Niagara Leader

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) on April 27  released the following statement regarding potential changes to the structure of Western Regional Off-Track Betting (OTB). Concerns have been raised that Democratic legislators in Albany working with Governor Kathy Hochul may consider changes to the structure of Western Regional OTB in a manner that would greatly disadvantage rural counties in New York, depriving them of both a voice and critically important revenue streams.

“For 50 years, Western Regional Off Track Betting has shared operational control between 15 county governments and the Cities of Rochester and Buffalo. Under this established system, Western Regional OTB has brought jobs, tax revenue, and entertainment to Western New York. Over the past two years, Western OTB returned over $13.9 million to offset local county taxes across Western New York,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “County leaders throughout New York’s 24th district have reached out concerned about efforts to dismantle, politicize, and disadvantage rural communities within Western Regional OTB. When ‘Home Rule’ created the ownership of Western Regional OTB, member counties were given equal representation. NYS Senate Bill 7855 would strip rural counties of their 50-year established authority of this public-private sector partnership in favor of Governor Hochul and left-wing legislators in Albany. I stand with local leaders across the district in calling on Kathy Hochul to drop this misguided plan. It should be dead on arrival during budget negotiations in the Albany sewer. With a budget that is nearly four weeks late, a crime surge, and historic mass outmigration, Albany Democrats should leave Western OTB alone and focus on the real problems facing New Yorkers."

Original source can be found here.