Posted on 12/18/2010 7:58:50 AM PST by Second Amendment First
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.
Having been abruptly laid off last week after spending much of their lives taking bets on horse races, they collectively wondered what the odds were of finding other work to pay the bills anytime soon. Some expressed faith in their skills at dealing with customers who might not be welcomed everywhere, but others feared that their long service to an outfit whose reputation was far from sterling might not carry much value.
“I’ve been out of the labor market for 33 years, so I’m wondering, what can I do?” said Joyce Quarles, 58, who started working for the OTB in 1977. “It’s just that the economy is so bad right now. It’s scary.”
For Ms. Quarles, who lives in Long Branch, N.J., the OTB was a family affair. Her mother was one of its first employees, and her boyfriend and older son also lost jobs when the OTB shuttered its betting parlors across the city on Dec. 7. She could not talk about the closing — and the elimination of more than 800 jobs — without tearing up.
“It’s a sad day,” Ms. Quarles said. “It’s just a horrible thing to do at this time of year.”
She said she had encouraged her son, who is 33, to improve his computer skills and seek work in a technology field “because his unemployment check won’t even cover his rent.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
For Ms. Quarles, who lives in Long Branch, N.J., the OTB was a family affair. Her mother was one of its first employees, and her boyfriend and older son also lost jobs when the OTB shuttered its betting parlors across the city on Dec. 7. She could not talk about the closing — and the elimination of more than 800 jobs — without tearing up.
One of the big problems, obviously, is that these positions were only available to insiders.
After 33 years in the same job with good money managment she should have been about ready to retire.
Such a sad story.
I think this is the only gambling enterprise in the world that can’t manage to make any money.
Correction...
In the words of Howie Carr, to Political Hacks and Lackies...
My guess is they have a relative in the Unions, or a DNC big wig, or an old High School chum that got them the job, and/or the volunteer @ many a DNC calling banks. Or all of the above..
The NY Times thinks it is great that clans got jobs their and others were locked out. I read something that OTB was essentially a business that printed money and they could not make any money. Typical govt operation/slush fund.
Govt gambling operation. Sort of what Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are.
More and more what all of Wall Street has become.
Just like Eddie Murphy said in “Trading Places”, ‘Sounds to me like you guys a couple of bookies.’
LOL! Perhaps they should have the mafia run it.
You can’t protect people from there own stuipity.
Thats because its run by Government
Yes, to become a mutual clerk anywhere you have to be an insider. Another reason is that it’s easier to bet online then go to a betting parlour or to the track.
And when I am at a parlour I only go to the clerk when I’m cashing out a ticket. The betting machines are easy to use and I would rather make my own mistakes then take the mistake from the clerk.
but the good news is track attendence is up in New York and I understand the NYRA is offering shuttle service from the OTB’s to the track.
They should just put their heads together, and start taking bets on horse races...
THis reminds of a story down here in NC. They closed a textile plant that made bed sheets. The local paper profiled some of the people losing their jobs. I recall 2 of them dropped out of HS 30 years prior to take a job folding sheets at the plant. FOLDING SHEETS. While I felt bad for them, I had less pity than I might have since they chose to drop out of school and take an unskilled job and never try to improve themselves. These OTB workers are the same.
Oh SOB SOB, give me a break. get a real job next time one that's maybe in demand anywhere in the country. Move to Reno maybe you can get work there.
When the Mafia ran the numbers which was taken over by State Lotteries, they paid far higher rates of return for winners.
Laid off around Christmas...they still got Festivus at George’s house.
ML/NJ
Sadly - more and more of America is becoming like this. As they destroy or steal more and more of the middle classes wealth and savings - more people will resort to lotto cards. Las Vegas and other casino slums mystify me. Are people that stupid? It is a tax on stupidity.
I can see just about anyone from Vegas or anyone on FR with “Vegas” in their handle being an idiot.
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