Press Release: Progressives Denounce ‘Black-Washing’ of Trump-Backed Downstate Casino Deal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Allen Roskoff, (917-553-7180)
Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club is joined by Black Lives Matter of Greater New York to denounce former Gov. David Paterson’s lobbying campaign on behalf of top Trump donor Sheldon Adelson
NEW YORK — Two top progressive organizations sounded the alarm today about a lobbying campaign by former New York Gov. David Paterson on behalf of the Las Vegas Sands, with the disgraced politician touting the so-called advantages of a downstate casino while hiding ties to his billionaire client, CEO Sheldon Adelson, a major supporter of President Donald Trump and the Republican Party.
“Failed former governor David Paterson has become a political mercenary for a Trump-loving casino executive who is bankrolling Donald Trump’s war against people of color. Some people may be surprised by this news, but those of us familiar with Patersson’s record of failure are not. Instead of helping the communities of color he claimed to represent as governor, Paterson slashed the state budget and took a pass on criminal justice reform—ensuring that thousands of black and brown people continued to be locked up by a racist justice system. It is unconscionable that anyone should want a man like Sheldon Adelson to have any power in New York State politics. That is why Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club and Black Lives Matter demand that local, state and federal elected officials denounce the traitorous actions of David Paterson, and stop his cynical campaign on behalf of the financial architect of Donald Trump’s white supremacist agenda. The blood money Paterson is being paid is made on the backs of Black and Brown people, Women, the LGBTQ community, the children in cages in Trump's concentration camps and most currently the massive killing of the Kurds.” said Allen Roskoff, President of the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club.
"It is estimated that Adelson and his wife have given at least $25 million to the Trump campaign, earning him the title of Trump’s ‘donor-in-chief’" says Hawk Newsome, Chairperson of Black Lives Matter. "His Las Vegas-based Sands casino empire is attempting to buy political influence to pave the way for a lucrative licensing deal that would allow a gambling operation to open near or in New York City. Adelson and his support of the White Supremacist in the White House must not be granted entry to earning profits off the people of New York.
As part of this effort, Paterson is touting the dubious economic benefits of a downstate casino—despite the fact that a glut of casinos already opened in upstate New York are struggling.