environment for all of us in Yonkers,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spanos, “It also damages grass and lawns, potentially transmits diseases and pollutes our waterways through runoff.”
YONKERS: City officials say dog waste disposal stations have been shown to increase citizen compliance by nearly 200% with local dog cleanup laws.
Currently, in the The City of Yonkers, failure to pick up after a dog is a Class III offense and subject to a fine of $1,000.
“This initiative utilizes a model that has proven effective in encouraging building owners to take simple, yet meaningful action to reduce waste and maintain cleanliness in our local neighborhoods,” added City Councilwoman Shanae Natalee Williams.
The receptacles will not be placed on any street, sidewalk or footpath that interferes with public space and all dog waste stations must be approved by the City of Yonkers Department of Housing & Buildings.
