Madison Square Garden’s James Dolan Is Spending Big on New York’s Governor Race — SkimNews
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- James Dolan and MSG entities have directed more than $3 million toward Blakeman's gubernatorial campaign — $108,000 directly, $970,000 to the Nassau County Republican party, and $2 million to the pro-Blakeman super PAC Strong and Safe New York Inc.
- Bruce Blakeman, the Nassau County executive, trails Governor Kathy Hochul by nine or more points in most polls but aligns with Dolan on data centers, AI, ICE cooperation, and biometric surveillance — including a Flock Safety camera roughly every 9.5 miles of county road.
- Strong and Safe New York Inc., which lists an MSG top government relations executive as an officer, raised $5.3 million overall, offsetting what had been a 9-to-1 cash disadvantage for Blakeman's campaign at the last filing deadline.
- Madison Square Garden's facial recognition deployment has triggered a New York attorney general investigation, a City Council bill to rein in biometric surveillance, and a state bill introduced to strip MSG's billion-dollar-plus property tax break.
- Dolan previously gave nearly $1 million to Trump's 2020 reelection campaign and the RNC, but the New York governor's race represents a new level of political spending for the MSG owner, who has long been a mercurial presence in state politics.
- MSG and local authorities are also tangling over the federal takeover of the $8 billion Penn Station renovation beneath the Garden — a project that could pay Dolan's company $500 million or more — and over security at the Knicks' first NBA championship parade in 53 years.
Why it matters: Dolan's $3M+ spending vaults him into the biggest donor role in New York Republican politics, even with Blakeman trailing by 9+ points. With MSG facing an AG probe, a Council facial-recognition bill, and a state push to strip its $1B+ property tax break, the race gives Dolan leverage over the officials who regulate his business — and the $8B Penn Station deal that could net his company $500M+.
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