In the first half of 2014, the No More Casinos Coalition was second only to New York State United Teachers in what it spent on lobbying.

The coalition, which was formed by Western Regional Off-Track Betting and Finger Lakes Gaming and Racing, spent $24,000 on compensation for lobbyists and approximately $1.4 million on lobbying expenses, according to data released today by the state’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics. NYSUT spent $328,935 on lobbyist compensation and $2.3 million on expenses.

The JCOPE data included spending between January and June. During part of that period, the No More Casinos Coalition campaigned heavily against a proposed Seneca Nation of Indians casino in Henrietta. Those efforts included press conferences with former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson as the lead speaker; the coalition’s filing with JCOPE shows that it paid $1,500 to Johnson’s firm, Strategic Community Intervention. The filing says that the company provided research and consulting services.

Metrix Marketing, a local firm that did public relations work for the coalition, received $16,700.

The Henrietta Town Board ultimately approved a resolution opposing the casino. And Town Supervisor Jack Moore made his thoughts on the coalition clear when, during a press conference announcing the resolution, he called it the “No More Casinos Competition Coalition.”

This article appears in Oct 22-28, 2014.

Covers county government and whatever else comes my way. Greyhound dad; vegetarian; attempted photographer with a love for film and fixer; sometimes cyclist.

5 replies on “Anti-casino group second in lobbying spending”

  1. It would be easy to look at this as money well spent. It’s tempting to want to THANK the No More Casinos Coalition. The problem is; that’s blood money they’re spending. It’s part of the profits from the gambling; the winnings. And the casino, racino, racetrack, etc., ALWAYS wins. So, it’s not even fair.

  2. All of are supposed to have an equal say when it comes to the Henrietta Town Board… yet 1600 signatures and about 125 people or so that night in March, 2014 scared the entire board into a resolution. There are 44,000 people in Henrietta and 1600 people bullied the entire Town Board. I just wanted the Town Board to hear the entire proposal to its legal end through plans and architects drawings; Henrietta Conservation and Planning Board; etc… just like any other business would have been heard that wanted to set up shop in Henrietta. Only after the entire process was / is heard by all in Henrietta Govt’ should a fair decision have been made. There is 1600 people that may have been in favor of a casino or at least learning more about the impacts of such a project in Henrietta. However, the rest of Henrietta may not have even cared, in either case , what was built by Native American Indians on Clay Road.

    No fair and balanced consideration, for the project, was given to the project by the entire Henrietta Town Board. Meanwhile… while all were on the Board, for the last 6 years, a surplus was allowed to grow to $12. 7 million dollars. The town spent $10,000 dollars to refund $1 million to its residents and kept $11.7 million or so. I have never seen 1600 residents get very upset about this matter ? As well, spending $10,000 per month for the last 10 years on two rental properties for a court house and Rec. Gymnastics Buildings when it could have built it own buildings 10 years ago ? I cannot believe how people can find fault without all the facts. And, the facts are that three of the board members will be voted out of office in 2015 for irresponsible management of our money for at least the last 6 years. Does anyone care ?

  4. Casinos are not an answer…look at Atlantic City or ask Donald Trump why he closed his AC casinos and why the parent company is in bankruptcy for the second time in just a few years.

  5. Well Tom ? What is the answer ? Mike nor I have not said they( casinos) were the answer to our financial woes or lack of jobs. But we did say that the process in Henrietta was unfair and that Finger Lakes Gaming and OTB etc. have the advantage over the Seneca Nation when it comes to gambling. And , that the money raised and the campaign money to beat down the Seneca Nation was blood money from gambling profits.

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