“SAVE THE ISLAND/SAVE THE ISLANDERS” EVENT
Saturday, 11:00 am, between the NVMC and Marriott
On Saturday at 11:00 am there will be a press conference to show support for the Lighthouse Project. The event will be held on the small patch of grass between the arena and the Marriott on the north side of Hempstead Turnpike.
All are invited to attend. The Islanders host the Flyers three hours later at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The Lighthouse Development Corporation is not part of the event. The press conference is co-hosted by David Denenberg, Nassau County Legislature; John Durso, President of the Long Island Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO); and Jim Castellane, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk.
Denenberg, Durso and Castellane will be joined by elected officials, labor leaders, civic leaders, veterans, residents and Islanders fans. All in attendance have the option of signing their names to a Memorandum of Support for the Lighthouse Project.
Said Denenberg: “The Lighthouse will increase tax revenue, create new jobs and career opportunities, create attractive housing alternatives, grow existing businesses and attract new business to Nassau County. The project will also save the Islanders.
“The Lighthouse is the most important development in Nassau County since Levittown and is smart growth that Nassau County needs now. This is not the time to sit on the fence. It is the time for real leadership to take a position that this is the right project at the right time for Nassau County.”
The event on Saturday is called “Save the Island/Save the Islanders.” Newsday was critical of Denenberg, saying the role of the Legislator in this petition and event is no different than Kate Murray’s recent epic failure – “petty partisan politics.”
Sources close to Denenberg tell Point Blank that he has no intention of running against Murray for Town Hempstead Supervisor. Denenberg associates say he has worked on the Coliseum development for most of the decade and wants to see it through. If this is all true, we see nothing wrong with his involvement.
Just as you can choose to support Denenberg and the union leaders’ efforts for the Lighthouse Project, or not, on Saturday at 11:00 am.
Comments. Guidelines.
58 Responses to “SAVE THE ISLAND/SAVE THE ISLANDERS” EVENT
Saturday, 11:00 am, between the NVMC and Marriott
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Isles fan says:
Ths project has been shot down. And rightfully so, it needs to be scaled down. Wang wants to be the king of Nassau. Im not in favor of this project. However, im an Isles fan only.
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Casa de Luz says:
The unfortunate truth is that if this project isn’t passed, you can kiss the Islanders goodbye. Kate Murray isn’t foolish, she doesn’t want to be the one responsible for the Islanders leaving the community. I’ll meet you at the Lighthouse, after it’s built in 8-10 years, Guaranteed!
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Isles fan (aka NYI Fan, aka TOH employee)#2
Just for the sake of argument, what should be scaled down? Where does it say that the project has been shot down? Are we to believe that 1 (2 including Goosby) elected official could put this entire project in the dumpster? If so, we have more problems here in Nassau County than just the LightHouse Project. I’d be very interested to see who, aside from yourself, is against this project. If the handful of you can turn this project away, we are doomed to regression and failure. LI will never be what it once was and when the Islanders move and the Coliseum array becomes a decrepit wasteland, you will have yourselves to blame. At least we’ll have “suburban tranquility” amongst the Walgreens, gun shops, and tattoo parlors.
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
If I could be in two places at the same time I’d be there… unfortunately I have other obligations that morning … I’m probably going to be late for the game as it is on Saturday.
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CB ~ So since Kate Murray has let the cat out of the bag so to speak on her position … what is the deal? Can Wang even get this project approved even if she was the sole objection? Tom asks a great question…. What is plan B? Can he scale it down to make some happy? Is scaling it down an option? Is it perhaps even a better option? What is expendable with the project? Or is it ALL or NOTHING for Wang? If that is the case than Wang loses my sympathy. I don’t think having 100% of the current project is the minimum margin for Wang making or losing money … and he should make lots of money for ALL his efforts the last 10 plus years trying to work this out. -
Willis says:
I hope it’s a good crowd. I’d love to add my name to the memorandum of support; however I am not from the area so I suppose it would do no good in real terms.
Grassy knoll??? (chills)
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Jim says:
Yes it can be scaled down and the LH group is open to it, BUT the TOH has not made any objections or comments yet so there is nothing to do until then.
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2277 says:
It’s time to bring the big guns in. The local gov’t members are ok, but we need more visible names urging this on. I’m sure you all know the names I am speaking of…
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CB – What grassy knoll? The five feet of dirt on either side of the fence? Or are we going to play in the bushes? I can’t picture anything else (in my head) that is not concrete or asphault.
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Brian #9,
I was thinking the same thing. I think the LHP plans show the area as a large grass field. Maybe CB’s looking ahead.
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Streitscores says:
I wish this team would move to Suffolk county-perfect for us Suffolk fans. Wang likes Suffolk, he moved CA there from Garden City. Besides, he is asking for pie in the sky. He knew the Isles were a money loser from day one at the NVMC anyway. May be approved if project is scaled down drasticly.
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WeschesISLESfan says:
They should just move to Queens already.
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TuxTax says:
I dont see any grassy knoll? Just concrete and the above ground cesspool.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=nassau%20coliseum&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl -
Fist of Gillies says:
Chris – The organizers need PR help. They are making two big mistakes that could have this event blow up in their faces.
1. Holding a press conference at 11am – 3 hours before the puck drops? Who goes to a hockey game 3 hours before it starts? Flyers fans who get here early and a few die-hards. They need to hold this an hour before the game to maximize people already being there.
2. Press conferences outside are generally a bad idea if you don’t have thousands of people. You pick a room too small and make it seem like an event. They could have 300 people outside and it will look like nobody cares about saving the Islanders. Instead os a grassy area between two buildings, at least have it against the arena so that you can at least frame the shots for the camera and provide perspective, giving yourself at least one wall.
The 48 hour notice is not helping much either.
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admin says:
(14) I agree with you 100% and said the same to the organizers. They’ll still get a good crowd, but not nearly as good as it could have been…CB
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#13…if you look at that map – to the right of the Coliseum (i.e. outside the main entrance) – facing the Marriott – there are 2 patches of grass….I have to assume that’s where it’ll be…it’s “between” the Coliseum & the Marriott but on the Coliseum’s side of the fence.
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Islander505 says:
I’m not sure that any politicans, especially Democrats with Irish last names, want to appear within shooting distance of any “grassy knolls”. much less near them
“Roll the tape Zapruder”.
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Mike from Philly says:
Queens is begging the Islanders to come yet we keep on tugging on Kate Murrays shirt, we need to move on if this is not finalized by summer.
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I concur CB ~ Fist of Gillies brought up some very important variables that I didn’t think of … add the fact that it’s supposed to be VERY Rainy and only in the 40s on Saturday Morning.. you have the recipie for the perfect storm … no pun intended … and if you are not going to get people to walk on WET grass which will become a mud trail even with only a few dozen people … maybe they can just set up an info booth between the NVMC and the main parking area … kill the rally idea. Save the rally for maybe an event inside the NVMC after the BPST playoff games.
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Mike … I myself prefer Queens geographically … but I prefer the current site historically and for sentimental reasons … of course if push comes to shove and it’s between Queens and KC … then it’s Queens no question … I think Wanger should push hard through November … and see it through … if Murray wins re-election and sees that as a referendum to kill the Light House .. then go to Queens and make some sort of deal with NYC.
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If the unions are providing credits/incentive for member attendance (i assume they will), they’ll get good numbers. But that changes the tone greatly. This is better if it’s a true coallition of groups coming together rather than a union rally. It’s hard to fake “grass-roots”
Similar thing happened with the Jets’ West Side Stadium rallies. J-O-B-S! Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!
We’ll see what happens. Hope they can balance it out with a good showing of fans.
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Darren says:
The rally should be in front of the TOH main office!
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admin says:
The organizers called to remind me it’s not a rally, but a press conference ( I call it a PC twice in my story). Yes, but it’s outside the Coliseum, 3 hours before a game. The County has also asked a lot of bloggers to spread the word. I’m done trying to understand it. As a public service, I have spread the word…CB
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TM says:
48 hours notice is way too short, too early in the day. There will be more Flyer fans than NYI fans there. Typically poorly planned as the whole project seems to be. Scale it down Cholly and if it’s ALL OR NOTHING then Wang will be the villain if Isles leave unless they go to Queens then all is forgiven and understood.
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-Big Van Vader says:
(22) Have to agree. This SHOULD be in front of the TOH main office. It’s time we get a rally or protest with large numbers in front of that building creating alot of noise.
Also, isn’t there an eery silence coming from the Lighthouse camp? This Denenberg thing(spelling?) is great and all, but they should get some more known political faces at these things so we can get more exposure in Newsday, Ch 12, etc.. Where is D’Amato in all this? Any Republicans want to come out PUBLICLY in favor of this project? -
JayK says:
OK. All you Islander fans, stop moaning about the time, stop moaning about the lack of perfection in the scheduling relative to the game, and get your ass out there.
Yes, we can all wait for the perfectly scheduled event, we can all wait for better timing, we can all wait for everything. This is what we’ve got. Get out there!
This game is not over. How many other elected Republicans have come out to back Kate Murray? Zero. None. Any other elected Town Board members? None from the Republicans. (I still don’t understand Dorothy Goosby’s stance.)
Stop talking about Queens, stop talking about scaling back. Because if you do, Kate Murray is going to take that as backing down, and once again, we’ll be down to her insisting on an arena-only project, Wang and the county won’t do that, and the Islanders will be in Kansas City or Hamilton.
You deal with what you’ve got. The union stance, getting openly involved, is HUGE. Show your support. It’s supposed to rain Saturday. Big deal. You’ll dry off later.
Get out there Saturday!!!
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Big Van #25,
I totally agree. I mentioned on IM a while back that Wang should ask his friend, Colin Powell to come to some of these events. Powell is a very well respected figure with tremendous ties to the Republican Party. Show him at a Lighthouse event.
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Fist of Gillies — in a thread the other day, you asked me the basis of my comments about the population decline in Nassau, and how stark it is in comparison to other counties in the metropolitan area.
The data is here:
http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/counties.html
Download the .csv file from there.
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d-man says:
chris… as a public service… can you also do us… your point blank supporters a favor and and tell us all the names that Isles fan (from this thread) and i suspect NYI Fan (from others) uses? would love it if people had to register and not be able to shift names.
and i don’t get why not have the press conference a little closer to game time and have a curious crowd of onlookers nearby.
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NYI FAN says:
To derek, post #4, That was not me. I am not a TOH employee, just a loyal, original 72-85 season ticket holder,Islanders fan, who is NOT in favor of the LH project as it is planned now. Not to bore you & all the pro LH’ers I love the game of hockey & the Isles are my team; however, I felt so strongly that the LH project would be a negative to mine & the surrounding areas that I sold my home, after 31 years, & moved to Suffolk. I am a passionate fan but I just did not want to see the area that I was going to spend the rest of my life in be affected by it, so I moved. I acted because just complaining & protesting was not going to change the LH from happening. imo
My point of view I felt, was needed on this blog, that’s all. Because of my counter point opinion, I’m now a TOH employee!! Thank you for not making me into a letter carrier, I might have gone postal!!
As for getting back on topic (CB, sorry for the rant)I am glad that there is a rally, I also hope there are rallys for the other side. Islanders fans that drive to the games that don’t live nearby could care less about this area, it is just a place to go to, while residents nearby put up with the snarling traffic because there was never any planning done for transportation then & nothing being done for the LH.
lets go islanders (nocaps) -
admin says:
(29) You mean like “Isles fan” (original!)and “streitscores”? I love the Sybill postings. I do my best to take care of them. But keep in mind some people (such as 30) have their own opinions. They have every right to share them – in one voice…CB
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Also, I do not hide behind several names, unlike most here, I am not a house-bound computer geek, I have a life.
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King says:
This is something that everyone needs to sit down and look at twice. Is this supporting the Lighthouse or someone else’s political agenda? Think twice before investing all your emotions into such a thing. Besides that I do not believe that this project is done and the Islanders are moving as these people are saying. Kate Murray knows that if the Islanders leave or this doesn’t get approved she will never be re-elected again and that being said I personally think this project will happen sooner or later maybe not as Mr. Wang wants it now but it will get done.
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to honor chris’ rules i’m not gonna acknowledge the bs from above… so… i can’t wait to see what this press conference looks like… it has potential to be really bad and embarrassing with no one showing up… but at the same time when you see members of congress giving grand speeches on the floor… there’s usually no one in the room with them… so maybe it’ll look fine. it’s just nice to see someone spreading the word because if what logan wrote is true and this will all come down to one election… (murray wins isles out) then good word about the lighthouse has to get going from people other than wang.
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kevin fitz says:
They just need to give up on this whole LH project. The town is just not going to let this happen. If it was going to happen it would have happened by now. This has been going on for 5 years and we still have no idea if or when this is going to get approved. This has become a joke. The Isles need to focus on getting a plan together that can actually get them a new arena somewhere in the NY area.
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Kevin Fitz #35 — how about the idea that we try to influence the political process and vote Kate Murray out of office, rather than just offer up defeatism and a recommendation that we start from scratch “somewhere else.” “Somewhere else” is 0% of the way along to completion; the Lighthouse is way, way ahead of that.
And furthermore, there are those of us who believe the Lighthouse is far more important than just the Islanders. It is a way forward for Long Island. Even if the Isles move to Queens, we’ve got the same problems of demographics, an aging population and lack of growth that we had before. For those of us who care about those issues as well as the Islanders, we need to keep pushing.
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Rex says:
What irks me about this is Kate Murray. I just don;t understand her head. What I mean is; you all said above it’s probably dead because of her and the LH side of it including Suozzi, says he doesn’t know because she won’t talk to him. She wants to be County Exec people say & we all feel like she at least wants her current post again.
My confusion lies here, why is she not feverishly working WITH the LH side to come to a resolution and be a savior have a sterling rep. and advance her career from that point. She can laud her efforts and bi-partisan work etc. The way she’s playing this truly confounds me. It’s almost like she wants to have a bad reputation. I just don’t understand. I’m sure I’ll hear shes making the NIMBY’s happy. Blah, you don’t let major tax revenue sources like developments and especially a pro sports franchise up and leave, any politician worth a bag of dirt is aware of that. She confuses me greatly. She’s just hiding and hoping this all goes away. So strange.
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Hockey1919 says:
Unfortunately for Islander fans the Coliseum and its surrounding area is NOT a place to go and that is why the Islander struggle to attract during the week. That is the whole point of the LH project to make it a destination, generate jobs and revenue.
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(37) I’ll teel you why she’s doing this. Simply put, she’s having her strings pulled by SOMEone. Whether it’s someone higher up on the pay scale like Mondello, or some powerful/super rich NIMBY that’s greasing her wallet, or even someone who stands to lose alot of revenue should this get approved, there is without a doubt someone out there behind this awful curtain that is Kate Murray.
We need a Deepthroat to expose this fraud and send this fatkat(e) politician packing.
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Werner Mueller says:
Hi, all – in case no one has noticed, the Winter Classic in 2010 will be played at Fenway Park. Probably looking at Habs – Bruins. If it’s Bruins – Rangers, I’ll get ill!
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JayK #36
Great post. Many of us are eager to see something like the LH be built. There are too many benefits to name with a few drawbacks. The Pros outweigh the cons in this.
I’m sorry, but screw the Old-Timers and their views of what LI was and should be. Most of these people will be gone soon enough, having followed ‘NYI Fan’ because of a plan to build up a crappy area (not because of the deteriorating neighborhood just West, the massive mall just North, the Jails just East, and the fantastic school district just South). I say good riddance. Some of us want to see the Island grow.Sorry CB, that was my final post on this.
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JayK 36 – I am just looking at this realistically. The Islanders have been trying for 15 years to do something with the Colesium. Nothing has happened. Wang isn’t even asking for taxpayer money and he still can’t get this thing approved. I do not live downstate so I am looking at this from an outside perspective. There is no way this is getting done. I personally think Wang knows this. If you have noticed, lately, the Democrats from the County have been very very vocal and trying to create a stir because they know that the Republicans in the town are not going to approve this unless they feel they will get voted out. But I doubt there will ever be enough of an uproar from non islander fans about this project to make them vote someone out of office for this.
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SIR WILLIAM says:
As one who is not in favor of the Lighthouse let me make a few points.
1. I am in favor of developing the land.
2. I am in favor of Wang making money.
3. I am in favor of Kate Murray using her authority to block the project as is. I live in the TOH and will help re elect her next year.
4. I am very much in favor of a compromise here so that the team and the Town can both benefit.The current Project is way to big for this area. It looks like something out of a Jetsons cartoon. Too crowded in too small an area. Scale it back Mr. Wang.
Ms Murray is rightly concerned about the traffic, the sewars and the overburdening of the Uniondale School District.Cooler heads should prevail and something should be worked out. Wang needs to bend a bit and so does Murray.
In the interest of fairness one should look at todays Newsday to see how a group in Syossit defeated a super deluxe mall that they didn’t want in their neighborhood. The TOH is not the only town that is blocking development.
And finally in the interest of credibility
lets look at Mr. Deneberg, a lawyer, who was forced to plead guilty to misdomeanor
charges of falsifying election records.Perhaps not the spokesman that the Lighthouse would like to represent it……SW
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Kevin Fitz — #42 — you might be right, Kevin.
And this is my last post…promise!
But let’s look at a few things that have happened recently:
–Kate Murray had to pull her stupid online petition after a flurry of protest and with the realization that she was promoting what amounts to confederate money to rebuild the Coliseum.
–There still is no organized opposition, which in NIMBY Long Island, is nothing short of amazing.
–Not a single elected Republican official has come out to back Kate Murray. The only two Republicans who have — Joe Ra and David Levy — depend on her for their jobs. (Somebody I know with good knowledge of the workings in town hall basically said there is not a single person in that building who can stand Kate Murray).
–At least one town councilman came to the meeting at the Marriott, and maybe he stood up in support of the project (though this seems to be in question).
–The unions are now strongly in favor of it. The veterans are too, which is really stunning.
–There was a meeting of Republican assembly members at the Coliseum last week, where some spoke strongly in favor of the project, and none spoke against.
I can easily sink into despair, and believe me, I have. But when I look over all this, the only counterweight to this is that Kate Murray has all but said she’s against it. Maybe that’s enough…but maybe it’s not. It’s not time to throw in the towel.
We can beat Kate Murray! Drop me a line at beatkate09@yahoo.com. We’re taking names!!
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nlk says:
Sir William: You should acknowledge that the people who opposed the Cerro Wire mall proposed instead a development that is very much like the Lighthouse. They have called for a mixed use development of retail, residential, a hotel, etc. Citing them to argue against the Lighthouse is not something you want to do. Based on what they are backing for the Cerro Wire site, they probably would also support the Lighthouse.
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#37 – I agree with you, Kate could have a great opportunity for her future if she worked “with” instead of “against” this, and it IS confounding that she seems to be blind to that.
She could always change her mind, I guess. But in case she doesn’t, we need to get and stay organized so that she can be defeated.
Please everyone remember to email and sign up at beatkate09@yahoo.com to fight Kate Murray at the polls. Do it now if you haven’t already – I have.
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So there was a very direct no holds barred article in the Newsday blog yesterday by Logan. He was pretty much straight forward that this election is pretty much it for the team. If Kate wins, it sends the message to Wang and he relocates the team. He also mentioned Queens would not happen. If she loses Wang will more than likely be meeting with the New TOH Sup resurrecting his plans. So the question is CB, who is running against KATE??????? Any ideas??? How about you CB? You would get my vote!!
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Joe Fred Va #47 — sign up with us at beatkate09@yahoo.com. We’re taking names for the big push in November.
We can beat Kate Murray!!
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geduffer says:
d-man (49) – That’s hilarious. She should watch it, someone in Hempstead will curry those goats when she’s not looking.
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Outside says:
is there a backup plan? we’re supposed get hit with a noreaster on saturday .. i dont see anyone standing out in umbrellas in a downpour at 40 degrees
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Steve says:
The reason why Logan says Islanders move to Queens is not going to happen is he now works for James Dolan, who also happens to own the New York Rangers. Why would he say something that would irk his boss?
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islesfan says:
Wow.
I guess it’s time I changed my name.
I have been islesfan on here since day one.
NOT Isles_fan or NYI fan, but islesfan, all one word lower case.
I am ALL for the LH, cause I know it;s the ONLY way the Isles will stay on LI.
I can’t understand people who say they are die-hard, true blue Islanders supporters, but are against the LH.Don’t they realize that they are basically supporting the possible demise of their own team ??
Well, I’ve decided to change my handle.
From now on I will be isles711.
I hate to lose islesfan, cause it’s what I’ve had as my license plate since 2000.
Oh well.
Better to change it than be confused with LH haters.
Signed,
isles711 -
I agree that we need to organize an event
at the TOH Town hall.
How about on a Tuesday morning about a hour before they hold a Town Board meeting.Are rally’s allowed on the grounds ?
Do we need a permit for a large gathering?We could go straight from the rally into the town hall meeting and pack the place.
Quietly murmuring every time Kate talks.If we can’t get approval to rally outside Town Hall, we could just pick a meeting and all show up.
With a couple of hundred, we would fill the place. Not sure if large signs are allowed, but we could come up with some unifying display. Flashlights maybe, signifying the Lighthouse ?
Just some thoughts. -
Just checked the TOH website.
They meet twice a month om Tuesdays.
The next 3 months schedule is :
April 14 and 21st @10:30am
May 5 and 19th @ 10:30am
June 2 @ 7pm and June 16th @ 10:30am.A morning meeting would probably get more press, especially if we could alert the media and get on the evening news (News12 or TV 55 ) although the 7PM June 2nd meeting would be easier for most to attend.
Not sure if we can wait till June though.
I really think we have to do this SOON !!Make Kate and the rest hear us breathing down their necks AND political futures.
Of course, we need to pay attention as to when the public hearings for the LH are to be held.
That will give everyone a chance to speak and be heard.Please share any feedback and thoughts on how we can organize this.
Night all. -
The weather forecast I just heard is a lot more promising. Most of the worst weather should be out of here by 11.
Remember: we’re taking names at beatkate09@yahoo.com. We can beat Kate Murray! Sign up now.
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Just got back from the Denenberg rally.
It was about 100-125 people in the pouring rain. It was mostly people connected to politics or the unions, but there also were several veterans there…take that, Eden Laikin! The vets are backing this!!
There were a lot of people like me: just backers of the Lighthouse.
The speeches were predictable, but by now, the arguments are clear: a Long Island future that embraces change, or a Long Island future that tries to cling to the past. I won’t rehash them here.
All in all, I was prepared to be depressed by the lousy turnout, but came back fairly happy instead.
If Newsday was covering it, I’d be surprised. The people who were clearly reporters was a woman from News 12 and a guy from the Bellmore weekly paper. But maybe I just didn’t see a Newsday representative.
The unions were out in full force, which is a very good sign. If their membership really gets riled up at Kate Murray, that’s huge.
Remember, we’re taking names at beatkate09@yahoo.com. Sign up now for the final assault on Town Hall (via the ballot box, of course!)
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Dear ,
am Ms.Rose Williams bank manager of Barclay’s bank London. I would like you to indicate your interest to receive the transfer of 10.5M. Dollars. I will like you to stand as the next of kin to my late Descease customer whose account is presently dormant, for claim,since i have been given two weeks from now to locate the next of kin to the late fellow whom the fund was will to and for the fact that you are answering the surname with this fellow,this is why i decided to contact you to stand as next of kin
Yours faithfully,
Ms.Rose Williams
E-mail: mail_info11@sify.com
This is nice, but Kate Murray isn’t going to approve The Lighthouse. That ship has sailed. Game over. Does Mr. Charles B. Wang have a plan B? Plan A is a FAIL. If he’s got other options, now’s the time to share them.