Hochul’s secrecy over new Seneca gaming deal suggest something shady

Gov. Kathy Hochul made a big point of recusing herself from negotiations on a new gambling compact between the state and Seneca Nation, since it arguably impacts her husband’s business.

Except, The Post reports, she got involved anyway.

Specifically, she issued a “Message of Necessity” to enable the state Senate to pass last-minute legislation giving her administration pre-approval for the deal.

Seneca leaders say they have reached a tentative agreement but aren’t elaborating. Why not set the facts out without pre-approval?

Perhaps because the deal is rumored to include a Rochester casino, opposed by local officials — who speculate that the Nation wants that location in exchange for agreeing to increase the state’s share of the tribe’s gambling revenue.

Sunlight, that is, might derail the agreement, which touches Bill Hochul’s interests thanks to his work for Delaware North, a rival of the tribe’s gaming interests.

(The whole thing also could impact Hochul’s new Buffalo Bills stadium, too, since money from the Senecas is crucial to funding that boondoggle.)

Meanwhile, the Assembly still hasn’t passed advance-OK legislation; Speaker Carl Heastie expects to do so when the chamber comes back in a few weeks to handle various leftover business.

Hmm: Does Heastie think this is something he can hold over the gov’s head, despite her official un-involvement?

And: How, with the Assembly still undecided, was Senate passage a “necessity”?

Fact is, the current Seneca deal runs through the end of the year; Hochul could call lawmakers back to OK it (and maybe do some other crucial work, like starting to repair the state’s finances) for a vote when the terms are a matter of public record.

At the least, the gov’s actions so far don’t erase the stink of conflict-of-interest involving her husband’s work.

This deal needs public review: The Assembly shouldn’t grant Team Hochul carte blanche without looking under the compact’s hood.