Mar 3
2025
Talk about riding a dead horse
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Here’s a strange – and indefensible – subsidy. Government handouts to keep the failing horse racing industry afloat in New York.
“The state is using one particularly corrosive form of gambling to keep another marginalized form alive,” reports The New York Times.
The story is behind a paywall, but fear not, you can read it at this gift link, which provides access even if you’re not a subscriber. Going forward, this newsletter will provide gift links to stories in publications that include The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Atlantic.
While we’re on the topic of state government, the wildcat strike by state prison guards continues amid signs that Gov. Kathy Hochul may finally be moving towards using her powers to bring the strikers to heel. The governor thought she had a deal a couple of days ago, but the strikers continued to balk over the weekend, in part because they want the state to repeal a law that, among other things, places limitations on the use of solitary confinement. Keep in mind strikes by public employees in New York are illegal.
Then there’s the strike conducted by the Town of Tonawanda police. Shortly after a cop accused of misconduct was brought up on charges, many officers stopped writing traffic tickets, which town management considers a form of a strike. Terrific reporting by Steve Watson of The Buffalo News.
The News has also been busy of late writing about the Bills stadium under construction in Orchard Park. The team wants a say about development that might occur around the stadium. What, $850 million in taxpayer funds to build the stadium wasn’t enough? The Bills also made it clear they will have the final word on how $3 million a year in community benefit agreement funds are spent. State Senator April Baskin isn’t happy about the team’s stance, but as chairman of the Erie County Legislature when the CBA was negotiated, she could have driven a harder bargain. County Executive Mark Poloncarz shares in the blame.
Andrew Cuomo announced Saturday he is running for mayor of New York City. As if we don’t have enough bullies and creeps holding public office.
LittleSis, the research arm of the Buffalo-based Public Accountability Initiative, has documented all the Republican billionaires who have made campaign donations to Gov. Kathy Hochul. Keep that in mind next time she proclaims she’s fighting for the little guy.
Jeff Bezos, in his latest embrace of MAGA, announced last week that the editorial page of his Washington Post will focus on touting free markets and personal liberties. One of his columnists gave it right back to him in this must read.
One way Elon Musk became the world’s richest: $38 billion in government contracts. Included is the nearly $1 billion New York State spent building him the Tesla factory in South Buffalo. By the way, nearly 40 percent of the contracts cancelled by Musk’s DOGE won’t result in any government savings.
Donate to support our nonprofit newsroomTimothy Ryback is a historian who has written extensively about Adolph Hitler’s rise to power. This piece, which he penned for The Atlantic, tracks Hitler’s path to power and early days as German chancellor. Folks, Trump is using Hitler’s playbook, from demonizing the vulnerable to going after the press to lusting for territorial expansion. There was also the support Hitler received from wealthy business interests, detailed in this story. Both pieces are absolute must reads.
Wayne Gretzky is catching a lot of flak from his fellow Canadians for his friendship with Donald Trump at a time when the president is trying to strong-arm his native land.Meanwhile, comedian Mike Meyers (Wayne’s World) sported a “Canada is not for sale” t-shirt during the closing credits of Saturday Night Live.
I caught John Oliver at the Beacon Theater in New York City in December. A funny, astute guy. He was featured laa week ago Sunday on 60 Minutes. If you’re a fan, it’s worth a 13-minute investment of your time. There’s also a YouTube short from his show last week in which he eviscerated Elon Musk.
