Monthly Archives: March 2009
Here is Newsday’s article on the meeting.
7:17 pm - The developers got the crowd they wanted. The Grand Ballroom at the Long Island Marriott is crowded. I’d estimate the attendance at this point at 800 – 1,000. Charles Wang is at the microphone. On the dais are Scott Rechler, Tom Suozzi and LDC President Michael Picker.
7:20 pm - Wang tells the crowd that as many people will get to speak as possible. If they don’t get a chance, he encourages them to reach out to everyone on the dais, even call his office if necessary. “As some of you know, I talk to everyone – not just season ticketholders.”
7:22 pm - Wang: “I’m not one to give up on Long Island. Don’t bet against us on Long Island. We can make it happen.” Later on, he urges everyone to work together “with a single purpose,” quoting a recent speech by Barack Obama.
7:25 pm - Rechler: “The Lighthouse Project is the future of Long Island. It is a defining moment for our future.” He also points out everything he and Wang own in the area. “We are not developers,” he said. “We are neighbors.”
7:26 pm - Picker: “We’ve listened to the community. We’ve modified our plans. We’re not looking to bypass approvals. Government needs to work faster.”
7:28 pm - In a speech many of us have heard before – albeit an effective speech – Suozzi lists Nassau’s four major problems:
- Property taxes
- “Our children are moving away.”
- Traffic
- “Pockets of poverty that people have been ignoring for a long time.”
The Nassau County Executive also outlines how Suffolk County is growing while Nassau is not. “We have to expand our tax base in a creative way. That’s what this project is all about.”
Suozzi on Wang and Rechler’s proposal: “This is the best sports deal in America.”
7:34 pm - Wang introduces all his consultants. “It’s expensive to have consultants.” He also intros many guests, including Betsy Gulotta of the Hempstead Plains Association, Bobby Nystrom, Mike Bossy, leaders of Veterans and Labor groups, and several community leaders such as Joseph Scannell, David Denenberg and Dave Mejias.
One of the most notable guests is Hempstead Town attorney Joe Ra.
7:40 pm - A new version of the Lighthouse Project video that I haven’t seen before – focusing on some of the history of the property - is shown. Charles says the video last 6 minutes 22 seconds. “The site has been waiting 40 years for a new vision, new growth,” goes the narration.
Mercifully, it is not the “Meet Me at the Lighthouse” video. This one deals in real life.
7:47 pm - Wang introduces a 92-year gentleman named George Kleinman, who has been on Long Island his entire life. “I can’t believe, with a project like this, that we have to campain for. I watched the development of Kennedy Airport. We did it, and we did it right. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a great thing, believe me.” Later on, he asks, “What is the answer? What is holding this up”? He also says Labor needs to get involved. “They can do the job.”
Matthew Pemberton, a young student at the Connolly School in Glen Cove, presents Wang with signatures in support of the Lighthouse he lined up from all the kids in school.
7:52 pm - A season ticketholder – saying he is defending four seats as his “real estate” – asks what happens if the Project is not approved. Suozzi: “It will be very hard for the Islanders to stay here if the deal does not go through.” Rechler takes it even further: “I think we lose the future of Long Island.”
7:58 pm - To a question about traffic, Picker announces that the developers have put up $55 million dollars for traffic mitigation. “Unprecedented,” he calls it. Suozzi says he has a plan that will take people from the Mineola train station to the Coliseum in 18 minutes without using their cars.
8:02 pm - John Durso from the United Federation of Labor says he does not want to hear talk of “what if” the project doesn’t happen. “This project has to be done. It has to be done union to be done right. This project makes Nassau happen. This project makes the economy happen. We will go to D.C., we will go to Albany, we will go to the ends of the earth to make this happen. And we will hold everyone accountable who tries to not make it happen.”
8:03 pm - One gentleman reads from the Declaration of Independence and demands the resignation of Kate Murray. Both Wang and Suozzi stand up for Murray and say it’s not personal and they don’t want to “demonize” anyone. Wang: “Let’s keep the politics out of it and make sure we are working together.”
8:10 pm - Nassau resident (and Point Blank reader) John K. talks about how bad the population loss is, saying Nassau has dropped four years in a row. Only Oakland County, Michigan matches Nassau’s lack of growth. “It is a horrendous, horrendous problem,” he says. Suozzi adds that the demo Nassau is losing the most is between the ages of 25-34. John is in the middle of a run of residents speaking in support of the Lighthouse Project.
8:15 pm - I guess I should mention that I’m at a press table with Eden Laikin and Katie Strang of Newsday. The Daily News also has a reporter here. There are also cameras here from News 12 Long Island, TV-55 and MSG Network. There may be others.
8:21 pm - In response to a question about bringing the Nets to Nassau, Wang asks a question back: “Can you imagine, if we had done this project when we first planned, what our chances would be now to get the Nets”?
8:23 pm - Bob Nystrom speaks, saying “I’m one of the oldest Islanders.” He talks about getting drafted by the Islanders and falling in love with the Island and making it his home. He expresses concern about Nassau’s future: “If you don’t grow, you die.” He ends by telling Wang that he doesn’t understand how he’s been able to have so much patience waiting for the project to be finalized.
8:30 pm - Wang announces that there will be “breakout” meetings all over the Marriott conference level if visitors want more detailed answers from the consultants and project leaders about traffic, the school system, environmental and other aspects.
Rechler adds to Wang’s Nets comment by saying the same holds true for big business. If Nassau had the infrastructure, it wouldn’t lose businesses at the rate it is.
8:40 pm - President of Building and Construction Trades Jim Castellane gets the crowd worked up. He asks for everyone who is behind the project to stand. Just about everyone does. He asks if there is anyone against the project. One couple stands up, the woman saying “I don’t want this in my backyard.” Ten seconds of mild tension. Okay, back to the speakers – several of them from unions.
8:45 pm - The veterans of war in attendance receive a rousing standing ovation.
8:48 pm - 90 minutes in, the most powerful comment is still Suozzi’s from 7:52 pm: “It will be very hard for the Islanders to stay here if the deal does not go through.” Other than that, lots of information, lots of support, little drama, no threats, no news.
8:53 pm - More speakers, including PB reader/commenter Adam Cohen, who discusses transportation issues. Suozzi, who’s been lovin’ him some HUB for a decade now, goes on a rant about the need for transportation.
9:00 pm - Nassau legislator Kevan Abrahams, who represents Uniondale, says the Lighthouse Project can be the Town of Hempstead’s “stimulous package.” Talking about the Coliseum, he says, “Think about that property if it goes away.” To his Uniondale residents, Abrahams says, “Think about your property values if this project goes away.”
9:05 pm - Joseph Scannell continues the run of politicians publicly supporting the project. He says he was impressed by Wang because “You took over this thing when it was sinking. You saved the Islanders.” Dave Denenberg speaks next: “Save the Island…Save the Islanders.”
9:10 pm - Bishop Harris from Uniondale says God supports the Lighthouse Project. Niiiiiiiiiice.
A representative from the NAACP speaks glowingly of the 18,000 construction jobs that come with the project. He asks for guarantees that there will be labor for minorities. Labor leaders stand up and give public assurances. They agree to meet off-line after the meeting.
9:20 pm - It looks like the main event is almost over. Mike Bossy is the final speaker. No one from the Town of Hempstead speaks. Press row is told that Wang, Rechler and Suozzi will be available in a scrum shortly. If anything comes of it, I’ll add it to this post. Thanks for following along.
I look forward to your reaction of my play-by-play, plus the Comments of the many PB readers in attendance. My plan is to do a follow-up column tomorrow with my take on the event.
9:40 pm - A trio of reporters huddle with Tom Suozzi. The subject comes up of Kate Murray saying she didn’t attend because of a conflict of interest, yet several Town of Hempstead leaders did show. Suozzi, as smooth on his feet as any politician, is lost to explain Murray’s absence.
I spoke to Suozzi one-on-one for a few minutes afterwards and will include that talk in a followup post.
Comments.
The PB Inbox has received more than a few “tips” that representatives from the Town of Hempstead may attend tonight’s Lighthouse outreach at the Long Island Marriott. If they do, the worst thing that could happen is if they are booed and shouted over.
For anything positive to come out of tonight, attention and respect must be paid to all speakers. Even with Kate Murray’s absence, if any TOH leaders have the grace and wisdom to come – and perhaps even speak – they should be applauded. As a note of trivia, Hempstead attorney Joseph Ra happens to be a huge Islanders fan.
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The Lighthouse Development Corporation has been very tight-lipped about tonight’s format, even to the blogger who has pumped the event every day for a week while Newsday opted not to publish any advance coverage. What we know is there will be addresses from Charles Wang, Scott Rechler and Tom Suozzi.
It is our hope that Wang, Rechler and Suozzi push this story forward, tell us something we don’t already know. On March 10, the Nassau County Executive said he was negotiating a new lease with Wang and Rechler and not waiting for Town of Hempstead approval. The possible announcement of details of a new lease would be something to leave with tonight.
Besides the developers and Suozzi, all community leaders – that’s PR-speak for politicians – will have a chance to address the crowd. This is when, hopefully, a TOH representative will take the floor. Union leaders may also have their say. Just as important, all members of the public will have the opportunity to have their voices heard. The best way to guarantee your turn at the microphone is to sign up before 7:00 pm.
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Suggestion: If you decide to speak and are a resident of the Town of Hempstead, it would be a good idea to let everyone in the room know that you have a vote in the next election.
I don’t know if I’m going to speak, but I am a TOH resident. So consider this my notice.
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As has been discussed at length in the PB Comments section, anyone attending is best-served representing themselves as a citizen first and Islanders fan second.
That said, this is not Halloween. Come as you are. If more than anything else you care about the Islanders, I’m not about to tell you to hide that. I’m sure the developers and politicians will appreciate anyone who brings their passion to the room tonight.
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Speaking of which, we all know some. My lone sibling is one. What a powerful statement it would be if some Rangers fans – TOH or Nassau residents, ideally – joined their friends at the event tonight. After all, people from across all aisles are going to be in attendance. Since this just cannot be about politics, there’s plenty of room for Blue and Red.
We all know how much Rangers fans would miss the Islanders and the Springsteen concerts and the family shows. If you’re close with any Rangers fans, bring them. We’ll make sure the Rangers-Thrashers game is on one of the screens at Champions at the Marriott.
By the way, I’ll probably have a pre-event drink at Champions around 6:30 pm. If you are a reader, please say hello.
Comments on tonight’s meeting and the arena issue only in this thread. Some scrappy hockey, toughness and goal song talk continues below.
(UPDATED at 9:00 am with some additional Goal Song, ticket and Bailey news or views).
Adam Oates used to drive Doug Weight absolutely bonkers in the faceoff circle.
“He’d be there with that half-blade and his incredible strength and hand-eye. He’d just drive forward and grind into you,” Weight said today. “One game he was like 18-3 against me, something ridiculous like that. I said to him at a faceoff late in the game, “C’mon, Oatsie! Give me a friggin’ break, will ya”?
Josh Bailey has had nights like those in his rookie season, but thankfully he has a pair of cagey veterans like Weight and Mike Sillinger to tell him to keep his head up before he puts it down at the faceoff dot.
“I’ve been good at draws at every level so far, but obviously the NHL is a huge step up,” said Bailey, 7 wins and 10 losses in a team-high 17 tries in the faceoff circle during tonight’s 6-2 loss to Minnesota. “It’s going to take some time to get to where I need to be, but I’m not concerned about it. I’ve gotten a lot of advice from Silli and Doug all year, and nothing can replace the experience I’m getting every game.”
Even if the experience is frustrating. Weight didn’t hit his stride until the mid-’90s when he was mentored at the dot by Craig MacTavish. Weight says MacTavish preached two principles:
- Every time you’re in the circle, you have to believe you’re going to snap it back and win the draw.
- No matter how good you’re doing in a game against a particular opponent, mix it up every once in a while so he never figures you out.
Said Weight, “My advice to Josh and every young player is that even if you’re 0-for-4, the only thing that matters is the next draw. That’s the one you have to win.”
Bailey said his time with Sillinger earlier in the season was invalauble. “Silli taught me that I can’t get caught up in my faceoff percentage,” said Bailey. “Focus only on winning the next one.”
The National Hockey League has a flawed statistic for determining the truly effective faceoff men in the game. A faceoff at center ice to start the second period carries the same weight as a crucial draw in your own end in the final minute with your team protecting a one-goal lead.
The league has a handful of characters who treat a first period neutral zone faceoff like it’s Game 7. Weight said he had a teammate a long time ago who only took draws on his strong side. “If you’re more worried about faceoff percentage than the columns that read G, A and TOI,” said Weight, “it’s probably time to think about another career.”
Bailey has no such worries. Paramount to him is learning the craft quickly enough so his coaches don’t hesitate to call on the gifted playmaker for big faceoffs. “Look, if you have an all-timer like Silli, you use him in the crucial moments,” said Weight. “But in time, Josh will get to a point in his career when the coach will count on him to do it all. He’s going to do great.”
GAME NOTES
Minnesota beat the Islanders tonight, 6-2. Since I hosted my Hofstra Masters’ PR course and took the students on a Coliseum press tour, I didn’t see much of the game. A lot of friends grumbled to me that I didn’t miss much. I’ll have to check out the reader Commentary later tonight.
I will say this. Just as I didn’t make too big a whoop out of the late-season wins, I’m not about to over-react to these last three games.
In the postgame, Scott Gordon made a point of saying how good Yann Danis had been until his last two outings. The coach did add, “He wants to make sure that his play up to this point hasn’t been a fluke.”
Kyle Okposo was supremely irritated when Blake Comeau was checked inside the visiting team runway at the end of the first period. The door was opened prematurely by a Coliseum security guard not paying attention. Still, Okposo was irked because he felt two Wild players hit Comeau after the horn. Okposo was also self-critical, saying he can’t let agitators like Cal Clutterbuck take him off his game. Good lesson for the kid.
The latest version of the Islanders’ new Goal Song may be very, very good. The trouble is, the Islanders have now played 36 home games this season. With the latest mix, their fans still don’t know when to “HEY!” It’s time the Islanders found the version they like best, stick to it and score a lot of goals the last 5 games so their fans can learn it for next season. The version they played tonight could be the one. Stick with it. Play it in the pre-game, like they do in church when a new song is introduced.
Our take on the Islanders’ update today on Rick DiPietro (“progressing well and on schedule for the start of training camp”): It is what it is – good news, so far. It’s only March. We don’t know if DiPietro will need additional surgery, as team doctors would not rule out when they shut him down for the season months ago. DiPietro is also not back on skates yet. Today’s update is a good first step, because it sure beats a statement that could have read, “Oh man, he’s not gettin’ better.” No doubt the Islanders will keep their fanbase informed every step of the way during Rick’s offseason rehabilitation.
In case you haven’t heard, the Lighthouse Project public outreach is tomorrow at 7:00 pm at the Marriott. At the game tonight, it was billed on the scoreboard as the 180th public meeting the developers have hosted – and that’s not counting Point Blank Night II.
Special thanks to Bruce Bennett for the faceoff photos. Comments.
2:00 pm - From the NYI: “Rick is progressing well and is on schedule to report to training camp.” No other details are being provided. 5:25 pm - From Greg Logan: Andy Sutton will not play this season. 6:05 pm, NVMC - Talk about the game in this thread.
Comments. Lighthouse survey continues in next thread.
1:00 pm - Today, everyone gets a chance to make their feelings known about the future of the Islanders in Nassau County or elsewhere. This is a one Comment per reader thread.
Here’s your chance to have your voice heard all day by Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and the developers of the Lighthouse Project. Whether or not you’re able to attend tomorrow’s outreach at 7:00 pm at the Marriott, here’s the challenge:
Pretend you are before Tom Suozzi, Charles Wang and Scott Rechler at tomorrow’s public meeting. You have the floor to ask a question or make a statement.
What do you say?
Our guidelines: one Comment per reader. 200 words or less. The question or statement should be about the Lighthouse project, Coliseum development, potential destinations or future of the franchise. Address the the gentlemen as, well, gentlemen. Please spare us the attempts at hockey humor. Not constructive today. Thanks.
Ask your question, or let them know how you feel.
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In hockey news, Mike Iggulden and Joel Rechlicz are back up with the Islanders and will play in tonight’s home match against the Minnesota Wild.
According to Islanders radio voice Steve Mears, who was at the morning skate today at Iceworks, Sean Bergenheim, Doug Weight and Andy Sutton have not been cleared to play by the team’s medical staff.
By all appearances, Yann Danis will get the start against the Wild.
Listen to the call of Steve Mears and Chris King via the internet by going to nhl.com, clicking on Game Center and selecting the home team broadcast.
Tampa Bay lost won last night, making a top-2 draft selection and John Tavares or Victor Hedman in an Islanders uniform closer to reality.
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While the Islanders fumbled their way through a brutal second period in Ottawa on Saturday, there was some talk on the TV broadcast and in our Comments thread about the team looking tired. I had trouble buying it. The Islanders may have played in Carolina the night before and arrived in Ottawa very late, but they are a young team that hadn’t played since five days earlier in Chicago.
I asked Scott Gordon about it the other day. “We got in late that morning, but I don’t think it was that we were tired,” he said. “If you look at that second period, it wasn’t about effort but about execution. We were sloppy.”
A suggestion for Islanders fans or any fans of local teams who might want to rant about the NHL schedule: look at the travel itinerary of the defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings someday. You won’t have any more complaints.
This is a one Comment per reader thread. It’s all about the future of the Islanders. Tonight, I’ll post a game-talk thread and will also have a post-game hockey story.
On April 26, 2000 the Islanders hosted a press conference to announce the latest in a series of new ownerships – although this time you had the sense this would be the final one. I was asked to arrive at a conference room on the penthouse level of the Garden City Hotel at 9:00 am. My task was to take new Islanders owner Charles Wang through the choreography of the day’s events.
I knocked on the door at 8:59:59 am. I was past 30 years of age by then and had experienced enough in the game to be prepared for just about anything. Still, when Charles opened the door and tried his best to make me feel comfortable, I felt like a kid on the first day of school.
Part of that had to do with Wang’s guests in the room when I arrived. There was Tom Gulotta, then the Nassau County Executive. Taking most of the air out of the room was Al D’Amato, who had recently completed an 18-year tenure as United States Senator for the State of New York. It was D’Amato who asked – actually, begged – Wang to save the Islanders because New York and Long Island needed the historic franchise to remain. D’Amato and Gulotta also told Wang it was only a matter of time before the Coliseum property was developed.
Only a matter of time.
I think back on that day, and the press conference and cocktail party with Governor George Pataki and a cast of thousands, and I cannot believe the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and surrounding acreage of asphalt remain the same. As a resident of Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead – and everything wonderful and horrible that comes with it – I’m embarrassed.
Nine years later, and there hasn’t even been a photo op with hard hats and shovels.
What’s different about April of 2009? Actually, something monumental. For better or worse, we are finally at the end of this horror story. Wang and Scott Rechler will know by the start of the Islanders’ 2009-10 NHL season in October if they have a deal with Nassau and Hempstead. If they don’t, consider them very unrestricted free agents.
I have made no secret of whose side I’m on. I am pro-Lighthouse Project because I believe it’s good for New York, the Island, Nassau and the Islanders. I also want what the fans want. I grew up with this team, too. Twice: once as a child and all over again as an adult.
The Islanders have home games on Wednesday and Saturday, but by far the most important Islanders event of the week - make that the decade – is Thursday at the Marriott. I believe that by the end of the night, everyone there will understand what’s going on, and what’s at stake.
At this juncture, knowing the options, I think I’d sign up for Queens.
Respectful, constructive Comments about the arena issue are encouraged. Guidelines. Hockey talk, including TB-Columbus if you’re inclined, in next thread.
Mark Streit was informed after practice today by Greg Logan of Newsday that he is his team’s nominee for the Masterton Trophy by the Long Island chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Streit is one of 30 nominated players. Three finalists will be selected and the winner will be announced at the NHL Awards in Las Vegas in June.
Streit was noticeably appreciative of the gesture. The Masterton is awarded to the NHL player who “best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” This blog has twice bemoaned that the Masterton selection has over the last 15 years became a Disease of the Year award (Jason Blake over Chris Chelios last season?). Streit’s nomination is in the purest spirit of why the Masterton was created 41 years ago.
After practice today, Streit spoke of being put “in a box” by the Canadiens and his deep desire to become a full-time NHL defenseman. When he was on the verge of unrestricted free agency last summer, Streit told his agent that he was to be available for bidding as a defenseman – not as a sometimes dman, sometimes fourth-line forward, sometimes power play guy.
Islanders general manager Garth Snow told Point Blank today that he and his staff were unanimous in their opinion that Streit could be a first-pair/first power unit defenseman if given the chance. “Mark was the defenseman we wanted to play 25 minutes,” said Snow. “He was the player we wanted to run our power play. Everyone on our staff was part of the conversation, and there was no hesitation.”
Snow would not credit a specific scout for the Streit recommendation, insisting it was a “group effort” and understandably wanting to send the message that they hit or miss as a team. Fair enough. So in the interest of informing fans, here are the gentlemen we understand to be major players in the pro scouting ranks of the Islanders: Ken Morrow, Quebec-based scout Mario Saraceno, Rob Cowie, Toby O’Brien and Chris O’Sullivan.
Take a bow for the signing, scouts. Take a bow for the Masterton nomination, Mark Streit.
ETC: Doug Weight practiced on a yellow jersey line with Sean Bergenheim and Nate Thompson. Weight is definitely out for Wednesday, but hopes to play Friday in Detroit or home on Saturday vs. Philadelphia - maybe both. “No reason if I’m healthy to sit on the sidelines and watch,” the center said.
Andy Sutton said he had a meeting with Garth Snow later in the day and would be better able to provide an update on his status tomorrow.
Comments.
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