Bloomberg Says Final Day For OTB Will Be Sunday
June 10, 2008
Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced today that he expects Sunday to be the final day for the city’s Off Track Betting corporation.
He says while it’s sad jobs will be lost, OTB does not support the city and the state the way it was intended to.
Asked if there is any sort of temporary agreement that could keep OTB alive, Bloomberg left little room for interpretation.
“No. What letter in the word ‘no’ do you not understand? It is a permanent solution. We’re closing it down,” said the mayor. “New York City is not going to lay off one cop, one firefighter, or one teacher, so that we can support a bookie operation. Period, end of story.”
Bloomberg said that if the state wants to take over OTB he would not oppose, and that the city would continue to run it if the revenue formula is changed for the long term.
A shutdown would see about 1,500 employees laid off, including security specialist Steve Simmons, a Crown Heights resident and father of five.
“It’s going to be hard for us. Very tough for us and my coworkers, the same thing. So everybody’s on pins and needles in here,” said Simmons.
Sources said a state takeover may be in the works, with no deal yet.
Spokesmen for Republican State Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said Tuesday they were working towards a solution.
A spokesman for Governor David Paterson did not respond.
Lawmakers have offered agreements that Bloomberg rejected. He says the city won’t accept anything but a permanent fix.
At a parlor at 38th Street and Seventh Avenue, all the uncertainty is rattling all the people placing their bets inside, and they place the blame squarely on the mayor.
“We’re like family over here. We come over here, we bet every day. And this guy is just going to close this place down. Close the track down too,” said a bettor.
Others make the argument that some people may be cheering on a shutdown.
“I tell you one thing… all the wives of all these people are sympathetic. You can believe that,” said another bettor.
Source: NY1
Related Articles
- OTB Agency Announces Plan to Halt Operations
- Bloomberg hedges on veep run
- Bet on new plan to save OTB, pols tell mayor
- Will Bloomberg Run for President?
- For Bloomberg Drafters, the Word is ‘Proven’
Comment on this article
