The NY Daily News reports a scandal within the New York Assembly may spell the doom for MMA legislation in the state this year. The crux of the latest obstacle is the handling of a sexual harassment issue by Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
Women’s groups are reportedly upset with Assembly Speaker Silver for his handling of sexual harassment complaints made against Brooklyn Democrat Vito Lopez. Lopez resigned from the Assembly after investigations accused him of inappropriate conduct with 8 female staffers.
The investigations revealed that Silver brokered secret settlements with two of the women instead of referring their complaints to an ethics committee per the Assembly rules. As a result of this misstep, it is believed that an MMA bill will be collateral damage.
A source told the Daily News that “it’s unlikely,” that legislation legalizing MMA would happen this year. This is due in part to the political fallout that may occur. Pushing to legalize MMA could further alienate female assembly members as well as bring a spotlight to Assembly Speaker’s Silver’s secret settlements.
Payout Perspective:
Bad news for Zuffa as it appears that legislation will stall again in New York. There may be concern that with pushing a bill for MMA at this point, it would stir more fervent opposition than tacit support. While women’s groups may have opposed an MMA bill already, the cover up by Assembly Speaker Silver makes his support of such a bill more scrutinized. Moreover, its likely that one could see the Culinary Union step in and join forces with women’s groups to combat efforts for MMA legalization in the state. We should see within the next week or so what transpires with the MMA bill.
So whats new? Hahaha
But Dana would save wrestling in the Olympics involving many countries but can’t get his sport sanctioned in new York….the Dana hype is getting old….
Tops, you seem to lack an understanding of the NY situation. The issue of legalized MMA competition in New York and the inclusion of Olympic Wrestling by the IOC are worlds apart. It has nothing to do with Dana, it has to do with a labor dispute between Station Casinos and Culinary Union Local 226. Since the Fertittas are the majority owners of the UFC, the Union is seeking to try and pressure them to unionize their casinos by waging a negative media campaign against the UFC, and lobbying in New York to prevent legalization. It’s stupid: in the end, Station Casinos will remain un-unionized, and MMA will be legal in NY. It’s only a matter of time, and they’ll have wasted their members’ dues on a futile mud-slinging campaign that will have accomplished nothing. If I were a member, I’d be very upset about the way my dues were being spent.
Tops, you seem to lack an understanding of the NY situation. The issue of legalized MMA competition in New York and the inclusion of Olympic Wrestling by the IOC are worlds apart. It has nothing to do with Dana, it has to do with a labor dispute between Station Casinos and Culinary Union Local 226. Since the Fertittas are the majority owners of the UFC, the Union is seeking to try and pressure them to unionize their casinos by waging a negative media campaign against the UFC, and lobbying in New York to prevent legalization. It’s stupid: in the end, Station Casinos will remain un-unionized, and MMA will be legal in NY. It’s only a matter of time, and they’ll have wasted their members’ dues on a futile mud-slinging campaign that will have accomplished nothing. If I were a member, I’d be very upset about the way my dues are being spent.
There are also other political factors currently at play within the NY state legislature that have nothing to do with Zuffa or the Fertittas that may decide the bill’s fate this year, as expressed in the article.