CITY OF RENSSELAER OFFICE OF THE MAYOR ANIEL J. DWYER CITY HALL oon 62 WASHINGTON STREET (518) 462-9511 RENSSELAER, NEW YORK 12144 Fax: (518) 462-9895 December 29, 2014 Hon. Andrew Cuomo Governor Executive Chamber Albany, New York 12207 Dear Governor Cuomo: Congratulations on your swift action in directing the New York State Gaming ‘Commission to revisit the RFA process in the Southern Tier. On behalf of the residents of the City of Rensselaer I respectfully request that you also direct the NYS Gaming Commission to revisit the Capital District region in an effort to designate a project that benefits the most capital region residents. The recommendations made on December 17th by the Gaming Facilities Location Board Should be put aside and the NYS Gaming Commission commences an expedited new Request for Application Process. Further, the casino gaming effort was designed to assist the Upstate economy, I would also request that new appointees be designated who actually reside in Upstate and understand the respective communities. ‘The previous Facilities Location Board members all resided in either Long Island or New York City. It is of little wonder that the choice for the Southern Tier casino project actually is located in the Finger Lakes region. Additionally, it is also equally inexplicable how the Capital District casino choice could have been the Rivers projected located on the western edge of Schenectady rather than the Hard Rock Casino on the shores of the Hudson River in the City of Rensselaer and supported by the Cities of Albany and Troy. ‘The law specifies a casino resort shall be designated in the Capital District and the Hard Rock casino project on the Hudson River is by far the superior project and best serves the interests of Capital District residents. My office has been deluged with calls from residents and people from outside of the City of Rensselaer, who share my belief that there is no way the Rivers Casino project could have outscored the Hard Rock proposal according to the requirements of the RFA. Upon reflection of the entire process I fee! the application submitted by the Hard Rock Casino for a casino in the City of Rensselaer was the superior application over theapplication submitted by Rush Street Gaming. I am using the criteria set forth by your Location Board and publicly discussed by its Board Members throughout the process. The decision to award a casino license to Rush Street Gaming over the Hard Rock Casino does not make sense when you consider the requirements of the RFA: Economic: Hard Rock project was the highest revenue generator in Capital District and Hard Rock generated nearly $80 million more than the Rivers Casino, Additionally, the Hard Rock project would have generated more than $40 million a year than Schenectady for NYS and local school districts. Local Support: Hard Rock Casino received the most support in local governments. Eleven counties passed resolutions in support of a Hard Rock project. Additionally, the cities of Troy & Albany officially supported Hard Rock. ‘Sustainability: Channel 6 News reported that the Schenectady site needs to finish their environmental studies and reports before they can get their permits, which then means, that they will have to figure out the clean-up method, do the clean-up and then, and only then, can they begin. This is NOT what they told the Siting Board. They lied. There are no guarantees that they will be able to get past these studies, perform the clean-up and be open within two (2) years, as required. ‘The speed to market was a requirement of the RFA but once again Hard Rock was superior, Hard Rock committed to be open and operating in 12 months-- the Rivers Casino states it will be open in 24 months. Sustainability is perhaps the clearest reason Hard Rock is superior. With the MGM opening a billion dollar casino in Springfield Massachusetts, the Hard Rock casino brand is the best suited to attract regional tourists. I am requesting the NYS Gaming Commission immediately release the “scorecard” used to measure each application to the criteria set forth under the Statute and the RFA. There is simply no way possible that Schenectady could have outscored the Hard Rock project based upon the RFA requirements, Asking my constituents to wait 30 days to see the scoring of the projects raises additional questions about the process as the results should have been made public immediately. In addition to the support of the surrounding local governments the Hard Rock Casino has the support of the Capital District Transportation Authority which operates the Albany-Rensselaer Train Station. The Albany-Rensselaer Train Station is the ”busiest train station in the country and the Hard Rock Casino location would be mutually supportive of the train station. As I reflected upon the process set forth by the Facility Location Board I do not believe it was possible for the Rivers Project to outscore the Hard Rock Casino project and respectfully request the release of the “scorecard” which determined the recommendation of the Rivers Project. I am asking you to stay or put aside the preliminary recommendations of the Gaming Facilities Location Board, appoint a new panel made up of actual upstate residents and direct the Gaming Commission to Commence an expedited review process that is worthy of you and the people of New York State. Sincerely, Mol (An Daniel Dwyer Mayor ~ City of Rensselaer DJD/meo Ce: File