THE SUMMER OF LIGHTHOUSE LOVE IS OVER
Now let’s see how the developers react on Oct. 3
Seven years, $15 million dollars, 6,500 pages of studies, 200-plus outreaches and countless commitments to try to make the Islanders work on Long Island later, here’s where we are.
As this blog and a few others have said for a long time, Charles Wang is not getting his certainty by Oct.3. Earlier in the week, the Town of Hempstead leaked a story to Newsday detailing how much of the Lighthouse support has come from citizens outside Nassau County. Eden Laikin reports today that Tom Suozzi and LDC Prez Michael Picker are unhappy with the failure of Kate Murray’s crew to schedule a zoning hearing and take care of Lighthouse business. I guess the hand-holding and plans for Murray and Wang to duet on “Let the Sunshine In” are over. The gloves are off…again.
After the energy and hoopla of the Town hearing a few weeks ago – at least for the first hour, before Murray started to look like she’d rather be anywhere else - tedium has now officially set in. This symbolic shrug is illustrated by Newsday‘s decision to place a significant story on the future of the New York Islanders and the NVMC 24 pages into the newspaper. Eden’s work is also not one of the top 15 stories featured prominently on the paper’s website.
Know this: over the last two weeks, the lead agency (the Town of Hempstead) and the developers (Wang and Scott Rechler) have received green lights from the New York State Department of Transportation, the Nassau County Department of Public Works and the Department of Environmental Conservation.
And yet, the Town of Hempstead wants to sit on the Lighthouse Project like George Costanza of “Seinfeld” taking his time with the Penske File.
From this corner, seems you can bank on Mike Picker returning phone calls from community leaders outside Nassau County on Monday, Oct. 5. That is, if he doesn’t get right to it on the day of the home opener. Wang’s suite at the Coliseum is large enough to comfortably host at least 30 guests of honor.
Comments.
79 Responses to THE SUMMER OF LIGHTHOUSE LOVE IS OVER
Now let’s see how the developers react on Oct. 3
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Kaszycki's Krew says:
Yep, was afraid of this. Not sure what next step should be – but when I saw that story in Newsday yesterday – insisting that all those (functionally) who were in favor were from OUTSIDE the T.O.H. – then I smelled trouble. Sounds like Murray is working some puppet strings behind the scenes. This is going to be a fight.
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If it is true that the majority of the letter writers, who did not attend, have legitimate concerns, it will be a slow process,I doubt CW will have his Oct. deadline met; with all the $$ he has spent so far, I can understand his frustration. But, emotion doesn’t make business deals of this magnitude, $$ & influence does. With that said, a KC meeting or 2 might just get something moving…….1 way or another!
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mtrico says:
The Town of Hempstead demonstrates yet again that it is in over its head on this one. Sad that something so visionary can be held up by a bunch of incompetent boobs.
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Isles6 says:
It should not be a surprise that the absence of public pressure is making the town relax. As training camp opens, and the season gets closer there will have to be a ramping up of pressure again. That is the only way politicians react. Shocking (not!) that all of the opposition is coming from Garden City. Almost no one that lives anywhere else in the Town of Hempstead is against this. It is sad…funny, but sad.
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Spartiarti - RVC says:
Kate Murray was on Rockville ctr train platform today shaking hands and talking about how their has been no taxes increase. I walked right by her. Hate to say it, my instincts tell me she is just positioning on this. I still dont think she wants to pass this thing. Her gameplan seems that if she can just make people feel she is for the lighthouse right before the election maybe she figures she can win again.
I’m no buying it. I think she trying to drag this out past election and then vote against it once she is in.
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the bomber says:
there is no way this will happen. all the rich folk in Garden City are 100% opposed to any added traffic and any perceived negative effect on the businesses in their town. the majority of folks in Long Island are against anything that may possibly hurt them in any way. People who really care about the Isles have fought to be heard lately and it has helped, but the push back of the vast majority who are indifferent or could give two turds about the Isles is coming. and those are the people whose votes the fat pig in the picture cares about. she just needed to feign support for the Lighthouse to wake up all those against it. But trust me, they are awake, and they will win. Nobody is dumping 4 billion bucks into anything in this economy. towns and states are bankrupt, nobody cares about our little hockey team which hasn’t been good in 20 years. sad, but true.
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JPinVA says:
Best case scenario:
TOH drags their feet for another year. Wang is wooed by Queens developers to sign on as their anchor entertainment and partner in developing a new arena.
Charles then sues the TOH to recoup his losses, because all of his work was done in good faith for a government entity that never intended to let him build the LHP.
Then charles sells the Islanders to a group of businessmen who understand that without the TOH, SMG or the ifrastructure constraints of the NVMC they can actually make money. They can sell 1.5M tickets(@ league average prices), and 200 luxury boxes plus licensing money, concessions and TV… and in five years when they move the team they will be in a better economy, and an arena where people from manhattan to riverhead can get to without too much hassle in the comfort of a railroad car (even if they have been overserved)
AND THAT WILL BE THE REBIRTH OF THE NY ISLANDERS
…or The Kansas City Ice Comets will be born. -
Jay says:
Wait, is point blank back? Stories 3 days in a row. My PB withdrawal symptoms are subsiding. I loved the old reminisces about the late 80s early 90s isles. Thanks Chris!
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shappy says:
Kate Murray is not Penske material.
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Hock says:
Can’t-Stanz-Her
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Islander86 says:
#6 I agree with your scenario.
I’m an Islanders fan for many years and Nassau county resident.
But, let Islanders say goodbuy to the county. It is not deserve the franchse. -
art says:
It’s very frustrating discussing something over which we have so little real knowledge and really no input inspite of the fact that many of the posters are fans and season tickets holders or at least occasional game goers. What’s hard to fathom is why the majority of people of the TOH and the county aren’t able to be heard and counted as being for a largely private investment that will bring so many good things to this depressed area. The answer is politics! Which defined means money and staying in power. Sure environmental concerns can always be used to delay or even stop a project but what can be used sometimes in these situations is media advertising especially TV. The unions have tremendous sway and some money saved for these situations. In addition even though it would be self serving Wang could run his own informational spots. There is no rule against using your own money for such campaigns. In the end the politicians vote for what they consider to be in their own interests, which means reelection and sometimes other things that are better not mentioned.
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Blizzard says: I wouldnt be confident in Wang being flexable on the Oct 3 deadline. Just ask Sean Bergenhiem.
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Frustrated Voter says:
For the love of God, Kate, let the man build the Lighthouse!
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Schultz39 says:
Like Costanza, would love for Wang to say to Murray “I am aware……I am aware….”
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Mike says:
This project is bigger than the New York Islanders. It affects all of Long Island yet you don’t hear about the project outside of the hockey circle and in my opinion that is a major cause for concern.
We need more support from the local businesses and community at large. A couple thousand people wearing the Islander crest just isn’t enough. In this economic climate, people now more than ever want answers to a very simple question. “How will this affect me?” We need to do a better job reaching out to the community and answering this question.A bunch of commercials (and a song with some of the cheesiest lyrics I’ve ever heard) that show how shiny it will be isn’t going to cut it.
I’ve been a die hard Islander fan since I moved to New York in 1998 but lets face reality. The Islanders are an irrelevant franchise in perhaps the most irrelevant major spot in the country. As evident during the 2004 lockout, The entire sport of hockey could fall off the end of the world and most of the country wouldn’t even blink. As the little brother in this sports market, what chance do we have? If this is our best bargaining chip then sing along. Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye.
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STP says:
Looks like another politician who’s more interested in perk than work. Lazy.
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Isles1982 says:
The only way things will happen is for the S&^% to his the FAN…..and that will be on OCT 3rd
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WM says:
Hey, Mike – interesting that you follow this web site so closely considering you think the Isles are an “irrelevant” franchise and that hockey itself is “irrelevant.” Enjoy (yawn) baseball (snore).
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bossy22 says:
I’m personally a litle suspect on the hard nose deadline of Oct 3rd. Wang isn’t going to move the team on the 5th. He had to put a date in place and play hardball. Way to much money and time spent on this to walk away without getting a flat out no, never, won’t happen. This will get done, it will be downscaled a bit and the shovels will be in the ground next summer. But the date of Oct 3rd has no bearing on ground breaking next summer. Wang can get the go ahead in May and still break ground.
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Matt says:
I am getting frustrated with this so I can only imagine how Mr. Wang feels. I know it is not that easy but I wish we can either have the green light to get this started or the thumbs down. The dragging on just makes me think that this project will never get done. If I heard correctly, this will take 12 years to get done? I will be 32 by that time and probably far away from Long Island anyways.
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Mike I agree and disagree with your post#17. Yea your right about the NHL being at the bottom of the totem pole. And currently behind the rangers and always will be [an NYC and original 6 franchise] but NJD inspite of Brodeur, anew arena, and some cup rings is really not that solid, check the attendance in Newark. The point is that Bettman wants the franchise to stay on the Island. Why? Last time I checked we had a NY on our logo. That means alot more than some of the very precarious franchises in the podunks of this country. Also 2.8 million people on the Island [not counting Queens or Bklyn is bigger than more than half of the cities in the league including a lot of the Canadian hopefuls looking for franchises. Also remember that while hockey alone cannot pay for a new arena, the circus, concerts. conventions and many other events could make Wang as the sole owner with food, parking and other concessions money.
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TM says:
TOH, in particular, and LI, in general, are too small in mentality to have a project the size of the LH. The suburbs can’t support an NHL franchise as the infrastructure isn’t in place. Wang and Suozzi are puttting the cart before the horse by trying to build a mini city without the infrastructure in place for it.
NYI NEED TO GO TO QUEENS!!! Wang can leave TOH high and dry. JP #8 is correct.
($15 million would’ve looked nice on some forwards to help Tavares and some radio coverage instead of fantasy island) -
Kate Murray sucks, the Town of Hempstead political machine sucks, and quite frankly, for the last 25 years, the NYI have sucked too! Whattaya gotta say about that, suckers!
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Jim Clark says: “Newsday” puts this story on page 24 and doesn’t have it listed in the top 15 on its website? The vaunted editorial integrity the Dolans promised us is at work.
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Hey #19 – Does post #23 sound like the treatment of a relevant sports franchise?
We have become nothing more than the punchline of a bad joke.
You would be naive to believe otherwise.
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joey bagodonuts says:
The case with the negative e-mails is same as many items that rest in the hands of the politicians. There’s a vocal minority, but silent majority. The latter, although vocal once at Hofstra, has all but dissapeared into being silent.
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dose says:
I can’t imagine Wang/Reck not budging on the 10/3 deadline if they know a deal will get approved a little later. if that happens, i would worry about whether their commitment to the thing is wavering, for example if there are issues related to financing.
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Jimmy Sparx says:
Maybe Kate Murray wants the Wolfpack here instead.
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Matt says:
Let’s get the Islanders to Queens then. Forget Kate Murray. Forget the NVMC. It has irreplaceable memories, but the building is NOT irreplaceable. The Islanders have always taken the smaller office. It is time they walk away from TOH and take the larger office in Queens. Not KC!
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cgs878 says:
October 3 is the day that CW starts calling all of the people on his “B List” and starts negotiating to move the Islanders away from Nassau County. That could take months, at which time the TOH may have its act together. If not, oh well… it wasn’t meant to be. The NVMC site would make a cool skate park, don’t ya think??
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Steve says:
Charles Wang should entertain calls from Queens after October 3 deadline passes.
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miket239 says:
Maybe its time for a “GET THE ISLANDERS OUT OF NASSAU COUNTY” movement. Suffolk or Queens are great options imo. But then again the lease with SMG isnt up til 2015. Why cant the lease be broken?
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TimQ says:
Lighthouse Group should start hitting Murray where it hurts most…in the public perception arena. Can you imagine full page ads in Newsday featuring a picture of a disinterested Murray at the ToH hearing with captions like ’19,000 thousand permanent jobs lost because she wasn’t interested’. ‘$71 million in new tax revenues lost because she didn’t move quick enough’. See how long her allegiance stays with the contributors in Garden City when the masses feel like they’re getting cheated.
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does anyone really forsee the owner starting over elsewhere else on LI? i don’t see it. i think if it’s not the LH, it is curtains.
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Jamerson says:
Now would be a good time for Kristin McElroy to get her name out there. There is an election coming up soon.
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Chris Mc says:
I have a feeling all of this was just Kate Murray posturing herself for the November election. If Wang wont budge on his deadline then Murray can say ‘I wanted to move foward, hes the one who backed out’
Art Vandelay couldnt even get the Lighthouse Project built
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Jim says:
#35 Tim, Thats great! and the photo will be of her texting someone while she is supposed to be listening to the people at the August meeting!
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Valentino says:
Garden City can pound salt. You mean to tell me that If I want to open a business in an adjacent town, lets say a restaurant – that garden city has the right to oppose it because my restaurant might take business away from their restaurants????
Makes no sense. They have no right to stand in the way.
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alex says:
i am going to go out on a limb here… we need more PRESS on this matter….. at this point i don’t care where the press comes from as long as we get it!!! The type of coverage we need is in the form of” The Daily Show with John Stewart” where he could just show how dumb the opposition is for not approving this. Look at what John did to Jim Cramer!!! He was funny and yet serious and a lot of people watch his show!!! Anyway the Lighthouse group can get in touch with the show and maybe get Charles Wang to appear on it?
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Gutty34 says:
I bumped into councilman Santorini this morning at the Center Ave trainstation. He was there to promote as usual. As a joke I tossed a Lighthouse coment his way as I was passing. I asked when is it going to be completed. He went into a pretty heartfelt speech saying it should get done in some reduced form but was pretty vocal is saying that Wang is looking to make millions off of this and is using the isles as leverage to persuade us fans to back him. Strong statement. He also stated that there is no way LI can support the amount of retail and office space being proposed that it must be scaled down – he refernced that there is no building on the Isles this big and used Nassau County Med Center as example – 18 stories. I sensed a bit of reluctance on his part although he did say it should get done sometime in the future. I Wasnt sure if that was political posturing ….really meaning…i dont want to say it straight out but I have major concerns, dont want Wang profiting and you need to sit tight its nowhere near done but I will say all the right things you want to hear. Not promising. I felt he wanted to say as to why he opposed but stopped himself.
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Tom says:
like George Costanza of “Seinfeld” taking his time with the Penske File.
love it
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doc says:
Murray keeps stalling and yada yada yada….
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jay says:
#7Bomber, where are you seeing all this pushback from? There was barely any opposition at the meetings. Also, there were GC residents whos spoke there and said majority is not against this. But, I do agree with other in this post. I worry Murray is only doing this do get re-elected. Once that happens she will change her tune.
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Blizzard says:
Well if there was a remote possibility Wanger would sell this franchise, I dont think he would be spending any money on the team…..oh wait he isnt. Reached the cap floor and done. Axed Radio broadcasts….me thinks the writing is on the wall. Hope not.
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Tavares #1 says:
This is never going to happen. Wang should of built a winner first to increase the excitement of this project. Instead he hired a joke of a staff.
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i’ll say this.. we as he fans and supporters better not let this thing go down without a fight to the finished… if the ToH pushes to stop this project… we push back even harder… we do not roll over and die on this issue… we fight to the finish!!!! It how we got them to wake up in the spring… it will work again!!!! prepare your phones and e-mail’s!!!
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therain93 -- terriers fan says:
The politicians first line of defense is to state Wang is out to make money on the deal. Of course he is, that’s the only reason why people do these things, but that doesn’t mean it will be bad for LI’ers either.
Frankly, some variaion of imminent domain may have to invoked here if everyone in the state but ToH is behind this.
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they didnt need to go to the meetings. they all know it aint happening. i am a die hard hockey and islanders fan. i do not live on Long Island. i work with many guys from Garden City. They proclaim to be Isles fans too, but they want no part of the Lighthouse and the extra congestion it will bring to the area, and not just on game nights. Nassau is broke. It cant do a project this big just to keep the Isles. I have spoken with Peter King on the subject and he has said that Kate cares only about keeping her donors happy. She can play this as something she wants but something she cant let through in such tough economic times, and average joe will believe her. Trust me theres no way the Yankees, Mets, Giants/Jets would get a new stadium deal through if it was starting now. It’s a new World, and we missed the window. Now we will be going to KC to a brand new EMPTY state of the art arena. All Kate wants to do is fake caring, smile a few times, and stall till the Wanger blinks first so he’s the bad guy. She is a fat troll, but she is no dope.
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Tim F. says:
Clearly, the TOH would be much more comfortable with Long Island’s development staple – - a strip mall! I foresee a day in the not too distant future when parents will be able to take their kids to another God-forsaken Dollar Store, and say “Kids, a professional hockey team won four Stanley Cups on this very spot.”
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JayK says:
Valentino — #40 — it’s not so much a right to stand in the way as it is the village’s attitude. It’s a strange way they look at the world. It seems to think that is the rest of Long Island is an utter wasteland, Garden City somehow benefits. There’s a project planned for Old Country Rd. on the Mineola side, one that is just perfect: walk to the railroad, walk to downtown Mineola, walk to county offices, not a lot of residences there otherwise. But there are some apartments across the street on the Garden City side. So, of course, Garden City is opposed to the project. They want nothing built anywhere, unless it’s like 10 miles away. They honestly think their home values are going to be supported if the rest of Long Island is a total wreck and they are the last place to live.
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Frank nyc says:
can we just get this approval already… this is getting tiresome.
approve, build and move on… -
neologizer says:
From longislandindex
Compared to national trends, Long Island’s population is experiencing growth at higher rates for those 55 and over – have increased its population by 3.3% since 2000 compared to the national average of 2.3%.
The trend is even more dramatic when narrowing down this group to those aged 25-34. Tracking the growth of this age group, it is evident that its downward trend is well outside of the national average – which has also decreased due to lower birth rates in the 1970’s. Nationally, 25-34 year olds comprised nearly 14% of the population in 2007. For the same year on Long Island, that number was just under 10%. The most precipitous drop in 25-34 year olds has taken place since 2003, when this age group represented 12% of the population.
Long Island’s increasing lack of affordable housing, limits on employment opportunities and a shortage of vibrant downtowns that attract this age group may help to explain Long Island’s “brain drain.”
Dear Kate Murray
Why is this happening to long island and what can be done to reverse this? Could a light house like project help?
Sincerely,
Concerned LIer -
A little body language I observed from the picture of Kate and Wang shaking hands. It looks from the position of her hand that she is expecting Wang to kiss it. Everyone’s suspicions could be very true.
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Pablo says:
The Love for the LightHouse is not the only thing that is Over!
So is you IPB banner Link on the Islander Website, I guess you can say you are now in a Permanent Time Out.
Like they say Easy come,Easy Go! -
There are still people pushing the Queens option NOW? Wow…
We have positively affected the situation before, and we can do it again. This is about way more than hockey, and if the mainstream media isn’t doing its job (hint: it isn’t), we’re going to have to do our best to fill in the gaps. Everyone who doesn’t know enough or wants to know more – there are plenty of blogs out there, including this one, that are helping the cause, and we can’t fight now.
Even keels and cooler heads need to prevail – there seem to be some people who base their entire opinion on the last article CB, myself, or a similar blogger writes. It’s not dead now, just like it wasn’t a done deal 2 weeks ago. The organized opposition still isn’t there, there still haven’t been project-threatening reports from related agencies, and we can still stand up if we think this is the best thing for Long Island.
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Excuse me – end of the 2nd paragraph should say “we can’t give up the fight now.”
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Ben says:
Oh boy, here we go again!!!!!!!!
I’m sure I am in favor of the team being in Queens. Because I am originally from Northport I would really like to see something done in Suffolk County. However, if it comes down to Queens, I’d rather that be the case then for the team to be in Kansas City or Hamilton, for that matter.
I find it unusual to think about myself routing for the team while they are some other place – off the Island. Eventually, players would be traded, retired, new players brought in and then that Islanders team who moved off the Island will not have any of the Long Island personality! Look at how Quebec to Colorado turned out – after a couple of years it was a Colorado team, not a team from Quebec.
I feel the same fate awaits the Islanders if they move off Long Island. Different uniforms, different name, maybe new GM and coach, on and on. They would make changes to put their own personality into their new team – wouldn’t you?
Then who would I route for . . . the Rangers???????? Uggggghhhhh . . . . . .
It will be a sad day for Long Island if the Islanders move off the Island and the Coliseum becomes a giant flea market like the Long Island Arena did in Commack before being torn down!
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Does anyone know if any law suits to stop the project have been filed?
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Noomz says:
from Sunday’s NYTimes Real Estate sec (note the last line!)
Kate Murray, the Hempstead town supervisor, hailed the Lighthouse project for its “great potential for jobs creation and stimulating the economy,” but felt that issues like traffic, air quality, sewage, drinking water and garbage disposal needed attention. There are zoning hearings still to come, she cautioned. “By far, this is not a done deal.”
2 other names to look out for:
Christine Mullaney, corresponding secretary of the Eastern Property Owners’ Association of Garden City, didn’t see the need for a million more square feet of commercial space and 500,000 square feet of retailing that might “cannibalize tenants from existing space in surrounding towns and villages,” where vacancy rates are already high.Robert L. Schoelle Jr., the Garden City village administrator, worried about the height of the buildings and wanted to see the project scaled back.
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Dan says:
How much drivel does this absolute joke of a reporter have to spew before people realize what she’s always been, what she is, and what she always will be…a complete shill and a glorified errand girl for the ToH Supervisor. The only value of her “articles” is that of lining a bird cage.
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Mike from Philly says:
Well if it comes down to the unthinkable hopefully Queens steps up their game and brings in the Islanders!
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25yearfan says:
Maybe they should let the “other” municipalities interested make presentations in between periods at the home opener…. Or, they could have them race around the track — Brooklyn’s ahead, but wait, Queens is catching up — and, from the back of the field watch out, here comes Kansas City….
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hathead68 says:
It’s sad that “Long Island’s paper” doesn’t deem any news regarding the Lighthouse Project, the most significant local development project in most of our lifetimes (and I’m 41), to be worthy of the first few pages. After we (hopefully) get the Lighthouse and secure the future of the Islanders, perhaps Mr. Wang would consider going into the newspaper business. Newsday @#%!$. Let Dolan concentrate on the competition with the other NYC papers. We need a real Long Island newspaper! Anyway, let’s hope that for every one step backward, the Lighthouse takes two steps forward.
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#65 – that’s definitely what’s happening here. Let’s face it, Chris and I have been saying for months that October deadline was unlikely, as were many other people I’ve spoken to who should know what is going on. I would love for them to work something out and get a re-zoning approval, but in my opinion it’s not likely, and that’s not a new opinion.
Our goal is to advocate for this in a positive way and make sure there is a ground-breaking next summer. That doesn’t change, regardless of what happens by October 3.
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NickIsles From Brooklyn says:
Being from Brooklyn I dont know – what is the population of the Town of Hempstead? Approx – thanks
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Domincd1 says:
Who cares if Wang is doing this to make money!!! He should be…..duh…he is a businessman and a successful one. He deserves to make money. The opportunity to make money is open to everyone in this country…some people just capatilize on it better than others. In doing so he will keep a team here…that we all love, provide jobs, and tax revenue. What is so wrong with that?
Lets face it….we all go to work everyday to make money don’t we? -
1) Sorry if this has been asked/answered already but:
If Wang says that October 3rd is the proverbial line in the sand BUT states he will abide by the lease (that keeps the team in NVMC another 5 years) what’s the significance of the October date?
2) If the team is going to stay another few years anyway, why couldn’t a deal get done in a month 6 months or year from now? Seems either way the Isles are going to be playing in Nassau, right? Or can/would Wang sell/or move the team? can’t see that scenario, but is that plausible? -
I am still confident this can happen – just a scaled back model. My fear is – only about 800 Letters were received – and if many of them dont live in the town, although I know Newsday spins, my fear is – where are the other 67+ Thousand people. While organized opposition does not exist – which is great – there are still a whole lot of RESIDENTS not saying a word! Those Residents who either grew up loving the lifestyle Long Island Offers or moved to LI to get that lifestyle and might be afraid to speak out against it because of a Sports team involved. This is my fear.
Git Er Done Charles! Lets go Islanders!
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Healy says:
Kate Murray…she had…man hands.
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Hockey Guy in Canada says:
From my perspective its really not necessary or productive for commenters to throw in the towel on the Lighthouse every time there is a push back. There are going to be lots of little battles as things start to get negotiated. Thats seems to be the stage things are at now. Most in the know have always said it will get done in some form and hockey fans can be assured one of the things eliminated won’t be the new arena where the NHL team will play. As far as the DGEIS public comments go, is easy to write a letter and say how your concerned that the environment will be affected. Of course its going to be affected. Its harder to write a letter saying how the environment is going to be affected positively. Most people in favour of the project spoke in terms of what it would mean to the economy, etc. If the Town would schedule some zoning hearings, the developers could negotiate what exactly they can build and then nail down environmental concerns and work on eliminating/reducing them. They have studied these things extensively for years. All I’m saying is take Eden Laiken articles and comments from the “Thursten and Lovey Howell’s” of Garden City with a grain of salt.
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Tom says:
I pray officials from Queens will be in Charles B. Wang’s box. His box holds 30 people? That’s a big box. Plenty of room for Bloomberg’s entourage, including the Queens Borough President.
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me says:
No one can tell me that if Tavares was drafted by any other team but the Islanders that his team would not be getting at least 2-3 national televised games. If Tampa or Colorado drafted him you can bet they would be.
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19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
I hope that the TOH isn’t foolish enough to think they are above it all to play games with this project. The thing for them is whether or not it is approved … it will have a huge impact on Nassau Cty for decades to come.
The hope is that when the Light House Project is approved it becomes instant stimulous and becomes a catalyst for capital infrastructure improvements across Nassau Cty.
This has needed to be done for decades … and the LHP is exactly the kind of development to kick things off.
If it doesn’t get done … I sense a grave future for Nassau Cty … it will be the begining of a blood letting of sorts of talent, money, jobs and a way of life. A modern day ghost town.
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Brooks Simpson says:
First, as for breaking leases … keep an eye on what’s happening in Phoenix with the Coyotes. The outcome there has an impact on this situation, regardless of what the outcome is.
Second, my understanding is that the October 3 deadline opens doors, but does not close them. It will make the Lighthouse a fall political issue in Murray’s drive for reelection.
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Of these things you can be certain:
Defeat Murray in November and the LH has a chance.
Nothing is being done to defeat Murray. She has skillfully deflected any attempts at organized resistance by this “Summer of Love”.
Does everyone forget that Murray’s spots on the LH changed color the same week that the DEMS put up a candidate?
Since then Murray has been “putting on the good air”, the longer she can keep her opponent off the radar, the closer she comes to another near landslide victory in November.When Murray wins in November….buh-bye LH.
Time is running out.
You wanna grease the wheels of the LH?
DEFEAT MURRAY.
Make this upcoming election a referendum on the LH.
Make Murray the bad guy and the DEM (I’ve already forgotten her name) the good guy.NOW!!
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19404ever says:
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am spent. First the JT saga sandwiched around the obvious, then it looks like the LHP picks up some steam, and know the usual negative vibes that are coming in. I have made 2 trips from South Florida this summer, first the draft party and second the August 3d rally, and would do it all over again in a heart beat. BUT with that said, the firing of Mears/King and the crap that CB is currently going thru is starting to really get to me. I hope the next 30 or so days go quick as I cannot wait for the 3d to blow off some steam at the ol’barn, should be some atmosphere. Let’s go Islanders!
Personally, I don’t care if the Lighthouse is approved by October 3 or not, so long as it eventually gets approved. And I think it will. There’s too much positive energy behind it, from Isles fans to union workers, to constituents of Hempstead. The public hearings did not yield any significant or organized opposition to the Project.
Charles Wang has to be fair and allow a “reasonable” amount of time to pass between the public hearings on the project and the zoning hearings. I know he’s been patient already, but it would be asinine for him to dig his heels in over the October 3 deadline after having waited all this time already.
I think that deadline is just posturing on Wang’s part. I think he’ll be okay with waiting till December or January if it means an approval of the Project.