Watchdog on the attack

Government watchdog Reinvent Albany has criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul’s appointment of the daughter of a veteran gambling lobbyist to the New York Gaming Commission (NYGC) board. The body described the choice of Marissa Shorenstein as “absurd.”

Reinvent Albany’s concerns focus on a potential conflict of interest, reported the New York Post on Tuesday. Executive Director of the watchdog, John Kaehny, questioned why Gov. Hochul couldn’t have appointed Marissa to multiple other boards or commissions instead of “the one that raises red flags?”

Kaehny asked:

Why appoint Shorenstein to something directly related to her father’s job?”

Stuart Shorenstein is a seasoned and active lobbyist and adviser to gaming businesses. He is currently representing Swedish internet gambling giant Evolution Malta, which is pushing to legalize iGaming in NY.

Family ties

As reported by the New York Post, Chairman of the state Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering, Joseph Addabbo, made clear the link between Stuart Shorenstein and New York state gaming regulation. “I’ve dealt with Stuart on a number of gaming issues — starting with mobile sports betting,” stated Addabbo.

New York’s mobile sports betting market went live on January 8, 2022, and the NYGG oversees it. Marissa joined the state gambling regulator in June that year having previously served as chief of Hochul’s transition team when she took over the governor’s office from Andrew Cuomo.

Reinvent Albany, however, deems Marissa’s appointment “inappropriate” to a body that regulates and investigates the NY gambling industry, including clients or potential clients of her lobbyist father. Kaehny stated:

This is a head shaker. This is planet Albany.”

Stuart’s New York gambling links go deeper via Cozen O’Connor, a major law firm from which he co-founded a subsidiary in 2009 that provides strategic communications counsel. He is Managing Director of Cozen O’Connor New York Public Strategies, which is listed as the lobbying firm for HBC-Saks Fifth Avenue, which is one bidder for a lucrative NY casino license.

NYGC bites back

NYGC Deputy Executive Director Lee Park poured cold water on the aspersions cast on the Shorenstein family gambling connection. Park talked up Marissa’s decades of leadership roles in both private and public sectors, stating she “has always abided by the highest ethical standards” on the NYGC.

Park chided:

It’s shameful that anonymous critics are making sensational allegations.”

The NYGC stated that Marissa was “transparent and forthcoming” about her dad’s gambling ties. It added Marissa had “already recused” herself from involvement in cases involving her father and any Cozen O’ Connor entities.

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