In a letter delivered to Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver this afternoon, Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco (R,C,I-Schenectady-Saratoga) today urged the Speaker to convene a special legislative session on Monday, December 17, to address the looming expiration of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) before year's end.

"As you know, there is a multitude of important, unresolved issues remaining on the public agenda deserving of our careful attention and warranting the convening of a special legislative session. Of all the issues that need to be addressed, one of the most important is the looming expiration of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) franchise by year's end," Tedisco wrote in his correspondence to Speaker Silver.

In a letter sent to Governor Eliot Spitzer and the respective legislative leaders of the Assembly and Senate on November 16, Tedisco had urged the convening of a special session to deal with NYRA and other issues that remained stalled on the legislature's agenda.

"Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has publicly and repeatedly indicated his desire to resolve this matter. Governor Spitzer has also shown a willingness to deal with this issue. As stated in my correspondence to the governor, I am ready, willing and able to talk about this topic. Now, we need you to join us and take part in an effort to provide a secure and stable foundation for racing," Tedisco noted.

"Accordingly, I am writing to implore you to take an active role in discussing the future of NYRA. My district - and our entire state - can ill afford to let this issue go unanswered, remaining mired in uncertainty and confusion. Every day that slips by without a resolution is another day closer to imperiling the future of New York's multi-billion dollar racing industry," stated Tedisco.

"Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking. I urge you to join Majority Leader Bruno, Governor Spitzer and myself in dealing with this issue in a pro-active manner by calling the Assembly into a special session this coming Monday, December 17, and commit to dealing with NYRA in an expedited fashion. In light of the fact that the Senate will be returning tomorrow, I call on you to take similar action next week," Tedisco concluded in his correspondence.

The Honorable Sheldon Silver
Speaker of the Assembly
Room 932, LOB
Albany, NY 12248

Dear Speaker Silver:

As you know, there is a multitude of important, unresolved issues remaining on the public agenda deserving of our careful attention and warranting the convening of a special legislative session. Of all the issues that need to be addressed, one of the most important is the looming expiration of the New York Racing Association (NYRA) franchise by year's end. You may recall that on November 16, forwarded to your attention was a letter I had sent to Governor Eliot Spitzer, urging him to convene a special session to address, among other things, the future of racing in New York.

In the interim, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno has publicly and repeatedly indicated his desire to resolve this matter. Governor Spitzer has also shown a willingness to deal with this issue. As stated in my correspondence to the governor, I am ready, willing and able to talk about this topic. Now, we need you to join us and take part in an effort to provide a secure and stable foundation for racing.

Accordingly, I am writing to implore you to take an active role in discussing the future of NYRA. My district - and our entire state - can ill afford to let this issue go unanswered, remaining mired in uncertainty and confusion. Every day that slips by without a resolution is another day closer to imperiling the future of New York's multi-billion dollar racing industry.

Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking. I urge you to join Majority Leader Bruno, Governor Spitzer and myself in dealing with this issue in a pro-active manner by calling the Assembly into special session this coming Monday, December 17, and commit to dealing with NYRA in an expedited fashion. In light of the fact that the Senate will be returning tomorrow, I call on you to take similar action next week.

For the sake of racing in New York State, we cannot - we must not - allow this subject to go unaddressed. Thank you for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.