LABOR PRESIDENT FEARS ISLANDERS WILL LEAVE
Castellane: “I hope they take Mr. Wang seriously”
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James Castellane, the President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Nassau and Suffolk, is concerned Town of Hempstead politicians are not taking Charles Wang’s Oct. 3 deadline for Lighthouse “certainty” seriously.
Castellane, who is trying to line up business agents from every trade in Nassau and Suffolk for Tuesday’s zoning hearing at Hofstra, is worried the New York Islanders will leave Nassau and the Coliseum will be an abandoned parking lot in a few years.
Said Castellane today in a phone conversation: “Charles said to me a few months ago, ‘Jim, my son’s birthday is October 3rd. The start of the next Islanders season is October 3rd. If after all this time, we can’t get answers on this project by then, I’m not going to like it but we have to start talking to other areas. This has gone on too long.’”
The president of the Trades continued: “I sure as hell hope they are taking Mr. Wang seriously. Look at his track record. He’s been a man of his word. He has his deadlines. In my opinion, Charles has been a professional through this whole process. He has been patient. He has invested millions upon millions of dollars. If it was me, I may have split a long time ago. I mean, enough is enough.”
The zoning hearing for the Lighthouse is Tuesday at Hofstra University from 9:00 am – 9:00 pm with one-hour breaks at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. There has been a noticeable lack of buzz for the event, far different from the Aug. 4 environmental hearing which included a rally at the Coliseum. The labor leader is concerned the Town may view a drop in attendance as a drop in support.
“I would have liked to have had another rally, but it’s a difficult time,” said Castellane. “I’ll tell you how tough it is. I might not be able to line up as many of our people for the hearing as I’d like because they’re off Long Island doing jobs! This is how bad it’s gotten. These guys are barely making their mortgages.
“I don’t understand why the Lighthouse wasn’t done a while ago. It’s amazing. My group is involved, fighting for projects all the time. In 99% of them, we’re faced with serious opposition. In this one, you can hardly find anyone against it! I can’t believe the Town is going to jeopardize thousands of potential jobs because of this BS.”
Castellane said “labor has been the driving force” in getting Nassau County, the Town of Hempstead and the Lighthouse developers to try and work together. “The Lighthouse is too important to us,” he said. “We’ve worked hard on this project. There comes a point when we can only do so much. These are adults, major political leaders. They have to get on the same page in these next few weeks. If they don’t, I’m very worried the Lighthouse, the Islanders and thousands of jobs are going to go away.”
Point Blank plans to be at the morning session of tomorrow’s hearing. Comments on the Lighthouse in this thread only.
73 Responses to LABOR PRESIDENT FEARS ISLANDERS WILL LEAVE
Castellane: “I hope they take Mr. Wang seriously”
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Jeff Speight says:
My gut tells me the TOH politicians are stalling until after the election and then Murray will attempt to kill the project. Maybe the new GOP leader Cox is the only hope!
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Mike R. says:
I am sick of this. If Wang can’t make money on the team without building the Lighthouse, then maybe Quens or Brooklyn is the answer. Is the NHL ready to have another team fail in the midwest? The people responsible for not letting the Lighthouse project happen really don’t care about Long Island or the people that live their. My uncle told me that many private business owners that live in Garden City get a tax break living in the same town their business. Is this true? Is that the reason this thing is being held up? These people are afraid the Lighthouse will force private business to close down and they will no longer be able to live in Garden City?
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Pritchett54 says:
Can you imagine what this 80 acre parking lot will become if the isles leave? I wonder how much money and how many jobs will be gone when this thing all falls apart. At least if they move to brooklyn there will be mass transit to and from the game.
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beatlebailey says:
yes the TOH is trying to wear down supporters and delay this thing to create apathy. Would not surprise me at all if there is a big show of “opposition” to the project tmrw. Hope all supporters can make an appearance.
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Harold C says:
Not sure what NC would do if Wang really moved to Brooklyn…I have my doubts about people going to see hockey in Brooklyn, but if Wang wants to try, what can you do? It would be easier to get there than the NVMC with the LIRR right there, that’s for sure.
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Leviticus says:
We must be there in force…. If you can’t/won’t AND say that you support this project, you should be ashamed of yourself. The time is now!! Lots of big talk on this site… Time to put up or shut up!
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geduffer says:
Leviticus (#7) – That’s easy for you to say. When someone’s got a job that they CAN’T get away from, that’s just the way it goes. I definitely can’t spend the whole day there and may be able to make the evening session. If the TOH kills this, they deserve the stinking pigsty that the town is on its way to becoming. But to tell people that they should be ashamed of themselves if they can’t blow off their jobs to attend is a load of crap.
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jt91ko21jb12 says:
would love to get there to support this project cuz i would be heartbroken to see the isles go… this whole goin to college thing 6 hours upstate (60 miles from montreal) makes me not able to attend wish i could be there
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dose says:
If this thing is defeated, the real reasons will eventually be revealed. That is why I still think it will get done.
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Joey303 says:
QUEENS !!! Brooklyn 2nd
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Blizzard says: I say one last shot at the light house. My gut tells me the Lighthouse is not happening. Brooklyn or queens FTW. Also I dont see why some people say the team in Brooklyn will not attract fans. I mean as it is now the colisium is in freekin Uniondale.
Anyone who attends games now will not if the team is in Brooklyn? Not me. Ill just hop a train and not worry about driving intoxicated. Mass transit. I went to the Caps new stadium in down town D.C. and it was great, lots of sports bars around people cruising the streets. I think Brooklyn would be a great place kinda like that.
Hope its a viable alternative for Mr. Wang. Because if he sells, they will be gone from the area.
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#8… If you wanna rail on about how important this is, we all have to find a way… It’s not happening without massive support. If can’t make it, then send an eail to the TOH. If u or anyone does neither, I stand by my original post!
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Gutty34 says:
Have to agree that I think this date was a ploy and well thought out. All college kids are back to school, thus the rowdy supporters are out of the way. Many of us took off for the Aug 4th hearing and cant afford to do it again. I find it surprising that many of the opposition didnt show Aug 4th???? Where were they?? Did Miss Katie Pig tell them to stay away…that this is a smoke up the ass meeting and you will be outnumbered so wait till the Sept meeting when we know many of the supporters for this project wont be able to attend. We will look like the majority and I can finally pull the plus on this and look like the hero. Quite frankly….this is getting more sickeneing by the minute that a pathetic Town Supervisor thinks she knows whats best for all LI – she is the freakin TOH Supervisor….not an honest official who represents all of LI. I dont inderstand why someone cant step in over her and just say f-Katie. Lets get this finalized and move on. CB – is anyone quaified to finally and throughly explain why this has been redtaped for 8 years. I went from a college student to a working professional to a husband to a father in this time. Pathetic and another reason why I am the last of all my friends remaining on the isles from a group of 15 young adults looking to make roots. I actually hope Wang sticks it to Katie – I will support the Isles wherever they end up at this point but the pure satisfaction of looking at Katie dumbfounded in a barren parking lot will say it all. Hey Garden City. Maybe you can buy the land and put up 15 homes and a country club so you are all happy since this seems to be solely about you guys and not whats best for ALL OF LI. Selfish rich fools you all are.
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KZ says:
I don’t live in NY anymore, but if they did go to Brooklyn I think you would still have a good attendance because of people going to games because they can get there by train instead of driving. Plus there would be more to do in the area. I personally hope they end up there just because NC pissed me off with this issue.
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Strummer's Army says:
Kate Murray is 100% trying to kill the project. From what I can read into it, she is partnered up with the Garden City Mall and they don’t want competition. Will they have the ability or the rights to put anything on the site when Wang moves the team? NOPE! That doens’t matter to them and they don’t care who they hurt. That is why your hearing that they are organizing protestors from Garden City for tomorrow.
This process has been crazy and in almost any other place would have been good to go…long ago.
I still don’t understand how a town can delay it like this when the city and state have approved.
If Murray is successful everyone else loses and it becomes the Kate Murray Memorial Parking Lot.
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Oh and one more thing Garden City. You think your surrounding areas are bad. Wait till the borders creep in more since the number of jobs lost and the continuing downfall of Hempstead hit. Think crime wont go up in such a well known “affluent” area when there is literally no source of income to feed a child.
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Alex G says:
I’m going to try my hardest to get there for the early session
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Frank James says:
Good luck trying to recoup the loss in taxes through property tax increases.
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Big Boy says:
I am so pissed at TOH that i want them to move to to throw it in Nassau’s face….they are stuck in 1983 and losing the Isles will serve them right
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Frank D says:
There is another agenda in play here. I’ve said it all along. They don’t want the Lighthouse project to go forward because they have other plans for the site that will put money in the politicians pockets. As usual, the best interests of the towns people are ignored. Typical political BS.
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West Coast Fan says:
I still get a lump in my throat every time I drive by Conklin Street while on my LI visits. I can’t imagine what it would be like driving by the site of the defunct barn on Hempstead Turnpike…
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TuxTax says:
Why is a zoning hearing so public, shouldn’t this be worked out between politicians, lawyers, planners and architects? The Garden City News has an article on the NIMBY’s. As per Dennis Donnelly:
“Who is looking at the Lighthouse as it relates to Nassau as a whole?” he asked. “The county is very much for this project. Hempstead is looking at Hempstead, nobody is looking at North Hempstead. There are 1,600 additional residences being developed currently in addition to the Lighthouse right in our area…How many more cars? How much more water can we afford to supply them?
“We will be a community divided by a railroad, we will be divided into sections,” he continued. “The balkanization of the Village will be the single most detrimental element the Village has ever faced. I urge all of our trustees, as well as our residents, to vocally and vociferously protest this overthought, overplanned, oversized boondoggle.”
Applause erupted in the Village Hall boardroom after Donnelly’s last remark. “We should take the Lighthouse to the outhouse.”
Sounds like a coup d’etat if you ask me…does anyone like forward thinking in this world. I wonder what Donnelly’s property would look like if he didnt mow his lawn or if he let the paint peel away from his shingles or if he let his bedroom fill with water because his pipes had rotted through.
It’s time for progress people.
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Michael says:
I really hope that by tomorrow night we have an answer, just by how the meeting goes, on what’s going to happen. I am so sick and tired of this LH crap. Either it’ll get done or it won’t, jesus Kate. Decide already.
Who the hell knows when we’ll have an approval after tomorrow. I’m sure another 3 months will pass with no word from the cow sanctuary in Hempstead.
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Translation. Wang: “I want what I want, when I want it an dhow I want it, or else.” Not for nothing, but as someone who initially bashed Kate Murray, I find more and more articles starting to make more sense in her favor. For example, why can’t Wang guarantee that the Coliseum will be built first? Why can’t he agree to some of those provisions, which in that Newsday article a couple of weeks ago stated, the TOH has brought to his (and Suozzi’s) attention before? Both sides are playing the game. Only game I care about is the next Islanders game, not a spoiled millionaire’s I-want-my-cake-and-eat-it-too’s demands.
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Chris M says:
#4- Kate will rebuild it after the Isles leave. The Lighthouse project will be scrapped, but she’ll renovate the building and leave the barren, wind-swept parking lot. With no professional teams, the Coliseum will become just another stop on the Dancing With the Stars and American Idol tours- nothing more.
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Dan from Westchester says:
Castellane is right. It must be time to start looking elsewhere.
This entire process has been a nightmare. There is no solid opposition to this project, yet it doesn’t get done and political games continue to be played.
If October 3rd passes. . and Wang does not have the certainty he requires, then it’s time for Brooklyn and / or Queens to step up with proposals.
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Vukota says:
#24 7 Plus years he’s been waiting. What do you want the man to do? I wouldn’t trust the TOH and you think he should with billions at stake?
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All this Brooklyn and Queens talk- when there has been absolutly NOTHING but a few vague, noncommittal mentionings- is the absolute WORST thing that could have happened. Far too many Isles fans believe there is something rock solid there when reality is that there isnt! Its just words, potential backup plans at BEST! The Lighthouse development on the other hand is REAL- and we can get it IF we all make it clear that THIS is what we want!
Like CB, I am very worried about the lack of buzz for tomorrow. Isles fans- if you decide not to throw your support out there tomorrow, that decision could put all of this hard work and progress in real danger. Support what is real, Isles fans… otherwise, we could lose it all.
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” …Brooklyn I think you would still have a good attendance because of people going to games because they can get there by train instead of driving.”
many would walk there.
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Tim F. says:
stevedepot (#24) – Regarding your question about Wang agreeing to do the Coliseum renovation first, bear in mind that SMG’s agreement to operate the Coliseum has an an albatross around the Isles’ neck for decades. I believe the SMG lease expires in 2014. So if I’m Charles Wang, do I want to start my project with something I can make money on (i.e., condos, hotel, retail), or something that will mostly benefit SMG for the next few years? It’s speculation on my part, but I’d bet the SMG situation (and the economics that go along with it) has something to do with Mr. Wang not wanting to make the commitment to do the Coliseum first.
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Gary says:
Nassau has no money to bring to the table as other munis would so Wang has to bankroll the entire project–If they are really worried about traffic, parking etc, then lets have a sensible conversation with the genuine intention of getting this project going–Its shouldnt be about if this should happen, it should be how
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Crackhead Theo says:
I gotta be honest with you guys. I just dont see how the project will NOT pass. It would be political suicide for Murray. I would be anything that the Lighthouse will eventually get approved. It might be scaled back a little bit but eventually it will get done. I have no doubt abtou this whatsoever.
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Staten Islander says:
Something better happen because Balsille won’t stop till he owns a team if not in Hamliton, somewhere else in Onterio
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Tim, I know all of that. I do not believe all the rhetoric from Wang. Wang could have gotten out of the lease but listened to D’Amato when renegotiating. D’Amato handled the negotiations from what I recall. You can believe what you want.
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jimfromstjames says:
I’ve said this & read this, there is probably a developer with close ties to Kate & Mondello waiting in the wings for wang to give up & go. We have seen many of the unions support the LH, but there are a few who have not, On long Island, the codes are written is such a way that a developer will make the most money building over 50 condos, they pay less taxes than homeowners & can maximise the profit per sq ft. Do you think if a developer gets a hook-up like this, they won’t be motivated to donate heavily into the local GOP coffers? The nassau GOP desperately wants to be back in control of the county, but that take money…
Mark my words, if Wang fails, within three years they will break ground on a massive condo complex. how the traffic now?I’ve also read that The NVMC can’t be renovated by itself before the rest of the project, due to the parking garage & the design of the new concourse, they are all tied together, almost as one building. There is now way they can re-do the Coli by itself.
And for all the Wang bashers, were is you proof he is not what he appears to be??
I still think this is all back room politics, who aligned with who & Wang & Rechler picked the wrong side.
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**I meant to say Condo’s for people over 50, not 50 condos**
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BR says:
Tim F – The Lighthouse Development Group’s (LDG) agreement with the County is such that when the project is approved, SMG will be out of the picture (either through a buyout by the LDG or condemnation by the County). I don’t find it unreasonable that assurances be given that the coliseum rebuild be part of the first phase of the project. I haven’t seen any indications from Wang that it won’t be. What I do find unreasonable is that the rebuild be the only construction permitted during phase one. That is what the TOH appears to be demanding.
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Mario says:
I hope they do move to brooklyn or queens. Much easier to get to than Long Island from Connecticut.
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JD (e_godard) says:
Wish I could make it down there tomorrow..
Hopefully ToH will not screw this up. Alot of people on this island are depending on them to see this thru.
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Dan says:
100 years- When one political party is in power for over 100 years then don’t expect much from them. I’m not feeling good about this project getting done. I agree with other comments that Kate Murray is waiting until after election to stop the project. I will NEVER vote for these fools. Too bad not enough people will do the same on election day.
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Scott W says:
#39 Ok Mario, they should move so its easier for you to get to games!!!!
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Pete M says:
What I don’t understand is why the TOH needs to have assurances that the Coliseum will be renovated first. What difference does it make to them in what order the project gets done? Personally I think Murray wants it done first so they can pull some shenagans and slow down or halt the remainder of the project once the renovation is completed.
Oh and while we’re at it, as far as people preferring Brooklyn over Uniondale, yeah that’s what I want, a 45 minute train ride with a change over in that armpit called Jamaica rather than a 15 minute ride in my own car. And guess what, a round trip ticket on the LIRR is going to cost you more than parking, and quadruple that for a family of four going to a game that is expensive enough to attend. No thanks. I want them HERE.
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Had to comment on the Queens/Brooklyn idea, The LIRR will work with the Isles with deals on tixx, they have a program to get to the Meadowlands & The Rock. I’m out in the Shirley area & I would gladly grab a 6 pack and take the train to brooklyn. The parking at the NVMC should go up a bit ( 8 bucks or so & then add a few bucks for gas…& how about the 20 mins to get out of the parking lot? The ride from most stations would be about an hour, last game I drove to, in traffic & 6pm, the trip was over an Hour.
Ever see a game at the garden?? Grab beer, catch train, climb stairs, that simple. Why do you think the garden is always full? it can’t be the hockey.
It maybe a 15 min ride for Pete M, but I’ll bet for most fans, the trip takes much longer.
What about teenagers?? when i was that age, Dad would not have lent me the car to drive to Nassau, but H’ed by me the train tixx to the garden. -
Tavares says:
I hope they move to Queens or Brooklyn, Nassau does not deserve them.
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Dan says:
I don’t understand if islander fans show up they say well they just want to keep their hockey team. If no one goes than there is no support. Honestly I am getting tired of all of this. I say everyone just show up to the Coliseum with a shovel and start digging!! That will show our support. Who’s in????
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UIF says:
I’m with Chris TMC here. Isles fans probably shouldn’t be rooting for a move. There’s no guarantee it’s going to be Brooklyn or Queens as opposed to Canada or Kansas City.
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TimQ says:
The major goal of Murray and her cronies is to try to wear down the opposition. Politics is sometimes a war of attrition, and from the comments I’m reading here she seems to be accomplishing her goal.
First step is to get this approved so get there tomorrow, even if it’s only for a little while. Second step is to get this useless piece of crap out of office.
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Tim Q is 100% correct. Murray & her cronies on the board have an agenda. She will not show her cards until after election day. It would be great if Murray lost but its very sad that her competition doesn’t even have an updated website or a sign anywhwere. Wang should have found an ally to run a decent campaign for the supervisor job. Very sad…
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Millsie says:
Charles’s biggest point for negotiations is the Islanders. Unfortunately, the Islanders are one of the least popular teams (in terms of attendance) in the country’s 4th most popular sport (probably 5th if you count NASCAR). The threat of the Islanders leaving simply does not carry the weight of the threat of the Mets/Yankees/Jets/Giants leaving.
To all of the Islanders fans out there (myself included) keeping the Isles here on LI is enough reason to go ahead with some version of the project; however, to the countless residents of Long Island who don’t give a hoot about hockey, the balance of the plan doesn’t necessarily make a compelling argument.
Right or wrong, a lot of people view the development as the urbanization of Long Island – something they don’t want. And while the contruction jobs would be plentiful, a lot of the other components may not really be necessary.
Last I checked, I haven’t seen a dramatic need for hotel rooms on Long Island (especially 5-star hotels); and I haven’t seen “Sports Technology” listed as a growth sector on par with alternative energy or healthcare. Drive up and down any of the main thoroughfares on Long Island and you see countless abandonded retail establishments. Why add more square footage to this oversaturated market?
With all this in mind, why not just scale back the plan? Why not one hotel tower instead of two? Why not more open space (sorry, but Bryant Park – LHLI’s point of comparison for open space – is not big)? And most important – if keeping the Islanders here is SO important – why not an entirely new arena? Refurbishing the Coliseum is like putting lipstick on a pig. Even the Yankees knew when it was time for the Cathedral to go.
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D. says:
I really wish the fans who lived outside of Long Island would either support the lighthouse, or not offer up opinions at all. When you say “Hey, I live in jersey (or CT, or where ever), it would be awesome if they moved closer to me”, you’re essentially throwing your support behind the opposition and that is not what this project needs. As much as it is about the Islanders as a hockey team, it’s also about all of us islanders as residents. This is where we live and it’s not just about hockey. Don’t be so selfish.
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matt says:
forget Brooklyn!…..Queens makes the most sense right next to Citifiled….
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Mike from Philly says:
Having the Islanders in Queens would pretty awesome as they would finally feel like a pro sport organization playing in a new building surrounded by mass transit. Lets hope tomorrow is a positive 1st step to the LH project getting completed.
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mht says:
Ultimately cooler heads will prevail.I live in the TOH,and if they would leave I would sorely miss the NY Islanders.As far of bashing Kate Murray STOP RIGHT NOW,She is running literally unopposed and is heading for a landslide reelection.This is about keeping a positive spin for all concerned.I am for the Lighthouse,but can I say honestly say TOH needs 4 ice rinks as set forth in the lighthouse?Probably there are negotiations going on regarding the number of residential units and the amount of retail/office as we speak.The present administration does not wanted to be smeared as the one who let the Islanders leave.When the Penguins were negotiating for a new building it came down to the 11th hour.This project will be built and all will claim they are looking out for what is in everyone’s best interests.
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Islesin2010 says:
CB- Good story, of course I’d like to see the Isles stay more than anything in the world but I suppose Queens or BK wouldnt be the worst, just no KC.
On another note, I’ve been following Katie Strang’s blog a little bit and I gotta say, I’d really like to see her try to do some of the stories that are featured on IPB. Her stories seem so bland, compared to this site that has something new and interesting every day. Maybe it’s because you’ve been around the NHL for so long, and therefore have that many more connections, but I must say it’s incomparable, these stories are so much better.
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art says:
#29 cris tmc is absolutely correct in telling it like it is. The queens/Bklyn so called alternatives are based on nothing more than a few people’s musings. You might as well pick Huntington or Riverhead etc, they are just as likely, Like other problems we will know when we know. In the meantime a weak team that doesn’t score and gets pushed around and whose best hope is another #1 pik is not the best advertisement for a rush to save it. Good attendance would help but that’s a big order in this environment and very expensive seats that corporations can’t afford to buy. {even the NY Yankees are going to lower their ticket prices] Sorry to be so negative but I believe its this lousy economy that will be the rason that a modified smaller LH will be built.
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Stumpy32 says:
As someone who lives in Brooklyn, about a 15-minute walk from the proposed arena, I’d be thrilled if my team moved to my backyard. But c’mon…this isn’t about that. The Isles belong on Long Island. We need to squeeze every last ounce of support into this project, and if it doesn’t happen, ONLY THEN do we start thinking about Brooklyn or Queens. It’s nice to have a backup, however vague and noncommittal it is, but Long Island is home. Don’t give up the fight until the last round.
Show up tomorrow. Everyone, just show up. I’m running in from the city for the night session, and I expect, EXPECT, all those with a dog in the fight (on this site, that means all of us) to show up as well. Make it happen. LETS GO ISLANDERS!
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elected officials with pensions and healthcare ignoring the desires and needs of those who elected them into power. spending their days instead catering to the monied minority and getting their family members jobs. i am shocked at this news.
simply shocked at what i am reading. well, at least there will plenty of parking in uniondale in a few years. nothing to see, but plenty of parking. -
Gary Hart on the ice says:
I find it amazing that anyone (#24) can knock Wang….I’d have sold out a long time ago if I were him, he’s really just throwing good money after bad. I pray they end up in Queens or Brooklyn….I assume that would mean he would end up selling the team and that’s fine by me. He’s done enough, lost enough and has been patient enough. Let somebody else deal with this headache.
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AL L says:
Harold #6! You don’t think many people from Brooklyn will want to go to a hockey game??? Are you serious? Just what do you perceive Brooklynites to be or who they are? I would prefer the Isles remain in Uniondale,but given the selfish interests and corruption in local government,perhaps the Town doesn’t deserve a venue or desirable place for their constituents to go. The time has come for TOH to lay their cards on the table. I doubt very much if Charles will put up with this crap any longer. It could very well be he has already become weary of LI politics and is actualy counting the days to Oct 3rd so he can investigate what is out there for him.
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Concerned Citizen says:
I’ll be there!
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miket239 says:
This is all insanity. Money motivated politically agenda’d insanity. The answer is there Islanders fans. Right in front of us. MOVE THE F’N TEAM OUT OF NASSAU COUNTY and of course keep them on LONG ISLAND. I dont understand. Charles Wang has god money. Build the Lighthouse in SUFFOLK or QUEENS. F(orget) the ToH, and F(orget) Spectator Management Group. The NVMC is posioned, the land is poison, the LEASE ON THE COLISEUM is evil. Its like the Poltergeist house at this point. JUST GET OUT.
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Dominic DiDonna says:
If everyone hates Murray as much as they say they do, then why are so many backing down and saying “move the team.”
Seems to me the best thing to do is shove it right up her ______(fill in blank) and show up and support LHP till it gets passed!
The troops need to charge into battle instead of turning around when the first shot gets fired!
Go to the meeting and call out Kates self serving interests!! -
Smokey says:
I still don’t get it.
Labor unions in huge support. Local residents fully back it. A billion dollars of private investment in a down economy. Keeps a large source of revenue (the team) in town for the foreseeable future. Provides what will almost assuredly be a wider tax base.
So Murray will have egg on her face when there is no alternative for developing the Coliseum land, it has no tenant, and she needs to raise taxes to compensate. This will reflect badly on her and whoever comes after her. And all this to protect the interests of a few townies (some of whom aren’t even her constituents) and the mall owners? Even when the mall owners will probably compete more heavily with whoever takes over the land BESIDES the Lighthouse developers?
It doesn’t make any sense.
If Murray’s enumerated demands in Newsday the other day are truly the last set of requests from her, then so be it. Those ALL sounded VERY reasonable. But if she’s really trying to kill the project, there’s something else there. An under-the-table payment. A business opportunity when she exits office. SOMETHING is in it for her.
I have no idea what to think anymore.
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Ben says:
I used to work at the Superdome in Louisiana back in the 80′s. I recall many discussions by people both for and against the building of the Superdome. The arguement against the Dome was that it was an elephant and a tax burden on the city.
Advocates for the Dome were quick to point out that the $$$ generated as a result of the residual business created by the Dome activities more than supported the annual cost of maintaining the Dome. They estimated that a dollar brought in to events at the Dome had a ripple effect of being respent 10 times again in the local economy.
How much money is generated in terms of taxes direct to the county as well as the surrounding businesses and County are a direct result of the Islanders being here. Then multiply that amount many times over because the money generated by Islander games is respent in the immediate area like the example I gave you with the Superdome.
Can the politicians talk their way through the impact of a professional sports team leaving the area? Probably, but who will suffer?
Nassau County is fortunate to have a professional sports team in their county. Think of the 100′s of areas around the United States and Canada who would love to benefit from a team in their city or town.
The short-sightedness of the County is baffling. They are close to running the Islanders out of town and to top it off Kate Murray will be re-elected.
It’s unfortunate that we have politicians that have absolutely no business sense.
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Leviticus – You didn’t say send an e-mail the first time. I’m with you on that. ANYONE can send an e-mail. If you vote in the TOH, make sure they know it.
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# 54 brings up a good point. I add, if we stop being frustrated about how things are playing out figure this and it all makes sense:
Islanders are in a rebuilding mode which will take 3-4 years to develop and draft quality talent to challenge.3-5 years is what is needed to start the project and begin generating revenues so that Wang can increase his self-imposed roster budget by another 10-12 mil to pluck some quality UFA’s to compliment his now maturing, home-grown talent.
Now, with the Project near completion, bigger budget to make the Islanders contenders, Wang can sit back and enjoy his success and perhaps run for office somewhere and have a real big office where he can display the Stanley Cup and all of the other awards that accompany a team that’s successful.
Hmmm, 3-5 years, I guess I can wait.
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Al says:
MSG has stated that it WILL NOT stand in the way if Ratner could get The Islanders to move to Brooklyn. Rember it’s has been said that what ever team moves to Brooklyn be it basketball or hockey the teams that move in MUST use the Brooklyn name …. I know uptill this past June MSG has talked about moving there AHL team to Brooklyn.
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Nyisles says:
I will be there to support the lighthouse on September 22. What we the fans have to do is show a huge support on sept 22. If you guys think Wang wont sell the team, he will(kansas city will sell out tomorrow night.) Kansas city, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Las Vegas are all in the running for an NHL team. if you cant make it in please email, the more support we have the better it will be. by the way who is running against Kate Murry in November?
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Look, the last thing I want to see is the team developing into a contender in some far off land. If JT, KO and all are the real deal, we could be in for a good ride.
Someone please explain to me why Wang needs a project of this scope to keep the team on LI. If he moves the team to, say, Brooklyn or Queens, he still doesn’t get the LH. He doesn’t get the income stream. Why is the team tied to such a massive project. I know the lease sinks, but he’ll be out by time a renovated/new Coliseum is ready, either by time or condemnation. Can’t he make money with a smaller project with less impact on the community? Build a hotel, shopping mall, et al, just shrink it to something palatable for the community. -
Ben #65,evidently you haven’t been following this circus very long or closely. The County has already voted in favor of The Project. If they were the sole source of government involved,Wang would have had a shovel in the ground and a new lease a long time ago. In order for it to get the green light,The TOWN of Hempstead must rezone the property. That is where the ‘political pipes’ are clogged. There evidently are some special interest groups that have both pressured and perhaps greased the palms of some in high places in the TOH to put the kabosh on The Project. Should the environmental and traffic study prove to be insignificantly problematic or its problems solvable a complete investigation of TOH should commence both individually and collectively with a ‘show cause’ order explaining specifically why this Project shouldn’t happen. Simply to allow a Township governmental committee the power of controlling the future of an entire County is incomprehensible.
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P.S. There’s a huge parcel of propery ready for development right here on Long Island – Pilgrim State. I’m sure Suffolk County would love to have the Isles move a few miles east. In fact, I’m surprised Steve Levy hasn’t gotten into the mix.
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Isles75 says:
hey Millsie post #72. I have been saying that for a long time. While I would hate to see them destroy such beautiful architecture, the fact is they have already destroyed lot of it already. Pilgrim also already has a LIRR train line. It just needs to be updated, they stopped using it in 1978.
As long as they stay in the area, I wouldn’t be too upset considering I live in Jersey and Queens and Brooklyn aren’t too bad a drive.