DC 37's Lillian Roberts applauds City Council resolution urging Albany to save NYC OTB

Union's fight to save jobs of 1500 NYC OTB employees wins support of City Council Finance Committee Chair David Weprin and colleagues who urge state to act.

(New York, N.Y.) — DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, leader of New York's City's largest public employee union; Leonard Allen, president of DC 37 Local 2021; other union leaders and members, appeared at a news conference today at City Hall. They applauded City Council member David Weprin, chair of the Finance Committee, and his colleagues for taking steps to stop New York City's Off-Track Betting Corp. (NYC OTB) from closing its doors on June 17.

"I want to thank City Council member David Weprin, members of the Finance Committee and their colleagues at the City Council for taking swift action on this urgent matter," Roberts said. "The clock is ticking at NYC OTB, but, together with our friends in the City Council, DC 37 is fighting to protect the jobs of 1,500 workers responsible for generating $1.1 billion in revenue to the state and city budgets. Today's passage of the resolution by the City Council goes a long way towards accomplishing this goal."

Council member Weprin is the sponsor of Resolution 1235, which calls on the state Legislature to take immediate action to halt the closure of NYC OTB by amending the New York State Racing, Pari-Mutual Wagering and Breeding Law to call for the renegotiation of the statutory payments NYC OTB makes to the state and the racing authority. The current funding formula absorbs a growing portion of NYC OTB's revenues and is driving the corporation into bankruptcy, resulting in lost revenue for the corporation despite the fact that it generates $1.1 billion in revenue.

Local 2021 President Allen praised the Council members for "taking an important step towards saving the jobs of the NYC OTB employees and members of DC 37 Local 2021."

Yesterday, Governor David A. Paterson, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver directed their staffs to work with Mayor Bloomberg and NYC OTB to craft a solution that would allow it to continue operations. Both Roberts and Allen have expressed "cautious optimism" that the issue would be resolved.

DC 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, representing 125,000 members and 50,000 retirees.