1 that Sheldon silver's boy, barry yomtov, then president of teamsters local 858, did invite joseph g cairo president of nassau otb to a union meeting of local 858 at st marys church on rushmore avenue in carle place at which cairo did commend and endorse the merger of local 707, kevin mccaffrey president, with local 858. the merger occurred without a vote in violation of the ibt constitution.
2 the managers of nassau otb and other otb employees believe that joseph cauro and kevin mccaffrey do business with other to the detriment of nassau otb employees
3 nassau otb pay union dues or protection money for the right to vote on contract(s). the last one was signed over. ten years ago.
4 the women of nassau otb are not the type that trade currencies like housewives in argentina, run the streets in hong kong for social change, or borrow like polish women in zlotys for loans to be repaid in swiss francs.
nevertheless you should speak to the regarding joseph cairo, kevin mccaffrey and arthur walsh.
i am available to talk on grand avenue by fruit tree. at the very least nassau otb needs competrnt crooks with character. apparently you have much to learn about town of hempstead locals.
are you up to the task or just grandstanding?
Suffolk, Nassau OTB probe ethics conflict
by David Winzelberg
Published: November 24th, 2013
At least one employee of Nassau County Off-Track Betting is questioning whether the head of his employee union, a member-elect of the Suffolk County Legislature, should have a say in Suffolk OTB business.
Teamsters Local 707 President Kevin McCaffery, whose union represents about 200 Nassau OTB workers, was elected earlier this month to serve as a Suffolk legislator representing the 14th District. In a letter last week, Nassau OTB cashier Jackson Leeds alerted the Suffolk County Ethics Board to McCaffery’s possible conflict of interest.
“As a Suffolk County legislator, his duties are to the people of Suffolk County,” Leeds wrote. “He cannot simultaneously represent the interests of employees of Nassau OTB, a Nassau County public benefit corporation.”
McCaffery told LIBN he doesn’t think the two counties’ OTBs are in competition with each other and he doesn’t see his role as union leader for Nassau OTB workers as a conflict with issues surrounding Suffolk OTB.
“If anything, I have the background of dealing with Nassau OTB, which gives me more insight on the subject than any other legislator out there,” McCaffery said.
When asked if the legislator-elect’s union job appeared to be a conflict of interest, Nassau OTB chief Joseph Cairo said, “If you really want to stretch it. But I don’t see anything that’s apparent to me.”
Cairo added that he’ll instruct the Nassau agency’s counsel to review the situation.
Leeds, a 10-year veteran of Nassau OTB, complained that both union officials and county OTB
management have been too focused on the 1,000 video lottery terminals planned for each county’s OTB and they’re not paying enough attention to current operations.
“They never worked behind a window,” Leeds told LIBN. “They’re out of touch with the bettors of Nassau County.”
Internet wagering and dwindling handles – the overall money being wagered – have prompted a consolidation in Nassau OTB’s operations in recent years; there were 15 betting offices in Nassau in 2003, and now there are eight. Suffolk OTB, which has seven branch offices, filed for bankruptcy last year.
These days, according to some analysts, OTB offices exist largely for political patronage – another reason, according to Leeds, that the Nassau union chief shouldn’t mix one business with the other.
“Union leaders should not be politicians,” he said. “OTBs are run by politicians. Being political and doing public good aren’t always incompatible, but they often are.”
This isn’t the first time a Long Island legislator’s OTB ties have become an issue.
In May 2000, Gregory Peterson, then-president of the Nassau OTB, sued to prevent Nassau County Leg. Roger Corbin from voting on appointments to the Nassau OTB’s board of directors. Because Corbin was employed as a branch manager for New York City OTB and a member of Teamsters Local 858, which then represented all employees of Nassau OTB, Peterson alleged Corbin’s legislative role posed a conflict of interest.
A New York Supreme Court judge issued an injunction preventing Corbin from voting on OTB appointments, but Corbin appealed and the lower court’s decision was reversed. The Nassau County Board of Ethics also chimed in, determining by a 3-2 vote that voting on OTB appointments didn’t create a conflict because Corbin didn’t influence policy or engage in labor negotiations.
With McCaffery, some observers say it’s best to proceed with caution.
Anthony Figliola, vice president of Uniondale-based government relations firm Empire Government Strategies, said the legislator-elect may want to recuse himself from any votes concerning Suffolk OTB until the Suffolk County Ethics Board offers an opinion.
“OTB is a political football,” Figliola said. “It’s better to stay out of it, especially if you want to get things done in the Legislature.”
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
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.
Hempstead supervisor proposes restrictions for department heads while failing to talk to nassau otb employees about joseph cairo, arthur walsh & kevin mccaffrey suffolk county legislstor
Hempstead Supervisor Laura Gillen and Town Clerk Sylvia Cabana on Thursday announced legislation that would ban town department heads from serving as political party leaders. (Credit: Newsday / John Asbury)
Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen is proposing a ban on town department heads leading political committees as a way to help eliminate a "pay-to-play" culture.
Gillen said she will propose legislation next month to amend the ethics code to ban town commissioners from also serving as heads of local political clubs or committees. She said about half of the town’s department chiefs, including nearly every commissioner and town attorney, are leaders of local Republican clubs.
Gillen, a Democrat, is running for her second term next month against Republican Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin.
Gillen said whistleblowers have come forward and claimed they were required to carry petitions, participate in Republican club activities or make campaign donations in order to advance within departments or get a raise.
“The culture of fear that permeates the town is indicative of the culture the Republican machine has created here in Town Hall,” Gillen said. “The system does little to ensure the government operates fairly and effectively. Especially when there’s a perception one’s next promotion or raise has to do with service to
a party, instead of the taxpayers who they are supposed to serve.”
a party, instead of the taxpayers who they are supposed to serve.”
The legislation would require commissioners and department heads to choose between participating as a party officer or continue employment with the town. She said the legislation would not restrict other employees from participating in political events. She described the legislation akin to the Hatch Act, which prohibits the U.S. president’s administration from using government resources to campaign.
The legislation would have to be approved by the Republican-controlled Town Board and Gillen said she will seek a vote after the Nov. 5 election.
Republican Councilman Anthony D’Esposito questioned whether Gillen would expand her legislation to the elected town board and signaled her bill may be a non-starter.
“I suggest Laura Gillen read the Constitution of the United States, which guarantees its citizens the right to participate in the political process,” D’Esposito said. “If she lost her copy, I’d be more than happy to loan her mine.”
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