PRESSROOM
TIMESUNION.COM
New OTB complex to open Sunday in Albany
DAILYGAZZETTE.COM
http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/capital-region-scene/2012/jan/21/suffolk-otb-bailout-works/
ESPN.GO.COM
http://espn.go.com/horse-racing/story/_/id/7459202/life-aqueduct
OTB
UNIONS TO ASK ALBANY TO REVIVE OTB
CITYHALLNEWS.COM
http://www.cityhallnews.com/2011/11/betting-on-benefits/
PEP NOVEMBER
2011
DAILYGAZZETTE.COM
http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/capital-region-scene/2012/jan/21/suffolk-otb-bailout-works/
NY1.COM
Lawmakers Seek To Restore Health Benefits
For OTB Retirees
By Rocco Vertuccio
DRF.COM
Updated on 10/11/2011 3:15PM
NYRA to pursue OTBs in New York City
By Matt Hegarty
The New York Racing Association intends to pursue
licenses to open offtrack betting parlors in New York
City, according to written testimony submitted to a state senate committee by
the association’s chief executive, Charles Hayward.
The testimony, which was submitted to the Senate Racing,
Gaming, and Wagering Committee on Tuesday, includes the strongest statements
yet on NYRA’s intentions to operate OTB parlors in New York’s five boroughs, a
politically charged endeavor that needs approval from city and state officials.
To read more go to: http://www.drf.com/news/nyra-pursue-otbs-new-york-city
DRF.COM
New York OTB officials opposed to consolidation
By Matt Hegarty
To read more go
to: http://www.drf.com/news/new-york-otb-officials-opposed-consolidation
THECHIEFLEADER.COM
Cuomo Vetoes
Health Benefit Restoration For OTB Retirees
Posted: Monday,
September 26, 2011 5:00 pm | Updated: 5:17 pm, Mon Sep 26, 2011.
Governor
Cuomo’s Sept. 23 veto of a bill that would have restored health coverage for
about 900 retirees from the city Off-Track Betting Corporation was greeted with
a mixture of “disappointment, frustration, anger, outrage,” by those affected,
the head of the union representing managers said Sept. 26.
To read more go to: http://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/article_a62dded4-e858-11e0-99f9-0019bb30f31a.html
Editorial:
Injustice to OTB Retirees
Posted: Monday,
September 26, 2011 5:00 pm | Updated: 5:12 pm, Mon Sep 26, 2011.
Lack of funding provided by state legislators led
Governor Cuomo to veto a bill that would have reinstated health-benefit
payments for about 900 retirees from the city Off-Track Betting Corporation.
To read more go
to: http://thechiefleader.com/opinion/editorial/article_24a5df04-e864-11e0-9d82-0019bb30f31a.html
NYTORCH.COM
September 26, 2011
Cuomo zigs
and zags on retiree health obligations
E.J. McMahon
To read more go
to: http://www.nytorch.com//index.php?p=4635
TIMESUNION.COM
Retirees of defunct OTB await bill on state takeover of health plan
Bankruptcy of OTB unit leaves state takeover as option
awaiting governor
By RICK KARLIN Capitol bureau
Thursday September 22, 2011
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Retirees-of-defunct-OTB-await-bill-on-state-2182655.php#ixzz1Yk76RmXc
DAILYNEWS.COM
Posted: 12:35 AM, September 19, 2011
The important
part of this artice is "Cuomo also hired
prominent gaming-industry expert Bennett Liebman to
develop a plan for all of the state’s gambling outlets, including thoroughbred
and harness race tracks, Off-Track Betting parlors and racinos."
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/ne
EMPIREPAGE.COM
Background on Bennet Liebman:
DC 37 Urges Governor Cuomo to Sign Bill
Restoring NYC OTB Retirees’ Health Insurance
The state Assembly and Senate
passed a bill to restore NYC OTB retirees’ health insurance; The
union is pressing Governor Cuomo to sign the bill before the time limit
expires.
NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2011 /NEWS.GNOM.ES/ — District
Council 37, the city’s largest public employee union, along with its affiliated
New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. Employees Local 2021, are pressing New
York State Governor Andrew Cuomo to immediately sign a bill that would protect
NYC OTB retirees’ health insurance. The bill, A.5785 and S.4489, was passed
overwhelmingly in June 2011 by both houses of the state legislature – 88-50 in
the Assembly and 51-11 in the Senate – and sent to the Governor’s desk on Sept.
12, 2011 for signature. The governor has up and until midnight Sept. 23, 2011
to sign the legislation.
To read more go to: http://news.gnom.es/pr/dc-37-urges-governor-cuomo-to-sign-bill-restoring-nyc-otb-retirees-health-insurance
TIMESUNION.COM
Capitol Confidential
Blog
On Cuomo’s desk: Sippy cups, NYC OTB
Jimmy Vielkind, Capitol bureau
Posted: 09/13/2011 9:35 PM
– A measure to provide health care benefits to retired
New York City OTB workers. New York City has been providing health care to the
retired workers, who were marooned when legislative inaction prompted the
bankruptcy of the Big Apple’s OTB. This bill would send $4.6 million in state money to
let New York City keep providing the insurance. New York City Mayor Michael
Bloomberg has “concerns” about the legislation.
Bill Restores Health Insurance Benefits, Passes
Both Houses of Legislature and Awaits Gov's Signature
New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr., (D-Queens),
a member of the Senate’s Racing, Gaming & Wagering Committee, commended the
Senate for bringing to the floor a vote on requiring the State of New York to
maintain the health insurance and supplemental benefits received by retirees of
the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation (NYC OTB) (S.4489/Rules).
To read more go to: http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/06/otb-retirees-get-support-from-addabbo.html
SARATOGIAN.COM
Officials say phone wagering center near Buffalo will open by the end of
the year and create up to 60 New York jobs
1. To read more go
to: http://saratogian.com/articles/2011/08/09/news/doc4e41f4915ada9403057716.txt?viewmode=fullstory
NYRA.COM
THECHIEFLEADER
http://netwingsnest.com/chief-7-1-2011.pdf
LEGISLATIVEGAZETTE.COM
Bill would keep NYRA phone-bet centers in state
|
|
June
27, 2011
The Senate and Assembly have passed a
bill that would keep jobs in New York by requiring racing and wagering call
centers to be located in-state.
The bill (S.4876A.7392) sponsored by Senator Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island, and Gary Pretlow,
D-Mount Vernon, chair of the Assembly Racing and Wagering Committee, was
drafted following a decision by the New York Racing Association earlier this
year to locate its parimutuel wagering call centers
in Oregon.
The bill would prevent any group licensed by the state to
collect pari-mutuel wagers on racing through call centers from operating
outside of the state.
"Our state has invested a tremendous amount of money in
NYRA over the years, and it is ridiculous that the new jobs created by the call
center contract will be going out of state instead of benefitting New
Yorkers," Lanza said. "This bill prevents
such a decision from occurring in the future, so that the jobs these call
centers generate will be kept in-state."
THOROUGHBREDTIMES.COM
New York OTB realignment comes up short
Posted: Thursday, June 23, 2011 4:48 PM
by Paul Post
Plans to
reopen a limited number of off-track betting shops in New York appear dim as
state lawmakers prepare to head home for the summer.
To read more go to http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/06/23/new-york-off-track-betting-otb.aspx
TIMESUNION.COM
There's
another smaller group that also sees the session as high-stakes: the
approximately 1,000 former workers and retirees from the now-defunct New York
City Off Track Betting Corp. who were cut off without health insurance when the
betting group shut.
Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/4-6M-set-for-OTB-health-rescue-1429711.php#ixzz1PbgKJbEJ
Binghamton’s
Tom Libous noted that, as well as the ongoing same
sex marriage, rent-regulation/tax cap debate, senators will also likely talk about the unresolved question of how to handle the
defunct OTB system in New York City.
Read it at: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/71292/theyre-baaaack/
CBS NEWS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADYolURxv98
THECHIEFLEADER.COM
OTB Unions Racing Clock To Reopen Some Parlors
By RICHARD STEIER
DONALD J. GROTH: A reverse Catskills
migration?
J. GARY PRETLOW: Will go down to the wire.
LEONARD ALLEN: Sees cause for optimism.
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 5:00 pm |
Updated: 4:54
pm, Mon Jun 13, 2011.
Read more @ http://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/article_d593e826-9371-11e0-99f7-0019bb30f31a.html
THECHIEFLEADER.COM
OTB Unions Push For Legislation After Court
Denies Retiree Benefits
Posted: Friday, May 27, 2011 5:00 pm | Updated: 2:09 pm, Fri
May 27, 2011.
The
unions representing retirees of the Off-Track Betting Corporation plan to appeal
an Appellate Division ruling that the city is not required to continue paying
their health benefits, but their leaders both said May 27 that their best hope
of restoring the payments lay with convincing state lawmakers it was the right
thing to do.
“I believe as I
believed all along that it’s going to take a legislative solution,” said
Leonard Allen, president of OTB Local 2021 of District Council 37, which
represents most of the affected retirees. “The city and the state made a
compelling argument that it’s the responsibility of the corporation, not
theirs, to pay the benefits.”
NYPOST.COM
OTB ruling leaves city bettor
off
Last Updated: 7:44 AM, May 27, 2011
Posted: 12:45 AM, May 27, 2011
The city has been around this track before, but
it looks like taxpayers finally may be off the hook when it comes to paying
health premiums for OTB retirees, it was announced yesterday.
After
five months of litigation, five judges on the Appellate Division First Judicial
Department ruled the premiums stopped being the city's responsibility when OTB
was transferred to the state in 2008.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/otb_ruling_leaves_city_bettor_off_LvyitD89zhCMuPhniGiorI#ixzz1NZOP444w
TIMESUNION.COM
Capitol Confidential Blog
Cuomo: Don’t bet on Oregon for NYRA horseplay x2
Rick Karlin, Capitol bureau
Posted: 05/02/2011 8:20 AM
We’ve reported on this previously: that NYRA was
reporting a brisk
business after it began outsourcing its telephone betting operation to an
Oregon-based firm.
NYRA saw an increase in business after bettors who used
to use the now-bankrupt and closed New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.,
migrated to NYRA’s Telebet operation. A NYRA official
said any job growth through the phone betting would come in Oregon rather than
New York.
That hasn’t sat well with Gov.
Andrew Cuomo, though, who has written NYRA saying he believes phone bets from
the Empire State should be handled by New York workers. This is interesting in
that there’s been no official divvying up of NYC OTB’s carcass.
To read more go to http://m.timesunion.com/tu/db_39924/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=fPHFRkYc
NYPOST.COM
OTB talks on track
Albany plans
betting-agency merger
Last Updated: 6:52 AM, May 7, 2011
Posted: 12:44 AM, May 7, 2011
EXCLUSIVE
ALBANY -- Betting on the Kentucky Derby could
become a sure thing next year if state lawmakers get their OTB overhaul plan
across the finish line.
Two key lawmakers are eyeing a major shake-up
of the state's bookmaking agencies, a plan that could restore horse betting in
the city and put hundreds of down-on-their-luck OTB employees back to work, The
Post has learned.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/otb_talks_on_track_dpDYFhbvcXODr6ITVZapSL#ixzz1LgnsO4Nc
SARATOGIAN.COM
Catskill OTB aims to recapture shuttered New York City OTB's handle; New
York Racing Association likely to oppose plan to reroute wagers
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Catskill Regional Off
Track Betting would take over shuttered New York City OTB’s territory under
recently introduced state legislation.
If approved, the new operator could start taking wagers from New York City
bettors in time for this year’s Saratoga Race Course meet, which will begin
July 22.
To read more go to http://saratogian.com/articles/2011/05/05/news/doc4dc1f9065d9ac435447720.txt?viewmode=fullstory
NYPOST.COM
OTB far from finish line: pol
Last Updated: 10:10 AM, May 3, 2011
Posted: 1:41 AM, May 3, 2011
ALBANY -- Even as forsaken horse-racing fans scramble
for a place to lay theirs bets on Saturday's Kentucky Derby, a key lawmaker is
wagering that a profitable upstate gambling agency can resurrect OTB in New
York City.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/otb_far_from_finish_line_pol_QkJhNbBiGy1mRIOoJwwEjP#ixzz1LLPEVfma
WWW.ASSEMBLY.STATE.NY.US
4-29-2011
Senator Pretlow (Chairman of Assembly Racing & Wagering
Committee) introduces a bill to expand Catskill OTB to include NYC and
reinstate a portion of the workers laid off Dec, 7th
NYPOST.COM
Outsource rage
By CARL CAMPANILE
Last Updated: 9:41 AM, April 29, 2011
Posted: 2:31 AM, April 29, 2011
Gov. Cuomo yesterday blasted the New York
Racing Association for outsourcing to Oregon call-center jobs taking phone
bets.
He called the action "extremely
troubling, given the extraordinary investment New York state has made to
maintain NYRA's viability." NYRA, which oversees Belmont, Aqueduct and
Saratoga racetracks, has experienced a jump in phone betting, online video and
on-track wagering since New York City's Off Track Betting centers closed last
year.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/outsource_rage_25LstsAJ5SA6Xnq9msnmeK#ixzz1L6zwIXOD
BLOODHORSE.COM
NY Casino on Hold;
Aid for Racing on Agenda
By Tom Precious
Updated: Thursday,
April 21, 2011 9:05 AM
Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 3:04 PM
He also believes officials need to address the
state’s off-track betting corporation problems following the shutdown of New
York City OTB and the recent Chapter 9 reorganization filing by Suffolk
Regional OTB.
Bonacic said a plan should be considered to merge
Suffolk with Nassau OTB on Long Island. Senate Republicans have floated bidding
out the leftover pieces of NYCOTB to a private bidder. If that fails, Bonacic suggested officials look at consolidating the
former NYCOTB with OTB corporations in the sprawling Catskills and Capital
District areas.
Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/62599/ny-casino-on-hold-aid-for-racing-on-agenda#ixzz1KGpOBf4K
NYPOST.COM
The Senate was totally responsible for the destruction of
New York City OTB, and now they want to help their own OTB,’’ Pretlow said of the Suffolk provisions sought by the
Senate.
Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/62185/new-york-lawmakers-reject--purse-surcharge#ixzz1ICEuCuHn
NYPOST.COM
'Bettor' biz for bookies
Post-OTB bonanza
Last Updated: 10:17 AM, March 28, 2011
Posted: 2:45 AM, March 28, 2011
Jubilant
bookies say that business has tripled since the city's OTB parlors closed --
and that many new clients are pony players who've switched to illegal sports
betting.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bettor_biz_for_bookies_LMqmkrbhZGRWvm5UHaD9IP#ixzz1HwjTu71S
BLOODHORSE.COM
The state Senate
in New York has approved a measure to pick a new private company to run the
closed New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.,
Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/61937/ny-assembly-approves-lower-purse-surcharge#ixzz1Gm6dXSmu
DRF.COM
Court Order Continues OTB Retiree Health
Benefit Payments
Posted: Monday, March 7, 2011 5:00 pm |
Updated: 12:07
pm, Mon Mar 7, 2011.
MARCH 6, 2011
A NYS Assembly bill to provide health benefits for present and future OTB
retirees.
http://open.nysenate.gov/legislation/bill/A5785-2011
BLOODHORSE.COM
Legislative Proposal to Bring Back NYCOTB
By Tom Precious
Updated: Friday, February 25, 2011 9:22 AM
Posted: Thursday, February 24, 2011 1:12 PM
Two months after New York Senate Republicans
blocked a measure to keep operations going at the New York City Off-Track
Betting Corp., a New York lawmaker wants to put the now-defunct betting giant
out to competitive bidding to get its parlors re-opened.
Read more: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/61543/legislative-proposal-to-bring-back-nycotb#ixzz1EzMMEdy4
THECHIEFLEADER.COM
Bill to Revive OTB In Private Hands Spurs Hope From Unions
Posted: Friday, February 18, 2011 5:00 pm
| Updated: 2:04
pm, Fri Feb 18, 2011.
Two of the State Senators
whose “no” votes helped cause the demise of the city Off-Track Betting
Corporation in December last week introduced a bill that would allow at least a
partial revival of its operations under a private vendor, with former employees
to be given hiring priority and provision made to cover retiree health
benefits.
To read more go to http://thechiefleader.com/news/news_of_the_week/article_9f6ff026-3b7b-11e0-99f1-0017a4a78c22.html
FEBRUARY 23
(Media-Newswire.com)
- Albany- State Senators Martin J. Golden ( R-C-I, Brooklyn ) and Andrew J. Lanza ( R-Staten Island ), today introduced legislation
that would allow a vendor selected by an RFP process and approved by the State
Racing and Wagering Board, to run the New York City off-track betting
corporation and resume operations in a manner that would support the New York
state horse racing industry.
To read more go to http://media-newswire.com/release_1143429.html
FEBRUARY 17, 2011
Senate Majority Leader Lanza
sponsored a bill proposal to reconstitute the NYC OTB.
To read the proposal go to: http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld&bn=S03334&Summary=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y
SILIVE.COM
Staten Island pol's bill would
seek independent vendor for Off-Track Betting
Published: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 5:58 PM
Updated: Wednesday, February 16, 2011, 6:03 PM
By Judy L. Randall
STATEN ISLAND,
N.Y. -- Looking to recover jobs and health care benefits for laid-off workers
-- and bring new revenue to state coffers -- state Sen. Andrew Lanza said he will introduce a bill tomorrow seeking an
independent vendor to resume operations of a reconstituted city Off-Track
Betting Corporation.
To read more go to
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/staten_island_pols_bill_would.html
DRF.COM
02/07/2011 2:51PM
Racetracks, OTBs clash at Senate hearing in Albany
By Matt Hegarty
To read more go
to: http://www.drf.com/news/racetracks-otbs-clash-senate-hearing-albany
FEBRUARY 5, 2011
DRF.COM
02/04/2011 4:40PM
Aqueduct's overall handle down in January
By David Grening
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – While Aqueduct enjoyed a significant
spike in on-track business in January, daily average total handle on its races
was down nearly 10 percent in the first full month of business since the
closing of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp.
To read more go to http://www.drf.com/news/aqueducts-overall-handle-down-january
NYDAILYNEWS.COM
Voice of the People for Feb. 1, 2011
Tuesday, February 1st 2011, 4:00 AM
1. Voice of the People for Feb. 1, 2011
·
. Posted in the Voice of the
People: Thanks for nothing
·
New Windsor, N.Y.: Thank you, Mayor Bloomberg, for taking health benefits away
from
·
·
OTB
retirees, even though we pay our share with deductions from our pensions.
·
·
Thank you for dumping OTB on the state, which
orchestrated a shutdown and put
·
·
some 1,000
people out of work. Although everybodyerybody hated OTB, neither you nor your predecessors
ever turned down a dime of the erybody hated OTB, neither you nor your
predecessors ever turned down a dime of the hundreds of millions of dollars OTB
gave to the city and state. Maybe you can afford $2,500-per-month health care.
We can't. Best mayor ever? Give me a break. ….
·
hated OTB,
neither you nor your predecessors ever turned down a dime of the hundreds of
millions of dollars OTB gave to the city and state. Maybe you can afford
$2,500-per-month health care. We can't. Best mayor ever? Give me a break.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/nydn/form/ssearchResults.jsp?q=otb#ixzz1CoyUoq5p
SARATOGIAN.COM
State Senate committee meets on the future of New York
racing
SARATOGA SPRINGS
—New York Racing Association is the thoroughbred industry’s “central nervous
system” that needs protecting at all costs, the state’s chief racing regulator
said Tuesday.
To read more go to
http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2011/01/25/news/doc4d3f9091f3df5453454295.txt?viewmode=fullstory
THOUROUGHBREDTIMES.COM
Court decision leaves NYC OTB settlement
issues unresolved
Posted: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 4:44 PM
by Frank Angst
Churchill Downs Inc. tracks, and probably other non-New York tracks, will have to consider their next steps following a decision by a federal court in New York on Tuesday that ended the bankruptcy proceedings of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. To read more go to http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/01/25/nyc-otb-unresolved.aspx
DRF.COM
01/25/2011 12:34PM
Judge dismisses New York City Off-Track Betting bankruptcy case
By Matt Hegarty
To read more go to
http://www.drf.com/news/judge-dismisses-new-york-city-track-betting-bankruptcy-case
DRF.COM
Union argues against dismissal of New York City OTB
bankruptcy case
By David Grening
To read more go to http://www.drf.com/news/union-argues-against-dismissal-new-york-city-otb-bankruptcy-case
SARATOGIAN.COM
Editorial: 41 days since New York City OTB
shutdown
To
read this article go to http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2011/01/17/opinion/doc4d34d886f0a63000116708.txt
EXAMINER.COM
NYC
Off Track Betting Shops Remain Closed, Website now Offline
·
January 21st, 2011 5:32 pm ET
·
·
New York
City Off Track Betting (NYC OTB) is no more, folks. In fact, it's been "no
more" since December of last year. And as of last week, the NYC OTB
website (www.nycotb.com) has been taken
offline.
·
To read more go to http://www.examiner.com/horse-racing-in-new-york/nyc-off-track-betting-shops-remain-closed-website-now-offline
Continue reading on Examiner.com: NYC Off Track Betting Shops Remain Closed, Website now
Offline - New York Horse Racing | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/horse-racing-in-new-york/nyc-off-track-betting-shops-remain-closed-website-now-offline#ixzz1BnwqbG00
THOROUGHBREDTIMES.COM
Union calls on state to reopen NYC OTB
Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2011 4:01 PM
by Paul Post
A union representing shuttered New York City Off Track Betting
Corp. workers is calling on state lawmakers to pass legislation allowing the
bankrupt firm to reopen.
To read more go to http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/01/20/union-calls-on-state-to-reopen-nyc-otb.aspx
DRF.COM
Union argues against dismissal of New York City OTB
bankruptcy case
By David Grening
01/19/2011 3:16PM
To read more go to http://www.drf.com/news/union-argues-against-dismissal-new-york-city-otb-bankruptcy-case
SARATOGIAN.COM
Union: Reopen New York City OTB
Published:
Thursday, January 13, 2011
By PAUL POST, The Saratogian
SARATOGA SPRINGS — A union
representing shuttered New York City Off Track Betting Corp. workers is calling
on state lawmakers to pass legislation allowing the bankrupt firm to reopen.
To read more go to http://saratogian.com/articles/2011/01/13/news/doc4d2fb79fa1142135903615.txt
SARATOGIAN.COM
Editorial: 33 days since New York City Off Track
Betting shutdown
NYBREDS.COM
NYTB Response to Senate Questions for 3/15 Meeting on NYC
OTB
Sunday, March
14th, 2010
In response to questions provided in advance from the NYS
Senate, NYTB Board President Barry Ostrager and NYTB
Executive Director Jeffrey Cannizzo will respond with
the following statement on behalf of New York’s breeders at the March 15th New
York State Senate Meeting on New York City OTB
To read more go to http://www.nybreds.com/news/2010/03/14/nytb-statement-for-315-nys-senate-meeting-on-nyc-otb/
SPORTS.ESPN.GO.COM
OZONE PARK, N.Y. --
Though it still has a long way to go to recoup the handle lost from the closure
of New York City Off-Track Betting Corp., New York Racing Association officials
have been encouraged by the increased handle through its Internet and telephone
wagering platforms in the last month.
To read more go to
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=6003439
FOX23NEWS.COM
One group made their voices heard Wednesday afternoon. Former employees of
the New York City OTB lined up with signs and chanted outside the Convention
Center in Albany.
To read more go to http://www.fox23news.com/mostpopular/story/UPDATE-Former-OTB-workers-protest-for-rehire/rg1ENqyeWUuD_71fVm7lTA.cspx
THOROUGHBREDTIMES.COM
Report expected on future of off-track
betting in New York
Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 3:12 PM
by Paul Post
The head of New York’s Assembly racing
committee expects to submit a report about the future of off-track betting to
new Gov. Andrew Cuomo within the next several weeks.
To read more go to http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2011/01/07/report-expected-on-future-of-ny-otb.aspx
DRF.COM
Wagering in December
fell 9.3 percent compared to the same month in 2009, in part because of the
closing of New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation. The bankrupt company
shut all of its parlors and account-wagering operation in early December after
failing to get relief from the New York state legislature.
More at http://www.drf.com/news/betting-us-races-declines-third-straight-year-2010
SARATOGIAN.COM
Editorial: 26 days since New York City OTB shutdown
DC37.NET
Newsroom
2010 News Releases
|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
DC 37 sues and judge issues TRO that protects NYC OTB
Retirees' health insurance
The union also seeks appointment of a trustee to
review OTB’s finances
(New York, N.Y.) – District Council 37, the city's largest public
employee union, along with its affiliated New York City Off-Track Betting Corp
Employees Local 2021, filed a lawsuit on Dec. 23 (Index No. 116602/10) in the
New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan on behalf of retired employees of the
New York City Off-Track Betting Corp. whose health insurance benefits were
scheduled to terminate December 31, 2010. On Dec. 27, the judge in the case
issued a Temporary Restraining Order until Jan. 5, 2011, allowing OTB retirees
to keep their health insurance pending the next court date. The City
subsequently removed the case to Federal Court.
The union’s Dec. 23 complaint sought declaratory and injunctive relief to stop
State of New York and City of New York from terminating the health insurance
coverage and supplemental benefits of retirees in violation of the New York
City Administrative Code §12-126 and of the State’s and City’s fiduciary and
other obligations. The action seeks to compel the State to honor its
obligations, under the law and under express and implied fiduciary and legal
duties, to continue to provide Plaintiffs with retirement health benefits.
In a separate motion filed on Dec. 23 in the United States Bankruptcy Court,
the union seeks appointment of a trustee by Judge Martin Glenn to recover
hundreds of millions of dollars in payments made by New York City Off-Track
Betting Corporation (“NYCOTB” or the “Debtor”) at the direction of the State of
New York (the “State”) to the New York Tracks without corresponding value at a
time when NYCOTB was severely undercapitalized or insolvent and incurring (but
not reserving for) hundreds of millions of dollars in post-employment retirement
benefit and other obligations.
“It is unconscionable that workers who retired after years of loyal service to
the NYCOTB should be concerned that they will lose health benefits and
supplemental coverage for items such as prescription drugs. Some retirees
have life-threatening conditions which require constant care. Loss of
these benefits which they earned would be devastating,” said Leonard Allen,
President of Local 2021 and a thirty-year NYCOTB employee.
DC 37 Executive Director, expressed her outrage saying, “The pain and suffering
caused by the closing of OTB and the elimination of over 1,000 good jobs is now
being compounded by the fact that retirees who devoted years of service to that
institution face the possible loss of health benefits which, for some, could
create a life-threatening situation.”
New York City Off-Track Betting was taken over by the State of New York in
June, 2008. In December, 2009, Governor Paterson authorized NYCOTB to
file for bankruptcy protection. NYCOTB was closed on December 7, 2010,
after the New York State Senate failed to pass legislation that would have
allowed for its restructuring.
Plaintiffs
are represented by Curt Curtis C. Mechling and Alan M. Klinger of Stroock
& Stroock & Lavan, LLP and Mary J. O’Connell General Counsel of District Council 37.
NYPOST.COM
Health
insurance for some 900 former Off-Track Betting Corp. employees was temporarily
reinstated yesterday after a judge froze city efforts to cut off benefits to retirees
of the defunct bookmaking agency
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/otb_benefits_are_reinstated_mvOOInh8OjKBlyBTMbi8CN#ixzz19WAnm9pa
SARATOGIAN.COM
Editorial: 18 days since New York City OTB shutdown
On Wednesday, Dec. 8, the New
York City Off Track Betting, the nation’s largest
betting operation of its kind, made good on a threat to close shop after the
state Senate rejected legislation that would have kept it open. The bankrupt
NYC OTB owes millions of dollars to the New York Racing Association, which runs
Saratoga Race Course. The shutdown could have serious long-term repercussions
for all of the racing entities that depend on NYC OTB revenue. Every day of the
shutdown worsens the real and potential financial damage.
For more reading go to http://www.saratogian.com/articles/2010/12/25/opinion/doc4d16bb9e4f7a7623015085.txt
BLOOMBERG.COM
Union Seeks Trustee for NYC Off-Track Betting
The District Council 37 labor union filed a motion
yesterday seeking appointment of a trustee to sue racetracks in New York state
for receiving fraudulent transfers from Off-Track Betting Corp. in New York
City
For more on this article go to http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-12-23/ltap-sexy-hair-terrestar-blockbuster-cynergy-bankruptcy.html?cmpid=yhoo Middle of article
BROOKLYNEAGLE.COM
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OTB Dead? Don’t Bet on It, Says Sen.
Golden
by Harold Egeln (edit@brooklyneagle.net),
published online 12-20-2010 |
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NYTIMES.COM
Laid-Off OTB Employees Face the Future Apprehensively
By
PATRICK McGEEHAN
Published: December 17,
2010
The ceiling
of the union hall was festooned for the holidays with red and green streamers,
but a gloom hung over the room on Friday morning as a few hundred former
employees of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation trudged in.
Ángel
Franco/The New York Times
Angela Page, 46, of Brooklyn, had worked for OTB for 11
years.
Ángel
Franco/The New York Times
Dennis Ferington, 46, of West
Hempstead, N.Y., lost the job he had held since he was 18.
To read more go to http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/nyregion/18otb.html?_r=1
