Crosscut Now
Sept. 13, 2023 - $1M+ in COVID relief steered to horse track
9/14/2023 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
$1.1M in COVID relief steered to Auburn horse racing track.
State lawmakers earmarked some of Washington’s last pandemic funds to support Emerald Downs, bolstering the racing industry and drawing criticism.
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Crosscut Now is a local public television program presented by Cascade PBS
Crosscut Now
Sept. 13, 2023 - $1M+ in COVID relief steered to horse track
9/14/2023 | 1m 15sVideo has Closed Captions
State lawmakers earmarked some of Washington’s last pandemic funds to support Emerald Downs, bolstering the racing industry and drawing criticism.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(upbeat music) - I am Paris Jackson of the Crosscut KCTS 9 newsroom.
State lawmakers have dispersed almost all of Washington's $16.5 billion in direct federal pandemic aid.
One sports entertainment venue that received about a million of those funds has some raising eyebrows.
In April, the state operating budget passed, with legislators sending the remaining relief dollars into food banks, homeless shelters, and emergency medical supplies.
$1.1 million of federal funds went to propping up the state's sole operating horse racing track, Emerald Downs.
State lawmakers who steered the funding to Washington's Horse Racing Commission say the Auburn racetrack serves as a key economic driver in the South King County region.
But public policy analysts argue it's a handout for a sports venue, organized around gambling as a frivolous use of one-time funds intended for essential government services.
The president of Emerald Downs says they received a little bit of money that goes towards a lot of folks who are benefiting just a little bit.
I'm Paris Jackson.
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