Dear Fellow New Yorker

Please see that you uphold NY Const. Art. 1, Sec. 3.  The State of New York shall not express a religious preference. Let those who wish to observe a holiday or holy day do as they wish when they wish. Let others who wish to work and/or bet at Nassau OTB, a public benefit corporation, be free to do so on any day of the year just like NY State Lottery and Slot Machine player. 

Don't wish Eastern Orthodox believers a joyous Easter Sunday by closing Nassau OTB on YOUR Easter Sunday and not theirs.

Your words are lacking Andrew Cuomo. 

HI-

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.

Dear Fellow New Yorker, This evening at sundown, members of the Jewish community all across New York State will begin the celebration of Hanukkah. Hanukkah celebrates the spirit of resilience and dedication of the Jewish people who faced adversity and persecution with fierce determination. As New Yorkers, we have all been confronted with adversity, challenges and destruction, but the message of Hanukkah teaches us to commit to build back better and stronger. I join with all New Yorkers in honoring the message of Hanukkah and commend the willingness of the people of our state to come together during challenging times to create a safer and stronger community for all. Best wishes for a joyous and safe holiday. Sincerely, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

This is a message from the New York State Executive Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224.