NYRA-nara?

A couple of takes on NY Govenor Pataki's proposal to require a $250 million up-front franchise fee for the NY racing franchise:

Make no mistake. The odds of NYRA, as it is presently organized, retaining the franchise in 2008 are very poor. However, it is far too soon to conclude that what the governor proposed last week is the final word. [Nick Kling, Troy Record]


NYRA needs to clean up its act, but this proposal by Pataki smells like a stall full of manure. It's not unreasonable for the state to extract some revenue from its racetracks. A $250 million franchise fee, however, has all the finesse of a mob shakedown. [Editorial, Community News, Albany, NY]