BUFFALO, N.Y. — The embattled Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corp. is finally getting reformed. In a big way.
The state public benefit corporation — mired in allegations of malfeasance and subject to multiple critical audits and investigations — saw its entire 17-member board of commissioners terminated Tuesday night, thanks to a budget provision sponsored by Sen. Tim Kennedy of Buffalo and Assembly Member Monica Wallace of Lancaster, both Democrats.
New board members will be appointed and weighted voting instituted to reflect the population of the 15 counties and two cities that in-effect own OTB. That will shift control from mostly rural counties controlled by Republicans to Erie and Monroe counties and their two largest cities, Buffalo and Rochester, all of which are led by Democrats.