Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellon is asking the state legislature to investigate Suffolk’s $120 million purchase of off-track betting for a popular casino from a company with close ties to Governor Hochhol.
Regional OTB paid Delaware North to own and operate Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino on Islandia in May. William, Hochul’s husband, is a senior vice president and general counsel at the Buffalo-based company.
In a letter sent Friday to Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly President Karl Hesty, Belloni (Democrat) accused Suffolk OTP of avoiding public scrutiny by refusing to hand over copies of its contract to buy the casino.
“Now without the oversight and management of a professional casino operator, Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino . . . is on the cusp of becoming one of the largest political patronage operations in the state, if not the country,” Belloni wrote.
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