OTB To Consider Video-Lottery Terminals And More

David Cornstein is the new chairman of New York City’s OTB Corp. He envisions construction of an entertainment center to include movie theatres, retail stores and possibly hotels … not to mention VLT’s throughout. He thinks it could eventually employ 5,000 employees and attract even more tourists to the city. Is this guy running state-controlled bookie joints or envisioning himself as a combination Donald Trump/Steve Winn in the casino/hotel business? Horses too fast out of the chute usually don’t finish in the money. Perhaps Cornstein should commence by offering the daily bettor more at existing facilities rather than calling for blueprints for yet another.

Illegal "Inn" The City

There are a reported 235 unlawful hotels operating within residential buildings in the borough of Manhattan. Foreigners are enjoying shorts stays in city apartments instead of local residents calling these units home. This practice is taking affordable housing away from needy tenants. It cheats the city out of millions of dollars too. Tourism is vital to New York’s economy, but tourists should not be welcomed into these buildings. Chanting “Peace and quiet, not a Hyatt!,” housing activists have joined forces with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. Together, they’ll try to do something about these hostile hostels.