State Nof New York | Executive Chamber
AndreNYw M. Cuomo | Governor
NY PML Sec 105 and Sec 109 are UNCONSTITUTIONAL. NASSAU OTB MUST BE OPEN 365 DAYS OF THE YEAR.
YOU CAN'T PICK AND CHOSE ONE PALM SUNDAY OVER ANOTHER.
YOU CAN'T PICK AND CHOSE ONE EASTER SUNDAY OVER ANOTHER.
THESE GUYS WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE......
LET THEM SHOW THAT THEY ARE NOT SIMPLY ERRAND BOYS
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
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.
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2012
GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES CORNELL PRESIDENT DAVID SKORTON TO SERVE AS CHAIR OF THE NYRA REORGANIZATION BOARD
Governor and Legislative Leaders Appoint Members to Board to Transform Management of Thoroughbred Racing in NYS
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Majority Leader Dean Skelos, and Assembly
Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced the appointment of David
Skorton, President of Cornell University, as Chair of the New York
Racing Association Reorganization Board, and announced the public
members of the Board, putting in place a temporary, publicly controlled
body to transform management of thoroughbred racing in New York State.
The NYRA Reorganization Board consists of 17 directors: eight appointed
by the Governor; two directors each appointed by the Senate and
Assembly; and five directors appointed by the former NYRA Board.
Breeders and Horsemen each have an ex officio member. The
Reorganization Board will conduct a national search for a new CEO and
General Counsel for NYRA. The NYRA Reorganization Board will be in
effect for 3 years, following which NYRA will revert back to majority
private control. Seven of the appointees are new to the NYRA Board, and
bring experience from the entertainment, finance, and legal fields in
addition to horse racing.
"With the new leadership of the NYRA Reorganization Board, we have
an enormously accomplished group to assist us in making New York
thoroughbred racing the best in the country," Governor Cuomo said. "The
new Board is charged with reforming NYRA for the benefit of taxpayers,
fans, track workers, jockeys, and the horses themselves. I am
especially grateful to Dr. Skorton for taking on the duties of Chair,
and thank him for his hard work as co-chair of the Southern Tier
Regional Economic Development Councils, where his efforts have been
instrumental in helping craft and put in place a strategic vision for
creating jobs and growing the region’s economy."
The Governor also announced John Hendrickson as Special Advisor to the
Board for Saratoga, due to the unique impact of horse racing on the
Saratoga community.
Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said, "The horse racing
industry employs thousands of people in New York, generates millions of
dollars in revenues for the state and local governments, and attracts
tourists from all over the world. It’s critically important that the
NYRA Reorganization Board establishes new leadership and management
that will make the horse racing industry as strong as possible, not
only for the significant economic benefits, but for the safety of the
horses and the enjoyment of the fans."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said, "It is my pleasure to appoint
Michael Del Guidice and Rick Cotton to the NYRA Reorganization Board.
With these appointments, we are helping to safeguard a statewide
economic engine that employs thousands. It is our sincere hope that the
Reorganization Board can restore confidence in this industry, one that
has delighted New York’s race-goers for more than a century."
Senator John Bonacic, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Racing,
Gaming & Wagering said, "I applaud the Governor for his efforts to
change NYRA for the better. I look forward to meeting with his
nominees, and to the new NYRA Board being constituted. A new NYRA,
which understands it is responsible to race fans and taxpayers is very
welcome. I look forward to NYRA’s advancing an agenda of growth for the
horse racing industry and look forward to seeing their success."
Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman J. Gary Pretlow, said,
"The thrill of the races should exist in tandem with the health and
safety of the horses involved and with sound business practices. Under
the guidance of the Reorganization Board, I am confident that NYRA will
regain the public’s confidence, protect horses and riders, and sustain
the thousands of jobs dependent on New York’s growing racing industry."
The Governor's appointees are as follows:
David Skorton, President, Cornell University – Chair
David J. Skorton, Cornell University's 12th president, is a
cardiologist, professor of biomedical engineering, and professor in the
Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical
College. He is past chair of the Business-Higher Education Forum, an
independent, nonprofit organization of industry CEOs, leaders of
colleges and universities, and foundation executives; life member of
the Council on Foreign Relations; and member of the board of directors
of the Association of American Medical Colleges. He has been elected to
the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies and is a fellow of
the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. President Skorton has long
been active in regional and state economic development. During 2009 he
chaired a gubernatorial Task Force on Diversifying the New York State
Economy through Industry-Higher Education Partnerships. Cornell
University is home to the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, which
includes the Cornell Equine Hospital.
Dr. Skorton will resign his position as co-chair of the Southern Tier
Regional Economic Development Council in order to devote time to the
NYRA Board. The Governor's appointment of President Skorton as chair is
subject to approval by the new NYRA Board.
Dr. Skorton said, "Horse racing is an integral part of our state's
culture and economy, and I am honored to be joining the talented
members of the New York Racing Association Reorganization Board to
improve the industry for the horses, jockeys, back stretch workers,
horse owners, bettors and all who enjoy racing and make it happen. With
the collective strengths and abilities of my fellow board members, I
know we can expand New York State's global leadership in thoroughbred
racing, and I look forward to helping achieve this important goal."
Bobby Flay, Chef and Thoroughbred Owner
Mr. Flay is an award winning chef and restauranteur with a strong
interest in thoroughbred racing. Mr. Flay opened Mesa Grill, his first
restaurant in 1991 for which he earned the "Best Restaurant 1992" by
New York Magazine's Gael Greene. He opened Bolo Restaurant & Bar
opened in November 1993 in the Flatiron district. That same year, Flay
was voted the James Beard Foundation's Rising Star Chef of the Year
1993, an award that honors the country's most accomplished chef under
the age of 30. In April 2005, Flay opened Bar Americain, featuring
regional American cuisine. In June 2006, Flay opened his first
steakhouse, Bobby Flay Steak, at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in
Atlantic City. In addition to his restaurants, Flay shares his
knowledge and enthusiasm for food through his cookbooks and his many
national cooking shows on the Food Network, Cooking Channel and NBC.
Mr. Flay is also a horse owner and racing enthusiast. One of his
horses, More Than Real, won the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies
Turf.
Mr. Flay said, "As a native New Yorker, business proprietor and
thoroughbred owner I am thrilled to be added to the board at NYRA by
Governor Cuomo. My overall goal is to be part of the team that helps
racing in New York become the sport and entertainment venue it deserves
to be."
Jane Rosenthal, Producer, Co-Founder, Tribeca Film Festival, and CEO, Tribeca Enterprises
Jane Rosenthal is an acclaimed producer and the co-founder of the
Tribeca Film Festival. She has distinguished herself as a leading film
producer with a roster of both critically and commercially acclaimed
films. Ms. Rosenthal has been featured numerous times in Variety’s
Women in Showbiz, The Hollywood Reporter’s Women in Entertainment and
Crain's New York Business “100 Most Influential Women in NYC Business”
issues. Ms. Rosenthal has produced one of the highest grossing comedy
franchises of all times, Meet The Parents (2000) and its sequels Meet
The Fockers (2004) and Little Fockers (2010); the box office sensation
Analyze This (1999) and its sequelAnalyze That (2002); the Academy
Award©-nominated Wag the Dog (1997); and critically acclaimed films
Marvin’s Room(1996) and About a Boy (2002). She has produced over 20
major films including The Good Shepherd, Rent and A Bronx Tale. In
1989, Ms. Rosenthal co-founded Tribeca Production and the Tribeca Film
Center in the lower Manhattan neighborhood of TriBeCa with actor Robert
De Niro. In 2002, Ms. Rosenthal organized the first annual Tribeca Film
Festival, which has grown into a major international cultural event.
Leonard Riggio, Chairman, Barnes & Noble, Inc.
Leonard
Riggio is the Chairman of Barnes & Noble, Inc., a Fortune 500
company, which is the world’s largest bookseller. Beginning with a
single college bookstore in 1965, Mr. Riggio built one of the largest
enterprises in the history of American retail, now employing over
50,000 booksellers. He is widely known as a visionary in the
bookselling industry, and a brilliant marketer and entrepreneur. Mr.
Riggio is also the founder of GameStop (NYSE: GME), the largest
multi-channel video game retailer, which operates 7,000 stores
worldwide. Mr. Riggio devotes himself to many philanthropic
initiatives, including building and donating homes to families who lost
theirs in Hurricane Katrina. Since 2005, he and his wife, Louise, have
built and donated 101 homes to New Orleans families with another 100
homes slated for construction. Mr. Riggio is the owner of My Meadowview
LLC, a thoroughbred racing and breeding business.
Anthony Bonomo, CEO, Administrators for the Professions, Inc.
Anthony Bonomo, Esq. is CEO of Administrators for the Professions, Inc.
and Board Member of Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers. Mr. Bonomo has
been with AFP since 1985. Prior to that time, Mr. Bonomo served as a
litigator on medical malpractice and tort claims. In 2005, he founded
Brooklyn Boyz Stables.
Vincent Tese, Executive Chairman, Bond Street Holdings, LLC.
Mr. Tese is a lawyer, investment advisor and cable television
executive, and is currently the Executive Chairman of Bond Street
Holdings, LLC as well as the Executive Chairman of it’s subsidiary,
Florida Community Bank. He is also a director of several corporations,
including Cablevision Systems Corporation, ICE Clear Credit LLC,
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and
Madison Square Garden. In addition, he is Trustee of New York
University School of Law and New York Presbyterian Hospital. Mr. Tese
has served in state government in a number of positions. He served as
State Superintendent of Banks from 1981 to 1983, in March 1985 was
named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Development
Corporation, and in 1987, was named Director of Economic Development
for New York State, which added to his portfolio the titles of
Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development and Chairman of
both the Science and Technology Foundation and the Job Development
Authority. He was appointed a Commissioner of the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey in 1991 and elected its vice chairman in 1992. Mr.
Tese also chaired the New York State Advisory Commission on Racing in
the 21st Century.
Joseph Spinelli, Managing Director, Navigant
Joseph Spinelli
serves as Global Leader of the Anti-Bribery & Corruption Practice
at Navigant Consulting. Appointed in 1986, he spent eight years as New
York State's first ever Inspector General, leading fraud, abuse, waste
and corruption investigations for all New York State agencies and
authorities. Prior to his appointment as Inspector General, Mr.
Spinelli served as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of
Investigation in both the New York and New Haven field offices. Mr.
Spinelli also served as an Independent Fiscal Monitor during the
post-Sept. 11 recovery effort at the World Trade Center, with
investigative, compliance and monitoring responsibilities. In 2004, Mr.
Spinelli was elected to the Board of Regents of the Association of
Certified Fraud Examiners, an international professional association
with 40,000 members. In February 2010, Mr. Spinelli was appointed to
the New York State Commission on Public Integrity.
Robert Megna, New York State Budget Director
Robert Megna is the New York State Budget Director, having served in
the capacity since 2009. He is responsible for the overall development
and management of the State’s fiscal policy, including overseeing the
preparation of budget recommendations for all State agencies and
programs, economic and revenue forecasting, tax policy, fiscal
planning, capital financing and management of the State’s debt
portfolio, as well as pensions and employee benefits. Mr. Megna
previously served as the Commissioner of the New York State Department
of Taxation and Finance, responsible for overseeing the collection and
accounting of more $90 billion in State and local taxes, the
administration of State and local taxes, including New York City and
City of Yonkers income taxes and the processing of tax returns,
registrations and associated documents. Mr. Megna will be replaced as
chairman of the Franchise Oversight Board by Robert Williams, Interim
Director of the Division of the Lottery. Mr. Megna will act as a
financial watchdog on the NYRA board.
John Hendrickson, Special Advisor for Saratoga
John
Hendrickson is a Saratoga Springs resident and philanthropist. He
serves as the Breeding and Racing Manager for Mary Lou Whitney Stables.
He is also a former aide to Governor Walter Joseph Hickel of Alaska.
Mr. Hendrickson and his wife, Mary Lou Whitney, have initiated the
Backstretch Appreciation program to benefit backstretch workers while
working at Saratoga Race Course providing meals and activities for the
nearly 2,000 backstretch workers. He will serve as the Governor's
representative to the NYRA Board on issues involving the Saratoga Race
Course and community.
John Hendrickson said, "Governor Cuomo's quality appointments demonstrate his seriousness in reforming NYRA the right way."
The Senate's appointees are as follows:
Michael Dubb, Principal and Founder, Beechwood Organization
Michael Dubb is the Principal and Founder of the Beechwood Organization, the 58th
largest homebuilder in the United States according to Professional
builder magazine in 2011. Michael Dubb built and donated a 7,500
square-foot day care center, Anna House, for the children of the
Belmont Racetrack workers. Mr. Dubb is a two time past President of the
Long Island Builder's Institute, having participated in LBI Helps
projects, has been a Board Member of the Long Island Housing
Partnership and is currently an Associate Trustee of the North Shore
University Hospital in Manhasset. An avid horseman, Michael was
appointed a member of the New York Racing Association Board of
Directors in 2008. In 2011 he was the leading thoroughbred owner in New
York State.
Earle Mack, Senior Partner, Mack Company
Earle Mack is a
Senior Partner at the Mack Company. He is a former member of the Board
of Directors for Mack-Cali Realty Corp. Mack served as United States
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Finland from May 2004
until November 2005. He is a former member of the NYRA Board of
Directors and served as Chairman of the New York State Racing
Commission from 1983 to 1989, during which time he was also a member of
the NYS Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.
The Assembly's appointees are as follows:
Michael J. Del Giudice, Chairman, Rockland Capital Energy Investments, LLC.
Mr.
Del Giudice has experience in private equity, with a focus on the power
and energy infrastructure market, as well as experience in government
service. Mr. Del Giudice has been the Senior Managing Director at
Millennium Credit Markets LLC, New York, NY, an investment banking
firm, since 1996, and Chairman and Senior Managing Director of Rockland
Capital, LLC, New York, NY, a private equity company focusing on power
and energy infrastructure markets, since 2003. Mr. Del Giudice is Lead
Independent Director of Consolidated Edison Inc., since 2008.
Previously, Mr. Del Giudice was a General Partner at the investment
bank of Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, and served as Secretary to the New
York State Governor and Chief of Staff to the New York State Assembly
Speaker. Mr. Del Giudice was appointed to the NYRA board in 2003 and
promoted to Vice Chairman in 2005.
Rick Cotton, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, NBCUniversal
Rick Cotton was named Executive Vice President and General Counsel of
NBCUniversal in August 2004. He supervises the NBCUniversal Law
Department, which provides legal advice to all NBCUniversal business
units. In addition, he oversees NBCUniversal's global regulatory and
legislative policy agenda, including the company’s worldwide
anti-piracy efforts. From 2000 to 2004, Cotton served as president and
managing director of London-based CNBC Europe and has been at NBC since
1989. From 1991 to 2000, he served as Chair of the Board of the
public-private New York Primary Care Development Corporation. He was
appointed the deputy executive secretary of the U.S. Department of
Health, Education and Welfare under Secretary Joseph A. Califano in
1977 and was named the executive secretary in 1978. In 1980 he became
the special counsel to Deputy Secretary John Sawhill of the U.S.
Department of Energy.
NYRA board member to focus on Saratoga