For most people, the prospect of a trip to the federal pen would be pretty daunting. But for former state Sen. Nick Spano of Westchester, an impending short trip behind bars is just a temporary detour before he resumes a lucrative lobbying career.
And certain of his clients apparently couldn’t be happier.
Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway still pays him between $6,000 and $15,000 a month. And Western Region OTB pays him $50,000 a year.
In fact, Empire City issued a statement hailing Spano as “a strong advocate for the community, and we value the work he has done for our community.”
Amazingly, it’s not illegal in New York for a felon to lobby for gambling interests.
In Nevada and New Jersey, says the former director of the latter’s gaming enforcement, “they couldn’t continue doing business with him.”
But in Albany, it’s business as usual.
Indeed, because Spano’s conviction doesn’t cover bribery, extortion or using his office to enrich himself, none of his lobbying clients — gambling and non-gambling — is legally bound to drop him.
And the only reason he doesn’t face state ethics charges, despite clearly violating the Public Officers Law, is because the statute of limitations had expired.
Gov. Cuomo wants to create a gambling commission that would police the industry the same way as New Jersey and Nevada.
But why wait?
If the law allows convicted felon Spano to stay on the gamblers’ lobbying payroll, then change the law.
Pronto.