Comments on: LABOR PRESIDENT FEARS ISLANDERS WILL LEAVECastellane: “I hope they take Mr. Wang seriously”

By: Isles75

Isles75 — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:05:01 +0000

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.

By: Millsie

Millsie — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 13:04:23 +0000

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.

By: AL L

AL L — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 05:16:28 +0000

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.

By: joec

joec — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:36:06 +0000

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.

By: Nyisles

Nyisles — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:33:41 +0000

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?

By: Al

Al — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 02:38:08 +0000

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.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:53:33 +0000

# 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.

By: geduffer

geduffer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:49:29 +0000

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.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:43:05 +0000

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.

By: Smokey

Smokey — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:38:47 +0000

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.

By: Dominic DiDonna

Dominic DiDonna — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:23:38 +0000

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!!

By: miket239

miket239 — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:18:03 +0000

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.