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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.
Europe News
Obama and Pope Francis Meet in Rome
Pair Sidestep Social Issues, Focus on Economic Inequality
Updated March 27, 2014 3:50 p.m. ET
President Obama and Pope Francis met for the first time at the Vatican on Thursday. Photo: EPA
VATICAN CITY—President
Barack Obama
and
Pope Francis
met for the first time on Thursday, holding a symbolic discussion
that sidestepped their differences on social issues and focused heavily
on their shared interest in economic inequality.
The
White House had hoped the highly anticipated visit with the popular
pontiff might help draw attention to Mr. Obama's economic agenda. The
meeting also took place against a backdrop of divisions between the pope
and the president on issues such as gay marriage and contraception.
Photos: Popes and Presidents
President George W. Bush meets with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on May 28, 2002.
Associated Press
Afterward, Mr. Obama said that over
the course of 52 minutes in the papal library the two discussed income
inequality, immigration overhauls and international conflicts, including
in the Middle East, but barely touched on a provision in his
health-care law that mandates insurers cover contraception, which the
Catholic Church opposes.
"The theme that
stitched our conversation together was a belief that in politics and in
life, the quality of empathy, the ability to stand in somebody else's
shoes and to care for someone even if they don't look like you or talk
like you or share your philosophy, that that's critical," Mr. Obama said
at a news conference later with Italian Prime Minister
Matteo Renzi.
Mr. Obama said he invited Pope Francis to visit the U.S. and told him Americans would be overjoyed to see him.
Thorny
issues were covered in Mr. Obama's meeting with the Vatican's secretary
of state, Cardinal
Pietro Parolin,
Mr. Obama said. The cardinal raised concerns about "making sure
that conscience and religious freedom was observed in the context of
applying the law," Mr. Obama said. "And I explained to him that most
religious organizations are entirely exempt," he added.
The
Vatican, in a statement after the meeting, made a vague reference to
the church's opposition to the contraception mandate, saying Mr. Obama's
discussions at the papal residence covered the Americans' ability to
exercise "rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious
objection."
President Obama had his first meeting with Pope Francis
Thursday, a highly anticipated visit the White House hopes will gain
support for its economic agenda. Liam Moloney reports. Photo: AP.
In the run-up to the meeting, U.S.
bishops had been calling on the pope to express a hard line on those
issues. While Pope Francis has called for a reduction of emphasis on
such issues by the church's leadership, he has nonetheless strongly
reaffirmed church doctrine regarding them.
The
Vatican statement following the meeting also said the pair discussed a
shared commitment to eradicate human trafficking. The pontiff has been
outspoken in urging a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria, and he
will soon travel to the Middle East.
The
pope has also drawn some fire, however—particularly in the U.S.—for
comments strongly critical of pro-market economic policies. In an
interview with an Italian newspaper this month, he said, "it is true
that globalization has saved many people from poverty, but it has also
condemned many others to death."
Mr.
Obama's meeting with Pope Francis was a highlight of a trip through
Europe that began Monday. The pontiff is enjoying a level of popularity
that far exceeds Mr. Obama's. According to a Gallup poll published
Wednesday, 76% of Americans view the pontiff favorably, compared with
52% for Mr. Obama.
Still, American
church leaders are hoping that the pope will visit the U.S. in the fall
2015 for a world meeting on families to be held in Philadelphia. House
Speaker
John Boehner
(R., Ohio), who has been at odds with Mr. Obama over his economic
agenda, has invited the pope to address a joint session of Congress,
and some are hoping the pontiff also will travel to New York to speak to
the United Nations.
The Vatican has made no comment on a possible visit and normally confirms papal trips a few months in advance.
While Mr. Obama and Pope Francis' predecessor,
Pope Benedict XVI,
had a cool relationship, the White House was hoping for better
chemistry between the president and the first pope from the developing
world. Mr. Obama, who arrived in Italy on Wednesday night, has tried to
highlight the similarities in his policy agenda and Pope Francis' strong
antipoverty message, even quoting the pontiff in his speech on economic
inequality.
President Obama, left, and Pope Francis shake hands during their exchange of gifts Thursday at the Vatican.
Associated Press
Pope Replaces 'Bishop of Bling'
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a senior German cleric dubbed the "Bishop of Bling" for spending $42.7 million on redoing his official residence.
The lift that a nod from Pope Francis
could give Mr. Obama's economic proposals wasn't lost on the president,
who has struggled to get his agenda through Congress. He told Pope
Francis there is still an opportunity to pass immigration overhauls.
The president suggested the pope could play a key, although not political, role in fighting economic inequality.
"There
is a potential convergence between what policy makers need to be
thinking about and what he's talking about," Mr. Obama said. "He's
shining a spotlight on an area that's an increasing concern."
The
president arrived at the Vatican Thursday morning, stepping out of a
black sport-utility vehicle adorned with American and Vatican City flags
into the chilly San Damaso Courtyard at the papal residence. He was
greeted by Archbishop
Georg Gänswein,
the head of the papal residence, and shook hands with a line of
Vatican officials before inspecting a cordon of Swiss Guards standing at
attention in the courtyard.
"It is a
great honor," Mr. Obama said upon meeting the pope, who was seated
across from the president at his plain wooden desk. "I'm a great
admirer."
At the end of the meeting,
when the pair exchanged gifts, Pope Francis gave Mr. Obama a copy of the
224-page manifesto he published in November, in which he urged the
church to focus more on the poor while bluntly denouncing inequality and
sharply criticizing the market economy.
"I
actually will probably read this in the Oval Office when I'm deeply
frustrated," Mr. Obama said, smiling. "I'm sure it will give me strength
and calm me down."
Mr. Obama gave Pope
Francis fruit and vegetable seeds from the White House garden, contained
in a box custom made from timber from the Baltimore cathedral, the
oldest in the U.S.
"If you have a chance
to come to the White House, we can show you our garden as well," he
said. The pope responded, in Spanish, "Certainly."
Write to Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com and Liam Moloney at liam.moloney@wsj.com
Europe News
Obama and Pope Francis Meet in Rome
Pair Sidestep Social Issues, Focus on Economic Inequality
Updated March 27, 2014 3:50 p.m. ET
President Obama and Pope Francis met for the first time at the Vatican on Thursday. Photo: EPA
VATICAN CITY—President
Barack Obama
and
Pope Francis
met for the first time on Thursday, holding a symbolic discussion
that sidestepped their differences on social issues and focused heavily
on their shared interest in economic inequality.
The
White House had hoped the highly anticipated visit with the popular
pontiff might help draw attention to Mr. Obama's economic agenda. The
meeting also took place against a backdrop of divisions between the pope
and the president on issues such as gay marriage and contraception.
Photos: Popes and Presidents
President George W. Bush meets with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on May 28, 2002.
Associated Press
Afterward, Mr. Obama said that over
the course of 52 minutes in the papal library the two discussed income
inequality, immigration overhauls and international conflicts, including
in the Middle East, but barely touched on a provision in his
health-care law that mandates insurers cover contraception, which the
Catholic Church opposes.
"The theme that
stitched our conversation together was a belief that in politics and in
life, the quality of empathy, the ability to stand in somebody else's
shoes and to care for someone even if they don't look like you or talk
like you or share your philosophy, that that's critical," Mr. Obama said
at a news conference later with Italian Prime Minister
Matteo Renzi.
Mr. Obama said he invited Pope Francis to visit the U.S. and told him Americans would be overjoyed to see him.
Thorny
issues were covered in Mr. Obama's meeting with the Vatican's secretary
of state, Cardinal
Pietro Parolin,
Mr. Obama said. The cardinal raised concerns about "making sure
that conscience and religious freedom was observed in the context of
applying the law," Mr. Obama said. "And I explained to him that most
religious organizations are entirely exempt," he added.
The
Vatican, in a statement after the meeting, made a vague reference to
the church's opposition to the contraception mandate, saying Mr. Obama's
discussions at the papal residence covered the Americans' ability to
exercise "rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious
objection."
President Obama had his first meeting with Pope Francis
Thursday, a highly anticipated visit the White House hopes will gain
support for its economic agenda. Liam Moloney reports. Photo: AP.
In the run-up to the meeting, U.S.
bishops had been calling on the pope to express a hard line on those
issues. While Pope Francis has called for a reduction of emphasis on
such issues by the church's leadership, he has nonetheless strongly
reaffirmed church doctrine regarding them.
The
Vatican statement following the meeting also said the pair discussed a
shared commitment to eradicate human trafficking. The pontiff has been
outspoken in urging a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria, and he
will soon travel to the Middle East.
The
pope has also drawn some fire, however—particularly in the U.S.—for
comments strongly critical of pro-market economic policies. In an
interview with an Italian newspaper this month, he said, "it is true
that globalization has saved many people from poverty, but it has also
condemned many others to death."
Mr.
Obama's meeting with Pope Francis was a highlight of a trip through
Europe that began Monday. The pontiff is enjoying a level of popularity
that far exceeds Mr. Obama's. According to a Gallup poll published
Wednesday, 76% of Americans view the pontiff favorably, compared with
52% for Mr. Obama.
Still, American
church leaders are hoping that the pope will visit the U.S. in the fall
2015 for a world meeting on families to be held in Philadelphia. House
Speaker
John Boehner
(R., Ohio), who has been at odds with Mr. Obama over his economic
agenda, has invited the pope to address a joint session of Congress,
and some are hoping the pontiff also will travel to New York to speak to
the United Nations.
The Vatican has made no comment on a possible visit and normally confirms papal trips a few months in advance.
While Mr. Obama and Pope Francis' predecessor,
Pope Benedict XVI,
had a cool relationship, the White House was hoping for better
chemistry between the president and the first pope from the developing
world. Mr. Obama, who arrived in Italy on Wednesday night, has tried to
highlight the similarities in his policy agenda and Pope Francis' strong
antipoverty message, even quoting the pontiff in his speech on economic
inequality.
President Obama, left, and Pope Francis shake hands during their exchange of gifts Thursday at the Vatican.
Associated Press
Pope Replaces 'Bishop of Bling'
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a senior German cleric dubbed the "Bishop of Bling" for spending $42.7 million on redoing his official residence.
The lift that a nod from Pope Francis
could give Mr. Obama's economic proposals wasn't lost on the president,
who has struggled to get his agenda through Congress. He told Pope
Francis there is still an opportunity to pass immigration overhauls.
The president suggested the pope could play a key, although not political, role in fighting economic inequality.
"There
is a potential convergence between what policy makers need to be
thinking about and what he's talking about," Mr. Obama said. "He's
shining a spotlight on an area that's an increasing concern."
The
president arrived at the Vatican Thursday morning, stepping out of a
black sport-utility vehicle adorned with American and Vatican City flags
into the chilly San Damaso Courtyard at the papal residence. He was
greeted by Archbishop
Georg Gänswein,
the head of the papal residence, and shook hands with a line of
Vatican officials before inspecting a cordon of Swiss Guards standing at
attention in the courtyard.
"It is a
great honor," Mr. Obama said upon meeting the pope, who was seated
across from the president at his plain wooden desk. "I'm a great
admirer."
At the end of the meeting,
when the pair exchanged gifts, Pope Francis gave Mr. Obama a copy of the
224-page manifesto he published in November, in which he urged the
church to focus more on the poor while bluntly denouncing inequality and
sharply criticizing the market economy.
"I
actually will probably read this in the Oval Office when I'm deeply
frustrated," Mr. Obama said, smiling. "I'm sure it will give me strength
and calm me down."
Mr. Obama gave Pope
Francis fruit and vegetable seeds from the White House garden, contained
in a box custom made from timber from the Baltimore cathedral, the
oldest in the U.S.
"If you have a chance
to come to the White House, we can show you our garden as well," he
said. The pope responded, in Spanish, "Certainly."
Write to Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com and Liam Moloney at liam.moloney@wsj.com
Europe News
Obama and Pope Francis Meet in Rome
Pair Sidestep Social Issues, Focus on Economic Inequality
Updated March 27, 2014 3:50 p.m. ET
President Obama and Pope Francis met for the first time at the Vatican on Thursday. Photo: EPA
VATICAN CITY—President
Barack Obama
and
Pope Francis
met for the first time on Thursday, holding a symbolic discussion
that sidestepped their differences on social issues and focused heavily
on their shared interest in economic inequality.
The
White House had hoped the highly anticipated visit with the popular
pontiff might help draw attention to Mr. Obama's economic agenda. The
meeting also took place against a backdrop of divisions between the pope
and the president on issues such as gay marriage and contraception.
Photos: Popes and Presidents
President George W. Bush meets with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican on May 28, 2002.
Associated Press
Afterward, Mr. Obama said that over
the course of 52 minutes in the papal library the two discussed income
inequality, immigration overhauls and international conflicts, including
in the Middle East, but barely touched on a provision in his
health-care law that mandates insurers cover contraception, which the
Catholic Church opposes.
"The theme that
stitched our conversation together was a belief that in politics and in
life, the quality of empathy, the ability to stand in somebody else's
shoes and to care for someone even if they don't look like you or talk
like you or share your philosophy, that that's critical," Mr. Obama said
at a news conference later with Italian Prime Minister
Matteo Renzi.
Mr. Obama said he invited Pope Francis to visit the U.S. and told him Americans would be overjoyed to see him.
Thorny
issues were covered in Mr. Obama's meeting with the Vatican's secretary
of state, Cardinal
Pietro Parolin,
Mr. Obama said. The cardinal raised concerns about "making sure
that conscience and religious freedom was observed in the context of
applying the law," Mr. Obama said. "And I explained to him that most
religious organizations are entirely exempt," he added.
The
Vatican, in a statement after the meeting, made a vague reference to
the church's opposition to the contraception mandate, saying Mr. Obama's
discussions at the papal residence covered the Americans' ability to
exercise "rights to religious freedom, life and conscientious
objection."
President Obama had his first meeting with Pope Francis
Thursday, a highly anticipated visit the White House hopes will gain
support for its economic agenda. Liam Moloney reports. Photo: AP.
In the run-up to the meeting, U.S.
bishops had been calling on the pope to express a hard line on those
issues. While Pope Francis has called for a reduction of emphasis on
such issues by the church's leadership, he has nonetheless strongly
reaffirmed church doctrine regarding them.
The
Vatican statement following the meeting also said the pair discussed a
shared commitment to eradicate human trafficking. The pontiff has been
outspoken in urging a peaceful solution to the conflict in Syria, and he
will soon travel to the Middle East.
The
pope has also drawn some fire, however—particularly in the U.S.—for
comments strongly critical of pro-market economic policies. In an
interview with an Italian newspaper this month, he said, "it is true
that globalization has saved many people from poverty, but it has also
condemned many others to death."
Mr.
Obama's meeting with Pope Francis was a highlight of a trip through
Europe that began Monday. The pontiff is enjoying a level of popularity
that far exceeds Mr. Obama's. According to a Gallup poll published
Wednesday, 76% of Americans view the pontiff favorably, compared with
52% for Mr. Obama.
Still, American
church leaders are hoping that the pope will visit the U.S. in the fall
2015 for a world meeting on families to be held in Philadelphia. House
Speaker
John Boehner
(R., Ohio), who has been at odds with Mr. Obama over his economic
agenda, has invited the pope to address a joint session of Congress,
and some are hoping the pontiff also will travel to New York to speak to
the United Nations.
The Vatican has made no comment on a possible visit and normally confirms papal trips a few months in advance.
While Mr. Obama and Pope Francis' predecessor,
Pope Benedict XVI,
had a cool relationship, the White House was hoping for better
chemistry between the president and the first pope from the developing
world. Mr. Obama, who arrived in Italy on Wednesday night, has tried to
highlight the similarities in his policy agenda and Pope Francis' strong
antipoverty message, even quoting the pontiff in his speech on economic
inequality.
President Obama, left, and Pope Francis shake hands during their exchange of gifts Thursday at the Vatican.
Associated Press
Pope Replaces 'Bishop of Bling'
Pope Francis accepted the resignation of a senior German cleric dubbed the "Bishop of Bling" for spending $42.7 million on redoing his official residence.
The lift that a nod from Pope Francis
could give Mr. Obama's economic proposals wasn't lost on the president,
who has struggled to get his agenda through Congress. He told Pope
Francis there is still an opportunity to pass immigration overhauls.
The president suggested the pope could play a key, although not political, role in fighting economic inequality.
"There
is a potential convergence between what policy makers need to be
thinking about and what he's talking about," Mr. Obama said. "He's
shining a spotlight on an area that's an increasing concern."
The
president arrived at the Vatican Thursday morning, stepping out of a
black sport-utility vehicle adorned with American and Vatican City flags
into the chilly San Damaso Courtyard at the papal residence. He was
greeted by Archbishop
Georg Gänswein,
the head of the papal residence, and shook hands with a line of
Vatican officials before inspecting a cordon of Swiss Guards standing at
attention in the courtyard.
"It is a
great honor," Mr. Obama said upon meeting the pope, who was seated
across from the president at his plain wooden desk. "I'm a great
admirer."
At the end of the meeting,
when the pair exchanged gifts, Pope Francis gave Mr. Obama a copy of the
224-page manifesto he published in November, in which he urged the
church to focus more on the poor while bluntly denouncing inequality and
sharply criticizing the market economy.
"I
actually will probably read this in the Oval Office when I'm deeply
frustrated," Mr. Obama said, smiling. "I'm sure it will give me strength
and calm me down."
Mr. Obama gave Pope
Francis fruit and vegetable seeds from the White House garden, contained
in a box custom made from timber from the Baltimore cathedral, the
oldest in the U.S.
"If you have a chance
to come to the White House, we can show you our garden as well," he
said. The pope responded, in Spanish, "Certainly."
Write to Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com and Liam Moloney at liam.moloney@wsj.com
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