Freeport trustees sue mayor over phone call
Photo credit: Chris Ware | Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick listens during a meeting in Freeport. (July 10, 2012)
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Hardwick used the phone service -- a system sometimes called a "robocall" -- on Tuesday to criticize trustee Robert Kennedy for using "fear tactics" to generate opposition to the mayor's tentative 2013-14 budget. Kennedy is running against Hardwick for mayor this year with the election set for March 19.
The four trustees, including Kennedy, filed the lawsuit against Hardwick and the village in Nassau County Supreme Court in Mineola. The lawsuit seeks to limit Hardwick to only using the system for its expressed purpose of village announcements and emergency calls.
The village pays $20,000 per year for the phone service and should use it appropriately, said Thomas Levin, a Garden City lawyer for the trustees. Calls made on the system go to every listed phone number in the village of 43,000, Levin said.
"If we abuse these systems, people are not going to pay attention to them anymore," trustee Jorge Martinez said. "That system was put in place to service and protect this village."
Hardwick's attorney, Ronald J. Rosenberg of Garden City, said the mayor has agreed not to use the system until Jan. 28. Rosenberg said he is confident he will reach an out-of-court settlement with the trustees before that date.
"In these economically hard times, the last thing the taxpayers' money should be wasted on is for lawyers to fight stupid lawsuits," Rosenberg said.
Kennedy said the automated call demonstrated "poor leadership" on Hardwick's part.
Hardwick's phone call defended his proposed $70.4-million budget, which would increase taxes by about $316, to about $3,834, for the owner of an average single-family home in Freeport. The call said village finances "took a hit from [superstorm] Sandy," and that Kennedy has campaigned against the budget "for his own self gain."
Hardwick's budget proposal is up for a vote on Jan. 28 -- and trustees have said they are attempting to scale it back before then. The spending plan sparked a protest on Thursday night outside Village Hall by residents who say the proposed tax hike is too steep.
Hardwick issued a statement Thursday that said the budget is "almost a zero increase" outside of mandated costs such as pensions and health care.
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Sports
OPEN ON 1ST PALM SUNDAY, OTB RAKES IN $2M
By Jerry Bossert / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Monday, April 14, 2003, 12:00 AM
New
York City Off-Track Betting made history yesterday, taking bets on Palm
Sunday.
Since 1973, when Sunday racing was made legal in New York State, race
tracks have been allowed to operate every Sunday except for Palm Sunday
and Easter Sunday.
While Aqueduct kept its doors shut, NYCOTB had its betting parlors
open despite a letter from the New York State Racing and Wagering Board
stating that it couldn't do so.
"We're not a race track," NYCOTB president Ray Casey said. "OTB's
business is a simulcasting business.
" Bettors responded by wagering an estimated $2 million yesterday on tracks from around the country, including Keeneland in Kentucky and Gulfstream Park in Florida. While in the past NYCOTB has respected the law and shut down on Palm Sunday, it took a chance this time because its business is down. "With the weather being the way it's been our handle has been off significantly," Casey said. "Our lawyers felt from their point of view that we could open (yesterday).
" The law says race tracks can't open. It doesn't mention OTBs. "I respect the Racing and Wagering Board and I have the utmost respect for chairman Michael Hoblock but I felt we're right on this one," Casey said. The NYSRWB didn't return phone calls yesterday but said on Saturday it would meet this week to discuss fines and penalties it can impose on NYCOTB. "This isn't personal," Casey said. "I just didn't agree with the board's interpretation.
" Casey also said NYCOTB may open on Easter Sunday.
" Bettors responded by wagering an estimated $2 million yesterday on tracks from around the country, including Keeneland in Kentucky and Gulfstream Park in Florida. While in the past NYCOTB has respected the law and shut down on Palm Sunday, it took a chance this time because its business is down. "With the weather being the way it's been our handle has been off significantly," Casey said. "Our lawyers felt from their point of view that we could open (yesterday).
" The law says race tracks can't open. It doesn't mention OTBs. "I respect the Racing and Wagering Board and I have the utmost respect for chairman Michael Hoblock but I felt we're right on this one," Casey said. The NYSRWB didn't return phone calls yesterday but said on Saturday it would meet this week to discuss fines and penalties it can impose on NYCOTB. "This isn't personal," Casey said. "I just didn't agree with the board's interpretation.
" Casey also said NYCOTB may open on Easter Sunday.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/open-1st-palm-sunday-otb-rakes-2m-article-1.659016#ixzz2IelyxBRa
I-
Thanks for the help. The item’s
below. I’d be happy to mail you a copy, if you give me a mailing
address.
Claude
Solnik
(631)
913-4244
Long Island Business
News
2150
Smithtown Ave.
Ronkonkoma,
NY 11779-7348
Home >
LI Confidential
> Stop scratching on holidays
Stop scratching on holidays
Published: June 1, 2012
Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
Nassau OTB Branch Locations and Hours:
Teletheater(Track Odds)
Mon-Thu: 11:30 AM-11:00 PM;
Fri & Sat: 11:30 AM-Midnight;
Sun: 11:30 AM-7:30 PM
Fri & Sat: 11:30 AM-Midnight;
Sun: 11:30 AM-7:30 PM
| Race Palace |
1600 Round Swamp Road 516-572-8200 |
Plainview (LIE exit 48) |
Day and Night Simulcasting
Mon-Sat: 11:30 AM-Midnight;
Sun: 11:30 AM-7:30 PM
Sun: 11:30 AM-7:30 PM
| Carle Place | 180 Glen Cove Road |
| Farmingdale* | 4747 Hempstead Turnpike |
| Freeport* | 131 W.Sunrise Highway |
Thanks for the help. The item’s
below. I’d be happy to mail you a copy, if you give me a mailing
address.
Claude
Solnik
(631)
913-4244
Long Island Business
News
2150
Smithtown Ave.
Ronkonkoma,
NY 11779-7348
Home >
LI Confidential
> Stop scratching on holidays
Stop scratching on holidays
Published: June 1, 2012
Off Track Betting in New York State has been racing into a crisis called shrinking revenue. Some people have spitballed a solution: Don’t close on holidays.
New York State Racing Law bars racing on Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday, and the state has ruled OTBs can’t handle action on those days, even though they could easily broadcast races from out of state.
“You should be able to bet whenever you want,” said Jackson Leeds, a Nassau OTB employee who makes an occasional bet. He added some irrefutable logic: “How is the business going to make money if you’re not open to take people’s bets?”
Elias Tsekerides, president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, said OTB is open on Greek Orthodox Easter and Palm Sunday.
“I don’t want discrimination,” Tsekerides said. “They close for the Catholics, but open for the Greek Orthodox? It’s either open for all or not open.”
OTB officials have said they lose millions by closing on Palm Sunday alone, with tracks such as Gulfstream, Santa Anita, Turf Paradise and Hawthorne running.
One option: OTBs could just stay open and face the consequences. New York City OTB did just that back in 2003. The handle was about $1.5 million – and OTB was fined $5,000.
Easy money.
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