Farewell NYC

For John, BLUF:  Did the Empire State shoot itself in the foot by going after Mr Donald Trump?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Kevin O’Leary says he will no longer invest in ‘loser’ New York after Trump verdict

From The Hill, by Reporter Miranda Nazzaro, 19 February 2024, 8:17 PM ET.

Here is the lede plus one:

“Shark Tank” investor Kevin O’Leary ripped into what he called “loser” New York and vowed to no longer invest in the state, when asked about a New York court’s $355 million verdict against former President Trump last week.

Trump, his business and his top executives — including the former president’s sons — were dealt a major blow last Friday when Judge Arthur Engoron ordered him to pay more than $355 million for conspiring to alter his net worth to receive tax and insurance benefits.  The order also blocks Trump from participating in New York business for three years.

“This award, I mean, just leaving the whole Trump thing out of it and seeing what occurred here … And I’m no different than any other investor, I’m shocked at this,” O’Leary said in an interview Monday with Fox Business.  “I can’t even understand or fathom the decision at all.  There’s no rationale for it.”

The award was part of New York Attorney General Letitia James’s (D) lawsuit against the former president, the Trump organization and his executives based on more than a decade of fraud and capped off a months-long civil fraud trial in the state.

O’Leary, the chairman of O’Leary Ventures, argued New York was “already a loser state,” citing policy, high taxes and uncompetitive regulation as primary reasons.

“It was already on the top of the list of being a loser state.  I would never invest in New York now,” O’Leary said.  “And I’m not the only person saying that.”

Here is the Epoch Times report on the same srory.  And, Not he Bee.

Remember Mr Trump's signature catch phrase.  "Thet're not after me.  They are after you?  I am just in the way."  I think for a lot of voters that rings true.

Time will tell if Mr O'Leary's prediction comes true.  In the mean time, I don't see how the levied fines can not have an impact on Mr Trump's businesses.  In the mean time, where does Mayor Eric Adams turn the next time he needs an ice skating rink rehabilitated.

Regards  —  Cliff