State officials announce start of discussions to save NYC OTB jobs
NEW YORK — Governor David Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver announced Tuesday that they have directed their staffs to work with Mayor Bloomberg and the New York City OTB to craft a solution that would allow NYC OTB to continue operations.
The Board of Directors of OTB voted in February to cease operations by June 16, 2008, at which date the corporation will be insolvent and the city would be required to infuse cash into it in order to continue to operate. The Governor said that discussions have already commenced among the State, New York City, the Legislature and NYC OTB.
“NYC OTB provides good paying jobs to its 1,500 workers,” said Governor Paterson. “Given the current economic downturn, it is especially important that we take steps to ensure the financial viability of this venture because of the importance of these jobs to these 1,500 families and to the broader economy. In addition, OTBs should generate significant excess funds that local governments can use to provide needed services and reduce property taxes.”
NYC OTB pays out approximately $90 million annually to New York based thoroughbred and harness racing tracks in return for broadcasting live signals of their races at its facilities. In addition, NYC OTB pays approximately $17 million annually in fees and surcharges to New York City and an additional $17 million to New York State.
Tags: nyc, otb
on 03 May 2008 at 11:05 am # Mabella
It’s Little Italy.
on 03 May 2008 at 11:55 am # Ysabel
Right before Chinatown ate it.
on 03 May 2008 at 12:46 pm # Libby
I really wish the colors could be rendered better. B&W photos with color added to them after the exposure often look fake like this one (look at the man with the green jacket or the people far in the back who weren’t ‘painted’). I often feel distanced from these kinds of touched up historic pics because they are more an expression of what the artist thought the colors of the period were instead a historic look at what the palette of the time actually was
on 03 May 2008 at 1:36 pm # Trent
Only Capitalists wore top hats.
on 03 May 2008 at 2:27 pm # Duana
The bowler hat or “derby” had become more fashionable by the late 19th century especially with the middle and lower classes.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_hat^^This turned out to be quite interesting actually. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in “old-timey” things.
on 03 May 2008 at 3:17 pm # Gilbert
Still waiting on that photo…
on 03 May 2008 at 4:08 pm # Izabelle
there’s some science to properly choosing colors for this sort of thing.
on 03 May 2008 at 4:59 pm # Opaline
and because they are white.Thats the biggest problem people like Wraith have with current immigrants. They are mostly “not white”.