Asians to Andrew

Please do not be patronizing.  Unlike you and the State of New York Asians understand the rights secured by NY Const. Art. 1, Sec. 3 which you have trampled under your boot. Some Asians gamble and wish to place their bets at Nassau OTB, a public benefit corporation, on any day of the year that they wish. Save your platitudes Andrew and do something useful for ALL New Yorkers!


 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, Today, families and friends across the state gather to celebrate Lunar New Year, one of the most important and time-honored traditions in the Asian and Pacific Islander community. During Lunar New Year, members of New York’s vibrant Asian and Pacific Islander communities take the opportunity to pay respect to their elders and ancestors, reunite and give thanks through festivals, parades and joyful gatherings of all sizes that preserve and enrich this cherished heritage. I extend my best wishes to all New Yorkers who celebrate for a peaceful, healthy and happy new year. Sincerely, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo

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