Vernon Downs will close this fall without a tax break, owners say
Written by James Gormley, Gazette editor on
Last chance to pass tax relief legislation for the central NY racino is this week’s special session
A bipartisan coalition of state legislators representing Herkimer, Madison and Oneida counties is hoping to use this week’s special session of the Legislature to pass a bill that would provide financial assistance to the Vernon Downs racetrack and casino.
The lawmakers, calling themselves the Mohawk Valley Nine, say Vernon Downs will close this fall if a relief package is not approved and this special session may be the last chance to act.
This news was confirmed by part-owner Gary Greenberg, who says customers are going to other gaming establishments such as Turning Stone, Rivers and Del Lago casinos.
Greenberg said 300 jobs will be lost and 100 small shareholders could lose their investments if Vernon Downs closes. He said primary owner Jeff Gural has already filed paperwork with the state Department of labor to begin closing the track in September
“The country’s most beautiful and historic racetrack is at risk in today’s special session,” Greenberg said. “Vernon Downs will close without tax relief.”
The Senate earlier this year passed a bill giving Vernon Downs tax breaks for five years, saving the track an estimated $4 million a year. The Assembly passed a different version of the tax relief legislation, providing tax breaks for two years, saving the Vernon Downs an estimated $2 million a year.
The owners say only the Senate version of the bill can keep the track open at this point.
“Vernon Downs opened its harness season two weeks late this year to protest inaction from Legislature, Greenberg said. “Unless, the Assembly improves its bill to be the same as Senate in special session Vernon Downs will close.”
The nine lawmakers who are stepping in to try to save Vernon Downs are Senator James L. Seward, R–Oneonta; Assemblyman Bill Magee, D Nelson; Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome; Sen. David Valesky, D–Oneida; Sen. Jim Tedisco, R–Glenville; Assemblyman Marc Butler, R–Newport; Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, R–Black River; Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, D–Utica; and Assemblyman Brian Miller, R–New Hartford.
In a joint statement they said, “Three hundred good jobs are at stake in the Mohawk Valley right now, and every day that goes by without resolution is another day of distress for these workers and their families.
“The governor frequently speaks about fighting to protect middle class jobs in upstate New York, so …[this] is the perfect opportunity for the governor and the Legislature to demonstrate this commitment.
“We understand there are other priorities the governor wants to address, but we are respectfully calling upon the governor to also include the future of Vernon Downs in any package of matters he plans to take up in an extraordinary session.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday morning confirmed he received the statement from the Mohawk Valley Nine and urged them to quickly negotiate a two-house bill and pass it.
“To be clear, I am 100 percent supportive of Vernon Downs and stand ready to sign a bill that will protect people’s jobs and ensure the viability of the facility,” Cuomo said. “However, the Legislature has not passed any such bill.
“I urge Mohawk Valley Senators James Seward, Joseph Griffo, David Valesky, and Jim Tedisco, as well as Assembly members Anthony Brindisi, Bill Magee, Marc Butler, Ken Blankenbush, and Brian Miller to pass a bill immediately and I will sign it.”
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