TOM SUOZZI ON WFAN
Kate Murray won’t even take a meeting
11:55 am - Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi was on the radio today with Boomer Esiason and Kim Jones of WFAN. Suozzi confirms over 50,000 watts what’s been buzzed about for over a year: Kate Murray doesn’t want anything to do with the Lighthouse Project. She won’t even join Suozzi, Charles Wang and Scott Rechler in basic planning meetings, like the one they’re having today. Listen and weep.
The Lighthouse outreach is Thursday at 7:00 pm at the Long Island Marriott. All are invited. Comments.
133 Responses to TOM SUOZZI ON WFAN
Kate Murray won’t even take a meeting
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Keith says:
Does she do anything? This is the one thing she should be meeting about.
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EdTurner says:
Keith – Yes, she send our lots of mail with her picture on it.
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Mike from Philly says:
Time to go to Queens, sorry TOH, you can rot in hell like most of your ghetto towns.
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Marc N. says:
Ugh. This lady is killing me.
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JayK says:
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen more bizarre and baffling behavior by a political leader in my entire life. Even in my most cynical moments, I just don’t get what she’s doing. Maybe I just don’t understand the world view of somebody who thinks Nassau can move forward by standing still.
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bergie20 says:
chris – didn’t your sources tell you about a month ago that the toh was in favor of this project? i’m confused. if they don’t want us then hello willets point – a place that does want us.
No. They said there was movement, and then the scope was approved…CB
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kevin fitz says:
Like I said yesterday. We all have to accept that this lighthouse thing is not getting done. They NEED to focus on QUEENS. THE PLACE THAT WANTS THEM! I don’t get this obsession with keeping the team in Nassau. They obviously could care less about the Isles.
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Wedregast says:
Murray say hello to getting voted out of office next election. She really doesn’t want her job. In this economy she doesn’t want to add jobs and revenue for the TOH????
Call Kate Murray’s helpline and let her know how you feel. Her number is posted on the TOH website.
http://townofhempstead.org/content/home/contact.htmlIf TOH doesn’t want the Islanders, hopefully they will go to Brooklyn or Queens where they are wanted (and is close by).
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This FRANCHISE needs a new arena immediately. They cannot wait for the Republicans in TOH to stop being obstructionists like their counterparts in Congress. The Isles need to go to wherever they can get a new arena quickly. Is keeping them on LI worth rooting for a team that never has a shot at winning because of their arena? I’d rather see them leave and go somewhere else than that.
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TuxTax says:
Alright thats a step in the right direction by talking on WFAN. Now we need more big media outlets to know and talk about the Lighthouse! I have had enough of major media talking only of A-Rod. People need to know what is going on!
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Dan says:
When is she up for re-election?? Time to vote.
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James says:
I would move to the TOH just so I can vote her out of office.
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Zach says:
dan shes up for re-election in November. Be heard
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The Real Vukota says:
I thought no public funding was the way they were going. Why was boomer and Kim at the end of that segment talking about whether or not the public can stomach more public funding for a pro team???
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Queens, Queens, Queens. Here we go with Queens again lol. If you want to push this team starting a decade-long process of movbing to another county, they of course can- but that would mean abandoning everything that has been accomplished so far and starting literally from scratch. It would take another ten years, and everything that has been done so far would literally go in the garbage. I personally think that is a horrible, terrible, miserable idea- one that should be reserved for only the most terrible of situations in which there is no other alternative other than this team leaving New York.
This Queens talk has nothing to do with what this organization is working so hard for right now and absolutely nothing to do with what they want. In fact, it goes completely against what they want, and in pushing this Queens fantasy you are working AGAINST the Islanders and not with them. This organization would not want you to do that, since they have said that they want support for the Lighthouse project.
I do not want to work dirrectly against this organization and fight against everything thiey are trying to do. I want to support them in what they are trying to do. I wish more of you felt the same way.
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AM says:
When are elections? She has got to go!
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At this point it’s looking like Queens or KC. What else is there?
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bcarey says:
elections are too late. wang will have buyer’s in place before thanksgiving. this team will be in kansas city by the time it is good.
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Chris – It is obvious that the TOH has no interest in keeping the Islanders in Uniondale. Therefore, it is time to start looking outside of Uniondale. Queens County has publically come to the Islanders and offered them a spot in the redevelopment of the Iron Triangle. I am sure that offer will NOT be there forever, it is time to reconize that this will probably not get done in Uniondale. Queens or bust!
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Willis says:
I agree with Chris TMC above. I really want to support this project and do feel it is worthwhile to build.
I just get such a sinking feeling when I hear things like what Tom Suozzi said about Murray. And I can’t believe Kate is being allowed to play games like she’s doing instead of being direct and saying she’s not comfortable with the hugeness of the scope or whatever…just be honest!
I guess Suozzi and Wang/Rechler haven’t given up. So, I will hang in there for a while longer and hope everything will work out in the end. And keep reading and learning about it. -
That was my “G” rated version.
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Tom says:
Run to where you are loved. It’s better than trying to get people that hate you to love you. The ToH hates the Islanders. What should the Isles do?
a.) Stick their pride in a draw & beg to be loved?
OR
b.) Calmly walk to a place that will embrace you, adore you, work with you & want nothing more than to see you succeed?
I think it’s great though The Strip Mall cause is bringing the fight more public. Radio & TV is the way to go…the only down fall? Wait until the ToH prepares a rebuttal. I’m fairly sure the ToH has a story to tell, oh & they’ll tell it! THEN we’ll get the 411 on everything Choo-choo isn’t telling Islander fans.
Come to Queens. Money, fame, money, mo money & a few Stanley Cups await.
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jonsson3 says:
#14 Yea Suffolk! What about the old Pilgrim State Hospital site? Right off the parkway, easy on easy off. No need to worry about the minor league baseball stadium, already have one. Mr Wong, Please look into it! With so many more people living out east now than when their current arena was built, you would surely get plenty of fans going to the games.
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Macch says:
Good luck getting her out of office… She only won by 30,000 votes last election.
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nystrom23 says:
I gotta finda way to register to vote in LI in November just to vote against Kate Murray….she represents all that is wrong with politics.
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isles fan says:
Move to Queens will not take 10 years. Willets Point has all the infrastructure to support the arena. Also, all the permitting will be done on County Level. Time to move on. Mets built Citi Field very quickly.
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TOH says:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/nassau/ny-lihemp2012564076mar20,0,1802862.story maybe she is to busy finding “administrative duties”
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AZS says:
At this point it’s simple just a joke …she’s acting like a child …it’s very frustrating …
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I guess this might sound stupid but I would think a COUNTY supervisor could overrlue a TOWN supervisor in their county or am I wrong???
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Isles4Life says:
I think its time for everyone to start facing facts here. First we have Kate Murray, who DOES NOT want this project getting done. She wants nothing to do with it and its blatantly obvious at this point. Unfortunately, she has way too much power in this situation. Second, we have an owner who wants the entire area redone not just the coliseum (which I agree with) but honestly, where does that leave the TEAM? It leaves the team in limbo, and how is the team supposed to get to the next level that way? I hate to say this, but is voting her out even possible? I hear ISLANDER FANS publicly supporting this and the project, but where is the GENERAL public doing this? Everyone I speak to is either ambivalent or doesnt even know about the project! Thats hard to hear, but its reality. This has been going on far to long and it looks like there is no end in sight. Heartbraking.
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Frank James says:
Kate Murray is more concerned with the development of Center Lane in Levittown right near her house.
She lives by my in laws and it seems all she cares about is that shopping center.
That seems to be the extent of her involvement in the town of Hempstead. -
Mikey says:
I am sickened by this irresponsible, cowardly joke of a politician. How can she purport to be against something if she doesn’t even attend the planning meetings and engage in a dialogue with the developers?
Can Chris or someone else here explain to me her authority in this whole process? I know the ToH is responsible for approving the Zoning Variance, but exactly how much power does Murray have in this process? What if other members of the Town Board approve of this project? Does she have veto power over this? I am not schooled in the local political process, so I’m just really confused right now.
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bri says:
she is a moron, why wouldnt you want to help out LI. you put a ton of people to work, and it will be great for everyone. on the other side you move the team to Queens, and you will get a bigger fan base no questions. you have the LIRR right there. you can have people coming for everywhere with a train line. look at the devils and Rangers.
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Jfnisles #31: — you’re wrong. It’s a bizarre aspect of New York government, and I don’t think you’d find it anywhere else, this strange conglomeration of counties, towns, villages, school districts, water districts, fire districts, library districts…I could go on. But it’s very clear: the zoning issues are the provence of the towns.
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Jim From St James says:
This is mostly a Repub Vs Dem situation here, The TOH government is primarily republican, and I think that Wang & Rechler have aligned themselves with Suozzi, a democrat who finally got into office after Gulotta basically bankrupt the county with sweetheart deals.
Kate & her local party are still feeling the effects losing control over the county. Giving Suozzi what he wants is kind of like the local town gov giving in, they would rather see Souzzi fail so they can get a Repub back in office in Nassau Co., and back to business as usual like it was with Gulotta. I will put money on the fact that if the Lighthouse doesn’t get done, after souzzi is out, a giant Condo complex will appear on those grounds, cause that’s how a builder will make the most $$$. It’s got nothing to do with hte team, but with the Ego’s of our local pol’s, sad, very sad.
Suffolk tried to make an offer a few years ago for the SCCC west campus/Pilgram st. land off of Ex 53 on the LIE, but that died the same way…
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I wish the COMMENT GUIDELINES were not in effect for this post. There are a large number of inappopriate words I would love to use at this moment to describe my feelings towards Kate Murray. My post would be completely disturbing, blunt, crude, violent, and terribly wrong in every sense of these words. I will hold back only because I like CB and I don’t want to go against the rules. I just hate Kate Murray, enough said.
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d-man says:
some of you give up so easily and coming from fans of a sport that is all about persistence… it’s strange. and many of you are so easily distracted like a kitten and a flashlight. one guy in queens says come here and you just jump on that bandwagon with no understanding of what wang needs to make his money back from this sinkhole. wang and rechler and suaozzi wouldn’t be wasting their time if there was no hope and i trust that they know more about the reality of the situation than anyone here… maybe even cb. (no offense chris)
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Kate Murray is an absolute JOKE of a politician. What has she done since she’s been in office? Does she work? She dragged her feet on the Courtesy Hotel situation, she is not even standing up, let alone drag her feet on the Lighthouse. What has she honestly done to help the ToH??? I think it’s time, we as voters stand up and make our voices heard.
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that being said… it’s ridiculous suozzi can’t even get murray to meet
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Don’t know much about this situation. I try to follow it as best I can. Is this something that we can done without her? Can they say OK we don’t need you and go ahead with the project? Or is she the final say and whatever she decides that’s it?
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Richie says:
Kate Murray sucks…I wish there was a way to impeach her over this nonsense
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Show of hands here islanders fans, how many of you have given money towards the elections funds of our local polititions? cause those are the people she is listening too.
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DEAD of the Dawn says:
In a nut shell, politicians work for their constituents, what do they want? Is there a voice within the TOH other that Kate Murray who is willing to speak up?
I just don’t understand what is going on. If Tom Suozzi is willing to speak out in favor of the project, why does Murray remain silent?
Also I heard that PB had a super amount of hits as well as comments re. the Guerin trade rummors over the week leading up to the trade deadline. I know checked every time I had a chance….but
What gives people? Speak up about this, the “Lighthouse” as well as what happens to the (KC)Islanders seems a whole lot more important…
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CB please don’t ban me, this is the only site I go to now, I even stopped going to “the site that shall not be named”, never gave him a 20 spot though…
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UIF says:
I think it’s all greed on all sides, personally. Murray is likely bought off by interests against the project, and Suozzi by interests for it. Wang won’t consider Queens even if the county paid all the costs of putting up the most amazing arena in all of sports that was guaranteed to make money, because he wouldn’t own all of the surrounding real estate, so he wouldn’t make as much money as with the Lighthouse deal. The Isles fans are caught in the middle, told to march for the cause, and we do because we all want our team to stay. Just my opinion…maybe it’s partially or completely wrong.
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PreOriginal says:
Willetts Point. The 7 train. The LIRR. A blue-and-orange tie-in campaign with the Mets. An area pinpointed for gentrification. 20 minutes from Nassau County. Please, Wang, please.
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Pete M says:
So who’s got you in their pocket Kate? It certainly can’t be your constituents, since they’ve never been asked if THEY want this project to happen.
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C. Felix says:
Wang wants an answer before the begining of the next season?
I think it is time to say good-bye to the Isles.
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she is prob on vacation again not doing any work ice again. i really think my 8 year old son can do a better job then this joke murray. i really dont think there is one thing she has done. can anyone name anything. please let me know.
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Adam says:
PreOriginal (49) – perfect points, exactly what i have been saying about Queens, exactly
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Jethro09 says:
I’ve been saying this all along (not that it was that hard to see): Murray wants no part of this vote or project. Murray is the entire problem here. This entire project is being held up (and maybe rejected) by one politican. 60,000 temporary jobs and 19,000 permanent jobs for the Town of Hempstead/Nassau County, in a deep recession, are being thrown away by one politican. Millions in tax revenue for a cash-strapped county and town are being thrown away by one politican.
Its sad to think that if this team moves, it will all be becuase of one politican. Murray is a horrible politican. The epitome of self-preserverance. Her primary focus is on keeping her job and not doing what’s best for her constituents. If she doesn’t approve of the project, fine that’s her perogative. But as an elected official, she has an obligation to vote on all proposals that may help or hurt her constituents and explain her position. It is unprofessional and unethical for her to sit on the vote for this project and hope it goes away on its own.
The only answer to this problem for not only Isles’ fans, but TOH residents, is to vote her out and get someone else in office that at least has the seeds to take positions on controversial issues and stand by them.
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#49 I agree.
The fact is Wang doesn’t NEED the Islanders to be part of the “lighthouse” thing. He can probably save a lot of dough just making a state of the art convention center. He can still build this monstrosity in Nassau AND have the Isles in Queens.
The Islanders & “The Lighthouse” are 2 separate & distinct entities. IMHO, Charlie is treating them as one unit because if it wasn’t for Islander fans nobody would support the damn thing, at least not outwardly. I don’t hear or see too many “business advocates” or “regular” citizens yapping positively about the LH. I do hear from a lot of Islander fans who live NO WHERE near the coliseum supporting this project. What about the people of Uniondale? What do they think about not being able to get ANYWHERE without sitting in a 2 hour traffic jam?
There’s zero infastructure. Everybody going to Coli for concerts or Islander games will be in cars. Where’s the transportation Hub to alleviate the traffic the fine people of Uniondale will have to endure several nights a week? Remember once they revamp the Coli, they’ll have plenty of non-hockey events. Who speaks for the citizens of Uniondale? It ain’t Choo-choo & it ain’t Suozzi.
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Pat says:
Murray is an absolute joke. I wish I could say how I really feel, I’m sure just like everyone else does. She needs to be booted out of office in Nov. I am starting to get concerned because as a Islander fan from day 1, I can’t beleive she is going to kill this project. Beleive me it’s not only good for the Islanders, it’s good for all of Long Island. Everyone needs to be there on Thursday and let them know where not going to stand for Murray and her own agenda. I’m so frustrated it’s getting me crazy. Get her out of office.
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
I’ve said in the past … it isn’t wise to demonize Kate Murray because you are drawing a line in the sand and putting her on the other side as an opposition.
The problem with Kate Murray is that she does a good job of demonizing herself by not saying anything about the project as if she’d love to see it done.
Others have said Wang and Rechler wouldn’t be going through all this if they didn’t have confidence that the TOH would approve of the project. When I saw Wang with Howie Rose … I didn’t see confidence. I saw frustration.
Threatening to vote Kate Murray out of office is too late. What voters need to do is get at the other TOH board members … and let them know that they are also on notice … and to voice that dissatisfaction with the Republican party HQ in Nassau letting them know you want them to present Republican candidates that support the project or Nassau and TOH is going to look like the US Congress.
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Smitty031 says:
If she’s up for re-election in November does anyone know if her opponent is FOR the Lighthouse?It’s up to the people of TOH to remove her from office.Do it the way of the Democrat Party, vote early and often!!
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Re: Queens.
You cannot discount Queens … b/c the alternative is a lot uglier.
Queens should be used as plan B … We know that it wouldn’t be done over night … but if Wang went back to Queens and said … show me what you would like to do by August … and I’ll have a better idea in August of whether that alternative is desirable … Then with that … there would be a little more pressure for the TOH to respond. I don’t think you can ask more from Wang and Rechler at this point.
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That’s my whole point Tom. Nobody knows what the residents of the Town of Hempstead wants because no ones ever asked them. Kate Murray is supposed to do what her constituents (those same town residents) want. How can she be against it when she has no idea whether her constituents want it?
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C.J. says:
Anyone w/a different view on my post that was previously deleted? (CB, I recognize you need to keep things tame.)
This woman is an abomination.
She’s worthless, pig-headed, and needs to be outted from office.
I said it before and I’ll say it again, the Isles will land in Queens. Being from NJ, I’m perfectly fine w/this.
I fear for what will be in terms of the ToH. There’s simply nothing there. The Isles leaving will only drag that dump down even further.
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Suozzi didn’t paint a pretty picture of KM / TOH’s support for the LHP. I wouldn’t expect him to as a potential opponent of Kate Murray. I tend to read between the forked tongue of politicians (synic in me) …However … Tom kinda called Kate out … and Kate can no longer cower behind her desk and have assistants answer her calls and emails. If she has any political will … she’ll give TOH residents a clue as to where she stands… as Wang said … Yes or No.
She owes that to the voters … and to those that gave her the power to make decisions … our forefathers who put their lives on the line for liberty … veterans and deceased heros who fought so she’d have a voice in government.
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Bri on Li says:
How much power does Murray actually have? Is she the only person in TOH with the power to say yes or no? I am unsure of the checks and balances within the town, but it would seem ludicrous for her to have ultimate power in this decision.
The real question is why she is being allowed to do this by the GOP? The TOH is the last stronghold for Republicans in Nassau county. Is it worth her political career to make this stand? And if she is indeed making a stand, why is she not saying anything publicly about it???
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Anyone who thinks there is an actual proposal or county approval process in Queens/Suffolk is completely mistaken. NOTHING has been done there, and nothing would BE done there for years. If you wanted Queens/Suffolk, you should have started that fight years ago.
If Islanders fans break off into Queens/Suffolk pipedream faction groups, mere suggested notions that are nowhere near proposals and have nothing whatsoever behind them other than vague mentionings, the very decision to do so could kill this team here in NY more than ANYTHING Kate Murray could do. The only hope the Islanders have is to stand by the support they have already garnered in Nassau county and for fans to unite together behind them. Otherwise, you could very well chase the team we all love away from us forever.
Queens is nothing but a desperate, last-ditch effort that should only be contemplated if ALL else fails. And there is nobody here with the knowledge to presume things are at that point right now. If the Islanders are still working for this, then Im right behind them. I am NOT going to fight against the goals and objectives of this organization and push them out of NY.
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Chris TMC(17): What are you talking about? The “Islanders” support the Lighthouse? Do you think Bruno Gervais or Kyle Okposo give a rat’s a** about the Lighthouse? How about DP or Garth Snow? They don’t care about the Lighthouse. They care about a new arena to help get fans interested in the team again and to help draw free agents to want to play here.
The “Islanders” don’t care about the Lighthouse, their owner does. As a fan, I don’t care where they play, as long as its somewhere on Long Island/Queens/Brooklyn. I don’t want to see the team move and if supporting a move to Willets Point keeps the team in New York, I’m all for it.
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What the Lighthouse Development needs to do is send out a questionnaire and see what the response from the immediate locals is. I’m sure it would be a very favorable response. (if not, throw away the results and never mention anything)
Bring the favorable stats to Kate and tell her that her constituents do want this. -
eye on the island says:
everyone needs to calm down-for all the political angles on the deal go check out lettherebelighthouse.blogspot.com before ranting and raving about what could be done.
her absence(while disheartening) is not the end all be all. there is a toh legislative body-and republicans on that body are not uniformly behind the supervisor in this matter.
the deal is far from dead, just show up next thursday and if you live in the town(or dont and want to pretend you do) call you legislator and voice your concern about the lack of support on the lighthouse project coming from the elected officials.
public activism gets results, so lets channel the anger away from the message board and to our phones(which politicians take very seriously).
and as for her winning by 30,000-it was something like 60k to 30k in a town w/ 800k residents. she could easily be defeated if turnout increases.
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admin says:
Unless everyone wants to post authentic headshots alongside their real names in the Comments section, let’s please lose the name-calling and the stuff about how people look. Thanks…CB
Comment Guidelines:
http://www.islanderspointblank.com/2008/12/comment-guidelinesthese-are-effective-immediately/
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#67 are you a politician? spin awayyyyyy
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Healy says:
The question has come up numerous times as to what Kate Murray’s power is. While this is not specific to the light house project, this is from her website and is her job description:
The supervisor serves as the chief executive officer of town government. She presides at all town board meetings, directing the legislative and administrative functions of that body. The supervisor also oversees the day-to-day operations of a municipal government of 24 departments, employing just under 2,000 people, and providing services to some 762,000 residents. As the chief financial officer of the township, the supervisor is responsible for the creation and the implementation of a town budget of $383.5 million.”
Ironically one of the things she’s supported is a hockey program at Newbridge rink
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jon from nj says:
The thing is…we don’t even know WHY she wants no part. That is what is ridiculous. At least say something.
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Boycer says:
Maybe it’s just me, but I feel if this were the Nets trying to come back to Nassau, this would’ve been done in a heartbeat.
The only thing we can do as Isle’s fans is try and show these people that there IS interest. Go on Thursday but better yet GO TO THE GAMES. The only way to show there is interest is by doing so through attendance figures.
That’s just my two cents.
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in response to 71- we actually do have an idea as to why
theres a good chance she could be the opponent to suozzi in the upcoming nassau county executive. if thats the case, its an obvious and tremendous wedge issue on which to run a campaign.
this is the last time im plugging nick but it needs to be read as its vital to the overall discussion.
lettherebelighthouse.blogspot.com
read it for all the politics involved in the deal
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TMC – “Nothing” has been done with KC either, but it is a very real possibility the team will land there, and it wouldn’t be years.
That said, if Wang sells to someone who would move the team out of NY without exploring a move to areas in NY that have expressed interest, I hope we’d all agree that would be criminal to the fans that have supported Wang and his gigantic real estate proposal because we wanted the team to stay.
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mrlbem says:
Newsday has an article up on the Suozzi interview with Boomer and Kate’s response. Now she’s saying it’s a conflict of interest for her to opine on the project before the approval process is over. Perhaps someone can post a link.
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All you #65, all you!
Charlie wants to make a boat load of money and he’s convinced some Islander fans the ONLY way the Islanders can make him money is if he builds what suits HIS dreams. Not mine. Obviously not yours & certainly not the players.
As far as I’m concerned, Choo-choo can take the $100 million dollars the state or the county gave him & improve the coliseum. This ALL used to be about SMG & poor lease deal. NOW Charlie is saying it’s ALL about the 16 acres or whatever that HE wants. Charlie is trying to change the rules and attempting to manipulate Islander fans. What happened to buying out SMG & renegotiating a better lease? What? That idea’s in the toilet? Charlie wants HIS way, as usual. If he doesn’t get HIS way he cries & plays the victim card. Charlie you ain’t no victim. Your a multi-billionaire who can’t stand the word ‘no’, aka your rich spoiled “Brat”.
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Bryan says:
She won last time by 30,000 votes but I dont think it will be hard getting 30,000 pissed off Islander fans to the voting polls. Mark my family and I down for 3 votes now time to find the other 29,997.
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John Keitz says:
Well, since Kaiser Kate is running the show there, I suppose a fantasy outcome for me would be for the Isles to move to Vegas in an arena built by the owners of Treasure Island resort. Then they could become the Las Vegas Islanders (and I could go to a game or two). I’m just under 400 miles from Vegas, so I’d definitely go to some games!
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2 Interesting things he mentioned.
1) the county will GIVE Wang the property if he invests the millions to develop it? I thought it was still a rental proposition.
2) Getting people from SUFFOLK to the Coliseum without their cars. Yes. I’d love to know how that can be done myself. -
Okay #75, that’s good to hear and is probably a fair statement for her to make too. But it is still in her best interest to come to the community outreach meeting. She can defer all she wants to the developers and tell us that she’s here to learn like we all are and possibly won’t be able to answer any of our questions, but that is where she should be if she wants her political career to continue.
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Smitty — #31 — no opponent yet that I know of, but I have no doubt that for the Democrats, this will be issue 1,2 and 3. Town issues are usually pretty boring. The Democrats must be salivating at the prospect of running on an issue that the people can understand. The problem, of course, is that Wang is saying he wants clarity before the hockey season starts, and Election Day isn’t until November.
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65 Jethro09 (65): ‘The Islanders’ meaning the Islanders organization. If I was talking about the players themselves, I would have said the players. I have no idea why you thought that I was.
eye on the island (67): That was a great level-headed post.
It honestly amazes me how rare expressing objective behavior as a means to an end really IS, as opposed to allowing your id and its strive for immediate gratification rule above all. -
Ed in Westchester Formerly of Mastic says:
The county for YEARS has wanted to develop the entire area (The HUB). Charles Wang has offered to do so. The county if ready to give him a lease to do so. Part of the re-development includes renovating the arena. As it stands now, it sits in an empty area. Fixing up the surrounding area will only be a benefit.
74 – KC has an arena ready. It’s empty except for concerts. Isles could move there quickly.
76 – the state has yet to give any money towards the project. And the COUNTY has to get rid of the lease, not Charles Wang. And who’s to say SMG would take any sort of deal? And who would pay for it in any event?
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Rob says:
I just have a bad feeling about this – I’ve never had that gut feeling that KM would approve of this – But my fingers are crossed
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Isles4cups says:
Boy, I can’t tell you how this situation sounds so similar to the Winnipeg situation or 1996.
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Alex O says:
To those that are taking Political sides on this just remember this. If Wang and Co do not get this project approved, they will not keep the Isles here. One way or another whether the Dems get their way (Wang develops this) or the Reps get their way (somebody they pick develops this) that property will get developed. In one scenario we get to keep our team, in the other we dont unless one of you wants to buy it from Wang and keep it afloat while this gets sorted out. As an independent I know which way I want it for my selfish Isles oriented reasons. Sometimes as far as im concerned Politics be dammed, let me keep my team here. I could care less which rich developer gets to make $ out of this and contributes $ to which party in order to do so.
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Alex O (87): You are painting this out to be some “Dems are for it Reps are against it” thing but that is really not the case here. Republicans have spoken out in favor of this project as is.
http://www.nassaucountygop.com/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC={3E7C2185-BEF3-4780-BD43-7EAE653FCF40}&DE={5F810801-6024-4926-989E-B6B40202738C}
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Chris TMC (65): The organization doesn’t care about the Lighthouse either, unless you consider Wang the entire organization. Wang cares about the Lighthouse. I’m sure Isles’ executives (other than Chris Dey) could really care less if the Lighthouse is built. They are concerned with the team getting a new arena.
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Ed (84), That’s kind of my point…it could happen quickly even though no negotiations have been held between the city and the Islanders up to now. I don’t think a move to anywhere in NY would take as long as ppl think either, even if there is no arena. If the area in question (Queens, for the sake of argument) and the team were on the same page with an arena, and there is no major surrounding real estate deal attached, it could probably happen fairly quickly, as it did with the Mets and Yanks. I’m resigned to the fact that will probably never happen though, and am still waving a little Lighthouse banner instead.
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ChrisTMC if thats so then let them vote against her and pass it, Im sure if that was the case this wouldnt be an issue. LI Politics are notoriously along party lines.I can honestly say that in some things Im Rep and in some things Im Dem. As far as this project which I see as a fight of who gets to make $ developing this Im for anybody who keeps my Isles here because in the end most likely I will see no profit my way whichever side wins thats better than keeping my team here. Call me selfish but Im pro Isles.
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WildcatChris says:
Enough with the Queens talk…everyone and I mean EVERYONE needs to focus on getting this done before we talk about moving the team to Queens. Support the Lighthouse, and if we hear it’s a definite no, then plead for Queens. Right now, plead for the Lighthouse.
No reason to be divided…
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UIF – Queens won’t happen simply because the city still doesn’t own all the land in the iron triangle yet. and it will be years before it does. then they would have to clean up the area of all the decades of garbage and toxins.
It’s a pipe-dream.It’s either the lighthouse or KC.
As someone who remembers the Dynasty, it saddens me that they may move.
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isles99 says:
in regards to the newsday write up about suozzis interview, kate murray has the time to do an interview rebutting what suozzi had to say but she doesnt have the time to attend the meetings because its ” a conflict of interests”. She just happenes to be working on the project the same day they have a meeting. This is analogous to her taking a vacation when the other meeting happened and not showing up for the toh nights at the collesium. Its time to vote her inflated you know what out of office.
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Darren says:
God I HATE this women!
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To all the Queens backers, please note that New York City has a reputation for being as almost impossible a place to get anything done as Nassau. The site where presumably some arena would go — where all the auto repair shops are now located — is being eyed for eminent domain takeover, but we’re a long way from that. Please…get real! Queens is wishful thinking at that point. The reality of Kansas City’s arena, or potential ownership in Hamilton, makes the Queens idea look like what it really is: a pipe dream.
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JKP in Halifax says:
I don’t live there, but I don’t understand how obstructing a high-profile, shovel-ready job creation project on the scale of this project gets one re-elected in this economic environment.
Perhaps someone could explain to me how an opposing candidate in the next election doesn’t trot out the unemployment rate and compare it to the number of jobs she obstructed and totally trounce her at the polls.
At a time when everyone is looking to the government to provide money for “stimulus” you have a government obstructing private money that would be very stimulative.
The logic and politics of her position simply don’t make sense to me, an outsider looking in.
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IslesPassion21 says:
We have a couurpt government…
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“I am proud that the Town of Hempstead has reached this important milestone in record time. The approval of the scoping document is a key step in the process of the most significant development proposal for Hempstead Town in a generation. Town staff will continue to work efficiently in addressing all governmental actions under its control…”
-Kate Murray, 2/24/2009.Some of you might read that and still think that everything is over and done with, but I dont- and neither does the Islanders organization.
The worst thing that can possibly happen for Nassau County and the Islanders is for respectful discourse and support to break down into insults and warring factions just because of your (our) frustrations. We cannot let this happen.
Please, as CB already requested, enough with the comments about Kate Murrays looks and physique. You are not helping anything with any of that. How can such things possibly help anything at ALL???
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Roger says:
To # 98, first I doubt she reads this, Second, I doubt she hasn’t heard it before, Seriously though, I can’t believe that someone that amounts to a county worker can yield this type of power. I find it difficult to fathom that Suozzi can’t do something as CE, but we’ll see.
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Murray is cowardly man…My heart is heavy today…:-(
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Souzzi has no jurisdiction over zoning.
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Can someone help me – I went on the newsday site but I can’t find the article with Kate’s response and I really wanted to read it.
What section is it in?
(thanks) -
I just spoke to Kate Murrays secretary and convinced her to take a look at the website…As I hung up the phone she even asked me for it again…Talk to anyone and pass the word.
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willis… just goto newsday’s main page and it’s omne of the top stories listed under NASSAU
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Someone needs to come out of the wood work and tell Wang if he doesn’t want the team because of the Lighthouse, then they’ll buy it, take a refurbished NVMC, and keep the team on Long Island. If they win the building will be packed. If they make the playoffs year after year, the building will be packed. Do you want the team or the land Charles? There must be someone out there that would keep them here….with money of course…and not in jail.
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#103, which website–this one? I’m not sure that’s such a great idea.
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JKP Im all with you, but at the end of the day the primo question is if enough people vote her out and if the next administration wants the lighthouse and if its economically feasible then will Wang still have kept the Isles here by then?
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Hey…I swear that wasn’t there before
Thanks D-man
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Well, Pete, 105, if anybody is going to come out and do what you’re suggesting — revamp the NVMC and buy the Islanders — I don’t think it’s the woodwork they’re going to emerge from. Maybe outer space. There is nobody on this earth after Wang who is going to buy the Islanders, revamp a stand-alone arena and lose money with no end in sight to the red ink, new arena or not.
Please…accept that. You may not like it, but it’s the fiscal reality here.
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The secretaries act like they don’t know what meeting its about…Explain it to the secretaries because they are listening!
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Pete Im all with you, if somebody wants to buy the team and with their own $ get a new bulding and keep the Isles here, Im all for it. But now a days (See Pittsburgh deal) the development of the land around the arena is usually attached to these things. That land will get developed, Nassau county has not a lot of growth oportunities in tax base and jobs in the future and this land will not go unused for long. This is stricktly about which party gets the credit for deciding who gets that land and therefore taking credit for what benefits are attached to it. Unfortunately our team is attached. Im not demonizing the Reps, its just in this case I have to personally look at it with Isles colored glasses and say I want this until another alternative is presented to me. If there was another alternative Id say to hell with Suozzi and Murray, but there isnt…..
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I agree with post #92, no way Isles move to Queens, I hate to quote Milbury of all people but he stated a couple of weeks ago that wang has walked away from deals before. I think he is at a boiling point now. Suozzi is probably sensing that as well and that is why he is calling Katie out on the FAN. What a disservice she is providing to the TOH. All those jobs lost and all those wonderful charitable contributions by the Isles lost as well. Isles will be going to either KC or Hamilton. Stop talking about Queens, everyone is living in denial! Isles will be gone by next season if Katie does not get the message she will not be re-elected. Can we hire a company to conduct a poll on if the election was today if Katie would be re-elected? Maybe that would open her eyes.
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Jimmy Mac says:
The fate of the Islanders is basically in TOH hands.
I don’t think I would want to be in that position.
Hopefully it will get done… I can see it being scaled down quite a bit.
If I were Kate, I wouldn’t want to go out in public.
Public Enemy #1… All she has to do, is state they’re in the process of reviewing it. And state a timeline that they hope to have it done by.
By saying nothing, it make her look well… the way she looks now… lol.
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-Big Van Vader says:
Heard the interview on WFAN and read the “response” by Kate Murray. We can rant and rave all we want on this message board and all those like it, but in the end, we have to show up to the meetings like the 26th in force and tell anyone that we know in the media about it. If you’re rleated to someone who works in television or radio or news, let them know. Try and get them involved in some way.
The saying used to be, “If you build it, they will come.” Now it’s, “If you come, they will build it!” We need to show up, people. Go to this meeting on the 26th and bring five friends. Or more. Make your voices and opinions HEARD. This is NOT over. Kate Murray will NOT get the last say in this if we pull together.
Never Say Dislanders!!! -
Jay says:
Well, she’ll be receiving another call from me soon. I will call the TOH office every day until I get an answer.
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Hold on people. If you read the article, Kate says that she won’t go to the meeting WHILE her staff is reveiwing the docs on the project. That’s not so bad. It is true that they ARE in the process of reviewing it and it IS feasible that her going would “look” like she has somehow made up her mind about it which we all know she wants us to think she hasn’t. (Anyway, let Suozzi and them plan the timetable and its one less thing for her to do in the end, right?)
My thinking is that the most important thing right now is getting the general public of the Lighthouse area educated about this. The residents are going to be the final sway and if they are being educated I can’t help but think more will agree with doing it (even with some of the concerns brought up by fellow posters here) than will be against it.
Look, I still don’t trust the woman but I wouldn’t want to ruin things by being overly eager to “draw the line in the sand”, so to speak.
One thing she mentioned in the article is “that her staff and the developers’ staff have met repeatedly” – I have not heard that from anyone else yet and that would be one question I think I would ask at that meeting.
Sorry CB I think I went over the limit so I won’t comment here again. -
To all of you guys that live on Long Island you can start by doing one thing….. Go to the meeting and voice your opinion. RSVP to Botta and join him there.
If enough of you go and get involved they will have to listen.
The mob can control many things.
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Guys the gam,e might be blacked out because I have dish network and I try to set up the DVR and it said the game is “unavialable in your area”…
CB, please tell us whats going on?!?!?!
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Pat says:
Kate Murray is like the ventriloquist on the old Twilight Zone Episode where the dummy winds up taking over the person’s personality…….except that the dummies are the back room people in the Republican Party who pull the strings. Who is this generation’s party boss(es) ?
She is a closet Ranger fan.
I am still having a problem digesting why a County Exec is subordinated to a Town Supervisor. I don’t get it.
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I think all of us here are very passionate Islander fans, and this is somewhere that we can vent our frustrations with all that is going on. In reality we really don’t care who builds what, or who owns what, all we truly care about is keeping our team here. This is a great forum to get it all out but I’m not sure getting Kate Murray to read this is really a great idea.
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CB, anyone???
Am I the only one who noticed the blackout???
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West Coast Fan says:
The game’s on the Centre Ice package…
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mtrico says:
Murray’s quote in Newsday is demonstrative of her ignorance. Or perhaps she just thinks her constituents are stupid. Conflict of interest? Not all parties would be present? Well, at least you got that one right Kate, you will be the only one missing.
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Ted says:
I am Sorry to say that I have given into the fact that this will NEVER get done. Kate Murray will not allow this to go through not in a million years , so any one that is upset by this remember it falls at the feet of KM. KM killed the Islanders. RIP. 72- 09. This is why Politics Su&k*!!!
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Quagmire says:
One person effectively killed the West Side Stadium (Sheldon Silver) despite enormous political pressure from Bloomberg, Pataki, etc. Let’s just help this nitwit Murray does not go down the same path.
Has anyone determined why exactly she is stonewalling? And when is someone (hello Newsday???) going to really call her on the BS about the deal being on the table for the Coliseum only project to move forward independent of the rest. This is sickening.
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303Joe says:
When is clueless Kates run up? Can we hold out hope that Wang will hang in their till a new regime that hopefully supports the plan can come in?
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125:
I wish Newsday would call BS on this woman, but they never will. Newsday -> Owned by Cablevision -> Owns the Rangers -> Less news, less knowledge, less fight, Islanders leave -> Greater market for Rangers
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David says:
lets break into her house and interrogate her, fat ass bum she is!
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If they finish this review and can’t find any actual problems within it, how could they turn the proect down? The only thing that would stop it would be a large public outcry against it, which we haven’t yet seen, right? (And hope not to).
After they do finish the review and open up to public comments, what is the next step in the process? Nick, you here these days? -
OA PEST says:
To post #39. If the Islanders do move to Kansas City. I do not see the Coliseum going anywhere. MSG would probably buy the building from Nassau County and move the Hartford Wolf*Pack to Long Island. MSG would be neccessary upgrades to the building (EX: new seats, making the concourse wider and perhaps fix the roof. I think AHL can work on LI if the Islanders do move. More affordable and a lot more fun.
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NYI FAN says:
One thing everyone here has to remember, this meeting everyone here is talking about is just a pep rally type meeting, put on by Wang & Rechler; it is a slanted, one-sided talking points lecture with questions & answers. It is not a Government run meeting; yes, the County Executive will attend, but it will not have any effect on his opinion because he already is in favor of the project. This is just ‘Grandstanding’ by the developers, plain & simple.
Not that there is anything wrong with that. -
BringBackNyles says:
For those who mention Queens, first the rangers would have to approve it, since Queens is NY City. If the Rangers do approve it, it would not be for free.
The only reason the Nets can move to Brooklyn is Dolan had some sort of arrangement with the NBA giving up territiorial rights to brooklyn a few years back.
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To post #132. The Islanders have already paid their territory rights in 1972-73 to share the NYC/Long Island area. The Rangers would have no say at all about. That is a non-issue. To be honest the best 2 places to build the arena is downtown Brooklyn and in Queens both are served by Subway and LIRR.
So we’re doomed… On to hoping for Queens. Truth is that the politicians think Isles fans are a joke. My friends parent is one and they joke about how there only like 500 of us.