Top Florida lawmakers to Genting: Shut up – No Casinos

Top Florida lawmakers to Genting: Shut up

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Top Florida lawmakers to Genting: Shut up

State Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff and Rep. Erik Fresen, the two South Florida Republicans sponsoring legislation for mega-casinos in the upcoming session, don’t want Malaysian casino giant Genting to keep touting its plan for The Miami Herald and Omni properties in downtown Miami.

Top Florida lawmakers to Genting: Shut up

State Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff and Rep. Erik Fresen, the two South Florida Republicans sponsoring legislation for mega-casinos in the upcoming session, don’t want Malaysian casino giant Genting to keep touting its plan for The Miami Herald and Omni properties in downtown Miami.

“They messed up the message,” Bogdanoff, of Fort Lauderdale, said of Genting officials. “Back off. You have nothing — you have a pretty picture.”

“The rendering that was released was helpful at first,” added Fresen, of Miami. “Miami-Dade County was thirsty for a vision of economic development, and that hydrated them.”

But hydration, Fresen said, led to “waterboarding,” with early supporters of Genting’s plan turning skeptical about the massive proposal’s scope.

Bogdanoff gave Genting a similar warning in Tallahassee last month, during a Senate committee meeting where she called the company’s promises “over the top.” She and Fresen spoke in equally strong terms before The Herald’s editorial board Thursday morning.

Bogdanoff said Genting had gone overboard in its push for the casino, drowning out any policy conversation. She asked them to “tone it down.”

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