years or more to address the issue of whether people should have
the choice of betting or working at Suffolk OTB, a public benefit
corporation, on ANY DAY OF THE YEAR, the same way that they can play the
slot machines or buy a New York State Lottery Ticket any day of the
year.
Supporters of Suffolk OTB's proposed casino in Medford walk out of civic group's meeting
OTB worker Donald Nohs confronts
fire commissioner Bill Hart over rules of the meeting on Wednesday, Feb.
25, 2015 in Medford. Photo Credit: Joseph D.
Sullivan
Dozens
of trade union workers and Suffolk Off-Track Betting employees stormed
out Wednesday night of a Medford community rally against building a $65
million video lottery gaming establishment.
"We're opposed to the casino," Medford resident Brett Houdek said at the start of the meeting of the Medford Taxpayers and Civic Association at the Medford firehouse.
Suffolk Off-Track Betting acquired the former Brookhaven Multiplex movie theater site near Exit 64 of the Long Island Expressway for $10.95 million. OTB has proposed opening a facility with about 1,000 video lottery machines and 1,400 parking spaces, starting next February.
StoryProposed bill: OTB must consider communityMore coverageLatest Long Island gaming news Several plainclothes Suffolk police officers were among the crowd of about 300 at Wednesday night's meeting.
After Houdek spoke for nearly 40 minutes, multiple outbursts occurred in the packed room.
More than 100 casino proponents left.
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Donald Nohs, 61, an eight-year OTB worker, was among the people who left.
"He's being condescending in his talk," Nohs said, referring to Houdek.
Minutes later, the meeting resumed.
"Let's stop the nonsense. No community on the Island would want them [video lottery terminals]," Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) told the gathering via Skype. Discussing a bill he announced this week that would rescind state authorization for the site, Fitzpatrick said: "The bill, if it generates enough support, maybe we can pass this."
"This was imposed on us, but more importantly, it clashes with my values," said Medford resident Kurtis Seaton, 23, a casino opponent.
Brookhaven Town officials and civic leaders who oppose the proposed casino want to force Suffolk OTB to withdraw its plans just as Nassau OTB officials last month abandoned plans for a gaming facility at the former Fortunoff site in Westbury after fierce opposition from local, county and state officials.
Medford residents opposed to the plan have said they fear the casino would increase traffic and threaten their quality of life.
Before the meeting, about 15 Suffolk OTB employees, many of whom favor the gaming to save their jobs, stood in front of the building with "Yes to Casino and Jobs" signs.
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Chris Dempsey, 60, a 40-year OTB employee, said: "I'm in support of people working. The casino will add jobs."
Suffolk OTB officials weren't expected to attend the meeting.
The Brookhaven Town Board recently adopted a nonbinding resolution opposing the casino. In doing so, town officials acknowledged that state law exempts video lottery terminals and OTB facilities from local zoning laws.
Suffolk officials think the parlor would be a boon for OTB and help close a $20 million county budget deficit. Supporters say it would bring 500 construction jobs and create up to 400 other jobs.
years or more to address the issue of whether people should have the choice of betting or working at Suffolk OTB, a public benefit corporation, on ANY DAY OF THE YEAR, the same way that they can play the slot machines or buy a New York State Lottery Ticket any day of the year."We're opposed to the casino," Medford resident Brett Houdek said at the start of the meeting of the Medford Taxpayers and Civic Association at the Medford firehouse.
Suffolk Off-Track Betting acquired the former Brookhaven Multiplex movie theater site near Exit 64 of the Long Island Expressway for $10.95 million. OTB has proposed opening a facility with about 1,000 video lottery machines and 1,400 parking spaces, starting next February.
StoryProposed bill: OTB must consider communityMore coverageLatest Long Island gaming news Several plainclothes Suffolk police officers were among the crowd of about 300 at Wednesday night's meeting.
After Houdek spoke for nearly 40 minutes, multiple outbursts occurred in the packed room.
More than 100 casino proponents left.
"He's being condescending in his talk," Nohs said, referring to Houdek.
Minutes later, the meeting resumed.
"Let's stop the nonsense. No community on the Island would want them [video lottery terminals]," Assemb. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) told the gathering via Skype. Discussing a bill he announced this week that would rescind state authorization for the site, Fitzpatrick said: "The bill, if it generates enough support, maybe we can pass this."
"This was imposed on us, but more importantly, it clashes with my values," said Medford resident Kurtis Seaton, 23, a casino opponent.
Brookhaven Town officials and civic leaders who oppose the proposed casino want to force Suffolk OTB to withdraw its plans just as Nassau OTB officials last month abandoned plans for a gaming facility at the former Fortunoff site in Westbury after fierce opposition from local, county and state officials.
Medford residents opposed to the plan have said they fear the casino would increase traffic and threaten their quality of life.
Before the meeting, about 15 Suffolk OTB employees, many of whom favor the gaming to save their jobs, stood in front of the building with "Yes to Casino and Jobs" signs.
Suffolk OTB officials weren't expected to attend the meeting.
The Brookhaven Town Board recently adopted a nonbinding resolution opposing the casino. In doing so, town officials acknowledged that state law exempts video lottery terminals and OTB facilities from local zoning laws.
Suffolk officials think the parlor would be a boon for OTB and help close a $20 million county budget deficit. Supporters say it would bring 500 construction jobs and create up to 400 other jobs.
Chris Dempsey, 60, a 40-year OTB employee, said: "I'm in support of people working. The casino will add jobs."
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.
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