- not an option. Surely Wayne Wink should know that New York can't pick and choose one Easter Sunday over the other and one Palm Sunday over the other.
Wayne Wink to seek Nassau comptroller job
Nassau County Legis. Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn) declared Thursday that he is running to replace Republican George Maragos as county comptroller."Nassau County's financial house is broken, and I am running to fix it," Wink, 46, said in a news release announcing his candidacy. "Our comptroller . . . has spent his entire time in office campaigning for any office but the one he currently holds."
Maragos, 63, who failed twice in primary bids for the U.S. Senate since 2009, said: "I welcome Mr. Wink's announcement . . . I look forward to debating my record of accomplishments in helping lead the county through recession without any property tax increases, [and] 50 percent reduced borrowing."
Wink pointed to a state comptroller's report this week that he said attributed to the county comptroller a large part in the delays of the county's contract approval process.
But Maragos said that just showed "our due diligence to provide value and to ensure payments are tied to performance."
Also in the race and running on his record is Democrat Howard Weitzman, 67, who Maragos defeated in 2009.
"I transformed the office into a national model for transparency and accountability with my groundbreaking audits, award winning reports and universally recognized independence," said Weitzman, a certified public accountant.
Wink, a lawyer, is losing his legislative district through redistricting, but said he probably would have run for comptroller, anyway. "I respect Howard, but it's time for new blood and a fresh perspective in that office," he said in an interview.
Wink, a county legislator for the past six years, had been a Town of North Hempstead council member for five years before that. He has also served as deputy counsel to the Democratic caucus on the county legislature and is a member of a Roslyn law firm.
Legis. Dave Denenberg (D-Merrick), who has said he is considering running for the comptroller's post, said Thursday he still has not made up his mind. "If Wayne is primarying Howard, that might make it a free-for-all," he said.
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.
See also NYConst. Art. 1, Sec. 3
HI-
Stop scratching on holidays
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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> 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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