Flake Says No to Aqueduct Deal 

The state of New York says that they need the money that is coming in from the Aqueduct slot machines, but it would appear that they don’t need it badly enough. Call it sour grapes or corruption – but the slot machines just don’t seem to be able to get off the ground for the complaining that is going on surrounding the deal. The state made the decision for the Aqueduct Entertainment Group to be able to offer slot machines at the racetrack. However, once the decision was made, those that were not chosen said that the governor had chosen AEG because of Rev. Floyd Flake’s attachment. 

They said that the governor was courting Flake’s support in the next election and that is why AEG was chosen to run the slot machines. However, the entire panel chose AEG – so what was the motivation for everyone else on the panel? Are they all running for re-election and want Flake to support them? No they aren’t. The residents of the state are now complaining that the governor has tied up the deal again and they desperately need the money. Whoa! The governor did what?  

Sorry, but that does not seem to be the case. The governor is not the one holding it up – that would be the groups that did not get the slot machine license. You want to make sure that it is all fair – fine – throw out all of their slot machine bids and don’t let any of them have it. You can take it away from AEG, but anyone who complained about the deal not being fair doesn’t get it either. This cannot be simply a case of squeaky wheel; the qualified candidate has to get the slot machine deal. 

However, none of this matters to Flake. He has already pulled out of the deal. Citing it is too much hassle and that it is pulling him away from the things that matter most to him, he took his less than 1% share out of the ring, thus leaving it up to the rest of the politicians to battle over who gets the slot machines.