Submitted by Eileen Morrison, Mar 5, 2008 13:51

New York State's Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno has shamelessly used his office for political and personal gain. His activities reek of conflict of interest. Your editorial complains about his support of unions. The man will take money from anybody. What about the fact that he steers taxpayer money to companies in which he and his campaign committee have made investments, e.g., Plug Power, which received $500K from the public trough? A deal that's on the front burner right now is making sure he gets his piece of the state's new casino franchise at Aqueduct Racetrack. Bruno's son, Kenneth, represents one of the two bidders, Capital Play, an Australian bookmaker with no casino experience. The other bidder, SL Green, has ties to the now defunct Empire Racing Associates, a Bruno-connected bidder for the state's horse racing franchise, WHEN IT INCLUDED THE CASINO SLOTS OPERATIONS. Kenneth Bruno represented Empire partner Magna Entertainment in that effort. Why is it that bonafide gaming companies are not bidding for a franchise whose daily revenue has been conservatively projected at $1 million a day? Could it be they know they haven't a prayer when competing against bidders backed by Bruno? Mob bosses everywhere must be kicking themselves for not going into politics where it's legal to collect money and favors from anyone who wants to do business on your turf and taxpayers foot the bill.

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