GALLOF SOURCE: Mondello’s Pulling Kate’s Strings
Also: So what big news will come out of Thursday?
Brian Daniel Gallof - you know him as B.D. and a few former aliases - provides his take on what’s up with Kate and the Lighthouse crew on his new-ish, gotcha!-titled blog, Islanders Independent. It’s informative, inflammatory, hysterical…the kind of stuff we love. Okay, so he had the Islanders getting a pick and Jay Beagle (another fourth-liner, yeah!) from Washington for Guerin, but nobody figured that drama out. Welcome back, Mr. Gallof.
Me, I’m still trying to unearth what big news story will come out of Thursday’s Lighthouse meeting. Because, I’m tellin’ ya, there’s no way Wang, Rechler and Suozzi are just gonna show the “Meet Me at the Lighthouse Video,” hope a pep rally ensues and say goodbye. No way. Something’s gonna happen Thursday.
Comments.
59 Responses to “GALLOF SOURCE: Mondello’s Pulling Kate’s Strings
Also: So what big news will come out of Thursday?”
Please Wait
Yikes. Now I’m nervous.
CB, rsvp for thursday.. me and possibly 2 more.. def 1 though.. too much money has been spent for them to back out now.. maybe if the TOH makes a decision to scrap it, then we pursue other destinations
anyone who goes, please dont wear anything isles–Go as a businessperson and talk about the economic benefits, housing, conventions etc—If Murray gets more pressure from evryone besides isles fans, then she will get very nervous as those “voters” outnumber diehard isles fans
Murray won’t feel any pressure because she won’t be there.
Now you are nervous? Where have you been? I think a lot of Isles fans have had their respected heads in the sand for a while. I was nervous when Wang brought the team.
All makes sense why young people keep moving off of Long island, same old politics, high taxes & old school thinking, making the Island a place noone can afford or enjoy. A good reminder why I left it. Good work by Mondello and the Republican ass party!
maybe this is a good thing???
For those of you that live in the TOH. Is the Lighthouse project a household project of note? Does everyone non hockey related understand what is going on? Do you think if this became an even hotter topic in the media that more heat would be on Kate Murray and the board there?
Hopefully the big announcment is the Isles are moving to Queens!
Hopefully is that the Islanders are moving across the street from Citi Field
I enjoyed BD’s column today as I usually do. I have to admit, I did not think to ever bring up Mondello’s name in the Lighthouse debate, but anyone over the age of 25 who is conscious of Nassau County politics, would know this goes way beyond Kate Murray. Nassau GOP has always been a machine. It may not control the County govt at this time, but the inheret structure of party still mirrors past years.
Sigh. Sometimes it really seems that Isles fans intentionally set themselves up for disappointment.
Hey Chris is it better to go Thursday as an Isles fan or a resident of LI in support of the project?
Maybe the Big announcement will come from Kate Murray. She will come out from behind a curtain and tell everyone she is approving the Lighthouse project.
It is 100% definitely better NOT to show up in Isles gear. This is regarding serious business and LIs future, its not an Isles pep rally- that is the message that TOH voters need to get across.
The irony of this is that Mondello’s son, Joe Jr., at the very least, used to be a huge Islanders fan. Years ago, we worked at the same law firm. He had an Islanders license plate, you know, the ones you order from the state with the logo of your favorite sports team, with the number “1940.” Need I say what the reaction of Rag$ fans was, even on LI. Last I heard, he was in Washington DC. A shame he can’t influence the father.
Maybe they announce a new Coliseum lease agreement. I believe Suozzi said they were working on it. Would this be great or awful news?
Brett (17) - They could only possibly announce that the framework of a lease agreement has been constructed, as any kind of formal lease can only occur after ToH approval.
P.S. Any such Lease Agreement would need approval of the 19 member Nassau County Legislature and we would therefore know about it.
Sorry about the conversation CB, but Brian that’s what I meant: announce they have a deal in place to present to the Legislature.
the isles are already courting a new 2 year renewal plan for 2010-11 and 2011-12 we got in the mail today… ya.. it sure looks like they are leaving (sarcasm).. their already thinking 4 years ahead…
Calling Nick, Today Newsday reports that Wang and company are asking for 700 million from the stimulus package for the Lighthouse.
I seem to recall about fifty mentions of “not one dime of taxpayer money will go into the Lighthouse.”
So the generational SW was correct. It always comes back to the taxpayers, doesn’t it.
Just as I predicted……….SW
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. It is unbelievable how political parties agendas must come before the overall good of the people. It makes me SICK!
Does anybody know where we are supposed to park for this thing on Thursday?
Right on Brett. I’d be happy if that is the case. Okay that is four comments for me, I’m tagging out.
Jimmy likes basketball. Jimmy likes you Elaine. Who the hell talks about themselves in the third person?
Where was this story???
Sir William you are always right we all know that already. Without your knowledge and insight we would be stuck in the mud.
CB - Forgive me, but I must post and I promise this is my last on this thread.
SW - If I can speak for Nick, I think it was obvious that the “not one dime of taxpayer money will go into the Lighthouse” referred to local tax dollars as opposed to the potentially available (federally tax funded) stimulus money. Context my good man.
I will now retire for the evening and look forward to bruising I will receive from the Blogfather for my rants.
Sir William(22)- I believe the article your referring to (correct me if im wrong) was 1 or 2 weeks ago. And again I might be mistaken but I think somewhere else it was mentioned that Kate Murray herself was behind the asking for the money in order to fund transportation in the area. I also recall reading that The 700 million is a joke and they know they would be lucky to get anything. It doesnt hurt to ask for money though, wouldnt we all. All the commercials now say “wheres my bailout?”. Actually I think Nick has a story about this particular article you refer to. I dont mean to ruffle any feathers SW, I thoroughly enjoy your posts and respect your noted dislike of the project.
Joe Mondello is the Phantom Menace. Does anybody here know Domenico’s in Levittown? Well my friend’s family owns that shopping center and they know for a fact that Joe Mondello who eats at Domenicos for FREE tried to stop my friends family from renting a vacant space in the same center to a Chinese Buffet Domenico didn’t want the competition. My friends dad had to threaten the GOP by saying he would tell Newsday - so Mondello gave in.
I’ve heard so many stories about that guy - he is the reason why Nassau county politics are so curropt. A long time ago he used TOH workers to help him move furniture to his Hamptons home on the TOH PAYROLL! When they should be working for the town!!
SW#22 there will be no stimulus money granted due to the fact that this project is NOT “shovel ready or shovel in the ground”.. but, why shouldn’t charles try to get stimulus money in these times? it’s only going to create tax breaks and revenue up the wazzu in the years to come.. citi field is opening for baseball soon which is a complete joke.. talk about bailouts AND taxpayers money 2X.. god speed MR.WANG
Thank you CB for the link to BD’s blog. I always enjoy reading his stuff. Doesnt compare to this blog you have going here though, but then again there isnt much that does. Any info on what kind of media will be there aside from I assume Newsday-which is owned by cablevision who also owns the Rangers?
Funny thing, one of my co-workers is neighbors with Kate Murray. A bunch of us where going to picket in front of her house…….LOL. Might not be a good idea though……
(13) I wouldn’t recommend coloring your hair orange and royal blue, but unlike others I’m not big on strongly recommending you have to leave your NYI passion behind. This is not Halloween. Go as the person you are. It’s not like Kate Murray will be there to snicker, “Ah, it’s just a bunch of Islanders fans.”
(24) The Marriott should have plenty of parking, even for an expected large crowd. The parking is free.
(33) At the very least, I’m sure Newsday, News 12 and TV-55 will be there. I’d think MSG Plus will have a camera there so they could do a report on it for Friday’s broadcast. There will be some bloggers and perhaps some of the other daily newspapers and local TV affiliates…CB
Maybe Joe Ra will show up as Kate’s representative at the dance. Heh.
BILLYISLE, It was today’s Newsday page A16.
Taxpayer money is taxpayer money no matter if it comes from Washington, Albany or Mineola.
Let the excuses begin…….SW
I just read Gallof’s folly. Full of “sources” and “others” but no direct quotes from anyone. An the TOH MAY be under investigation for racketeering.
Says who?
Name a source. FBI? US Attorney? State investigators?
I didn’t think so.
Gallof has been exposed before.
Character assasination at it’s best.
I thought better of you, Botta….SW
SW,
Who cares?
SS
No surprise after reading B.D.’s article. I have been involved in L.I. politics. Messy is the one word to describe it. The report is 100% accurate. The “What’s in it for me…” mantra is the status quo. I also have mentioned that this was politically driven—Suozzi a Dem and Murray and “R.” The Mondello connection is clear. Murray is not too bright, and clearly she has a puppet master. This is and will remain a huge issue. Mondello is old-school. He will not “allow” a project to go through without GOP credit for the project. No way he lets a Democratic County admin reap the political credit for a project that should have been done years ago under his buddy Gulotta. I hope Wang and Co. reach the point where they simply ask for a straight up/down vote by July. This way they can start looking at other options (Queens). As far as Murray being stupid—I would add one more word to describe her—Coward. As for the Nassau GOP—they may want to figure out some kind of legitimate excuse why they won’t back the project. “The 6th boro….” argument is loose language and means nothing.
After a convo I had last night with someone that works as an engineer for an Enviro consulting company that is fully knowledgeable of NYS’ SEQRA process I’m fully convinced that we may be over reacting to the “TOH foot dragging” process. NYS mandates this process for many reasons … many of them being Federal regulations that if violated … costs the State of NY money.
Kate Murray’s comments as awkward as they are … she may be more nervous about saying the wrong thing … granted … I still think she has to learn a little tact.
I’m going to contact Nick Classic later today and compare notes … Maybe we should get more informed about the process … and Kate should be a little more .. uh … public friendly with her comments.
SW ~ That stimulous money is already going to be spent at the Fed level … might as well get some of that tax money returned to the community to upgrade the infrastucture (roads, transportation, water / sewer) that will support the Light House Project… and the existing aging infrastructure which needs upgrading whether or not the LHP is approved.
#39, This is exactly what is wrong with our country right now. People care way too much about themselves and taking credit and nothing of a positive influence gets accomplished. We need more than ever to come together and put aside our views. We all want the same things in the end, we just have a different way of acheiving them.
this project will take 10 years so i dont understand when the tug of war between parties ocurs since a republican could be in office when things start to really take off, yet its this shortsighted”whats in it for me now” that makes NY so dysfunctional–If in doubt, go look at the progress of the freedom rebuild after billions have been spent–on a hole
In todays Newsday…”Owen Sinclair, 46, a former North Hempstead budget official pleaded guilty Monday to having sex with a 16-year-old girl who had told him by e-mail that she was 18, prosecutors said”.
These are the kinds people in control of our fate
Who is this guy, Joe Ra???
He called me back from Mr. Murrays office and claims to be Isles season tix holder. He passes the buck saying its the county and NOT TOH who is dragging there feet and that if Murray showed up at the meeting she could be sued by the counties for conflict of interest.
Has anyone else heard from Mr. Ra???
SW, I thought it was a joke when I first read Gallof’s words. Sources??? Then I remembered. Its a blog, not a news article.
Thursday will be interesting. I have entertained the idea of leaving Long Island and as ridiculous as it sounds being an Islander fan has always been a factor in me making that descision. If the Islanders leave it will be just one more thing about this place that pisses me off and maybe the catalyst I need to finally leave this once great place.
“… The Lighthouse Development Corporation, the Charles Wang-headed group trying to build a new home for the Islanders as part of a giant real estate project in Nassau County, will hold a Community Education Outreach at 7 p.m. on March 26 at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale, N.Y. The public will be able to comment on the project. Among those expected to be in attendance are Wang, the Islanders owner, as well as Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray. In other Islanders move news, the (New York) Daily News reports officials overseeing the redevelopment of Willits Point in Queens are open to a proposal for a new arena for the club. The location would be on a 62-acre tract of land near Citi Field, the new home of the New York Mets.”
The above was on from a story on NHL.com from yesterday by Adam Kimelman in the “news and Notes” section of an article about Doug Weight.
“Expected to be in attendence…Kate Murray” ????
What are Mr. Kimelman’s sources? I have emailed him and am awaiting a response.
I do hope she shows, but I think there’s a better chance of Avery winning the Lady Byng.
The ToH is supossedly on a 45-day deadline from the 2/24 Town Hall meeting where Choo-choo delivered the D.G.E.I.S. By my calcualtions the ToH has a little more than 2 weeks left to respond. It was my understanding the ball was in the ToH’s court. Let’s see what happens at the 45-day mark. I’m sure nothing will happen, the ToH doesn’t seem to want a Strip Mall in Uniondale. But we’ll see I guess.
The politics go back to Margiotta, forget Gulotta. Without taking any side but the Islanders (meaning not taking sides on the Red vs. Blue political intrigue stuff), please think about the following. I have been a fan since the 70’s, when Big Al D’Amato was still a young guy from Island Park.
For over thirty years I have been hearing about the corrupt Nassau GOP. Is it true? I don’t know, and I don’t care. I do know that we have one of the best PD’s in the country. I know that if you cross the Nassau border into Queens, you suddenly find potholes. We also pay some of the highest taxes in the country, so I guess you get what you pay for. I can go on and on. Are the taxes driving young people and jobs away? That is for another forum.
I am sure the GOP is pissed that a Dem (Suozzi) was the NC Supervisor when this all came to a head, but if you really think that Murray and her political Rabbi’s are waiting for envelopes of cash from Wang and Rechler, or they want to destroy Nassau just to blame Suozzi, I think they already know that everyone is watching. Wouldn’t it be more reasonable to assume that in the next ten years, they at least hope to get back in power? If they did, and they are corrupt, they will still be happy with a 3 billion dollar project in NC, if they are not in power, they are out regardless.
My point? I love the team, and my family, and my heart would be broken if they leave, but I think a lot of the political stuff is a red herring. I believe, sadly, that there maybe opposition from non-hockey fan civilians that must be considered.
Maybe there are 100,000’s thousands of neutral people waiting for the TOH to do their job and make sure they are not sanctioning ecological suicide in the name of economic stimulus.
Let’s keep the eye on the prize, because I do agree that we have the power of the vote, just as Wang said. I am not sure we are as powerful as we would like to be, but I do hope that BD (if you read his article) is right, and our numbers are truly underestimated.
So now this is now becoming a Republican/Democrat issue? This is such nonsense. You’re all being played by Wang. Wang is totally undeserving of being granted the permits he seeks.
I took my wife to the Britney Sprears concert yesterday and let me tell you have bad the traffic was on the meadowbrook, stupid me should have taken Post Ave and gone the back way. That being said, I really hope they know what they are doing with the traffic. They said they would ship people from the train station, is there even enough parking there?? I will be there this Thursday, should be interesting
I have to tell you that if Kate Murray dismissed me as just another Islanders fan if I got up to speak, I would blast her teeth out of her head for being condescending and then I would move to reestablish town residency and run against her myself.
@MSA: This is about the jobs and taxes; hockey is minor issue in this debate.
@Isles fan, exactly my point, but I think the political junk is a diversion, albeit maybe not intentional..but a diversion, none the less.
Follow up on my email to Adam Kimelman at nhl.com. Post #49
He writes:
“I have no information other than the same things you’re reading, but I wouldn’t assume she will or won’t be going anywhere. I would believe something this large being proposed for her district would be important enough for her to attend, though.
Thanks for reading
Adam”
Even though I mentioned in my email to him about Murrays failure to show up on February 24th TOH Town Hall meeting, he responded with this.
I guess he didn’t read the Newsday article about the Suozzi-Murray comments either. You WOULD think she would show up at something this big concerning her town, wouldn’t you ?
signed,
the original Islesfan (not poster 55)
How about an appearance by Gov, patterson? He needs us and we need him. He’s got the infrastructure money to spend from DC and we have the votes he desperatly needs This would make for great positive media event all over the state. Your thought’s CB?
@MSA
There has been little to no opposition whatsoever from the NIMBY crowd (that typically end up popping up in situations like these)
Sad to say that this is all politics, that Murray doesn’t want to do anything because if it is slowed down she can go back to TOH constituents saying “hey look I am fighting for you!” she doesn’t want it to pass because she cant take credit for it…..because this process started long before she was in office.
She is the winner, in that sad case, even though there will be a lot of angry isles fans at her door, their anger will be too little to late.
And to be truthful not enough fans are coming to against her and the TOH board.
We as Isles fans
-here
-on Islandermania
-on HF boards
-Let there be lighthouse
and any other Islander fan related boards, blogs etc. need to unite now.
Not later…. now
I hope i am wrong, i hope we get the Lighthouse for only 1 reason. The Islanders will stay. We need more than hope we need action!
Peter the Nut