State lawmakers push to resurrect Off Track Betting Parlors in New York City
Senate and Assembly pass legislation giving Catskill Regional OTB authority to operate in city - taking over bankrupt New York City OTB franchise
Comments (1)By Glenn Blain / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Thursday, June 21, 2012, 10:51 PM
Updated: Thursday, June 21, 2012, 10:51 PM
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Preliminary plans call for up to 10 new parlors to be set up in New York City.
Related Stories
- More New York budget blues
- Why stop-and-frisk should be ended, not mended
- Readers sound off on soda, bike helmets and politicans
- Put taxi plan back in gear with wheelchair access and new medallions
- Bloomberg budget cuts would wound low-paid childcare employees, working families and kids
- Pol argues Resolution 1294 allows school principals to hire best teachers, not cheapest
ALBANY — State lawmakers moved Thursday to resurrect Off Track Betting parlors in New York City, despite objections from Mayor Bloomberg.
In the rush that capped the legislative session Thursday, the Senate and Assembly passed legislation that gives the Catskill Regional OTB authority to operate in the city — taking over from the bankrupt New York City OTB franchise, which shut down in December 2010.
“My main purpose in all of this was to get people back to work,” said Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester.)
Nearly 1,000 workers lost their jobs when the city OTB closed its doors.
Pretlow said preliminary plans call for up to 10 new parlors to be set up in the city.
The bill, however, must still be approved by Gov. Cuomo. A source close to the administration said the governor was “leery” of expanding the Catskill OTB’s jurisdiction into the five boroughs.
Cuomo has previously called for a more comprehensive, statewide approach to gambling.
The Bloomberg administration also objected to the Legislature granting an “upstate entity” the ability to operate within the city.
Bloomberg administration officials also said the bill leaves in place the same flawed revenue sharing formulas that doomed the past city OTB franchise.
Under state law, 82% of OTB revenue must go to bet winners, and the rest be split among the state and local governments, to cover administrative costs.
Pretlow said the Catskill OTB would do a better job than the former city OTB, which wasted millions of dollars on bad real estate deals and patronage jobs.
“We think that our record precedes us,” said Catskill OTB President Don Groth. “We’ve always been profitable. We have the financial strength to pursue this.”
The Catskill OTB currently operates in 10 upstate counties, including Rockland, Orange and Putnam.
Under the legislation, the Catskill OTB must present a business plan to the state Racing and Wagering Board before it can open parlors in the city.
A site selection committee, which will include members chosen by the mayor and borough presidents, must preapprove OTB locations.
Groth said former New York City OTB workers would get a preference in hiring, whenever possible.
gblain@nydailynews.com
In the rush that capped the legislative session Thursday, the Senate and Assembly passed legislation that gives the Catskill Regional OTB authority to operate in the city — taking over from the bankrupt New York City OTB franchise, which shut down in December 2010.
“My main purpose in all of this was to get people back to work,” said Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman Gary Pretlow (D-Westchester.)
Nearly 1,000 workers lost their jobs when the city OTB closed its doors.
Pretlow said preliminary plans call for up to 10 new parlors to be set up in the city.
The bill, however, must still be approved by Gov. Cuomo. A source close to the administration said the governor was “leery” of expanding the Catskill OTB’s jurisdiction into the five boroughs.
Cuomo has previously called for a more comprehensive, statewide approach to gambling.
The Bloomberg administration also objected to the Legislature granting an “upstate entity” the ability to operate within the city.
Bloomberg administration officials also said the bill leaves in place the same flawed revenue sharing formulas that doomed the past city OTB franchise.
Under state law, 82% of OTB revenue must go to bet winners, and the rest be split among the state and local governments, to cover administrative costs.
Pretlow said the Catskill OTB would do a better job than the former city OTB, which wasted millions of dollars on bad real estate deals and patronage jobs.
“We think that our record precedes us,” said Catskill OTB President Don Groth. “We’ve always been profitable. We have the financial strength to pursue this.”
The Catskill OTB currently operates in 10 upstate counties, including Rockland, Orange and Putnam.
Under the legislation, the Catskill OTB must present a business plan to the state Racing and Wagering Board before it can open parlors in the city.
A site selection committee, which will include members chosen by the mayor and borough presidents, must preapprove OTB locations.
Groth said former New York City OTB workers would get a preference in hiring, whenever possible.
gblain@nydailynews.com
No comments:
Post a Comment