NO WAY!!! HEMPSTEAD BLAMES WANG
Town: “They have a lot of answers to provide”
The latest from Newsday. Not much, really. Just goes round and round. Tomorrow on Point Blank: a quick chat with Kate Murray’s election opponent, Kristin McElroy.
62 Responses to NO WAY!!! HEMPSTEAD BLAMES WANG
Town: “They have a lot of answers to provide”
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BringBackNyles says:
I have the feeling this is the polical way to say no without having to say no.
I love the Islanders, but if Wang decides to sell, I really can’t blame the man.
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west coast isles fan says:
I would love to see Quebec get a team if the isles cant stay on LI.
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joe fred says:
If they go anywhere it would be Hamilton. Kristin Mcelroy has been invisible through all of this. She can make up some points if she supports the lighthouse project.
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beatlebailey says:
i will follow the isles no matter where they play. I will also curse the ground that all of these two bit local political hacks walk on for taking professional hockey away from my backyard. Raze the colliesum after the isles leave and put up a BIG statute of her highness Murray. The pigeons can crap on it.
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islestherapy says:
I met McElroy at the Isles home opener. She was very nice, but I’m not sure if she has a realistic chance of beating Murray.
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I have met Kristin Mcelroy. She seamed very sincere and non political. How refreshing! I say lets let TOH know how disgusted we are at the whole mis-handling of the Lighthouse project. Best way, VOTE!!!
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DLR says:
Supporting this type of monetary investment is imprudent. Period. Let hope for Brooklyn or Queens.
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D-man says:
when wang walks… watch how fast the next developer gets approved
amazing how 1 woman, alfonse d’amato, his brother and a few people from garden city are gonna get their way over everyone else
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Kaszycki's Krew says:
Charles should just write a check to Alfonse and get this thing over with.
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Obs says:
Lets start looking at Queens and Suffolk County. Lets get serious and move this team to a place it’s wanted. Obviously
ToH is full of it and does not want the Islanders or would rather play the political game.
Lets restart the writing campaign. Flood their emails and let them know we are paying attention. I’ve got my “Tom Suozzi letter” after I wrote the County Exc expressing my frustration with “Checkmate Kate”. I call her that because
the only things she has brought to the table with Mr. Wang has been a Monkey wrench in one hand and a stumbling block in the other. -
Brooks Simpson says:
First, as to the fall election. Voters in the ToH should vote. It’s called part of the political process. You want the Lighthouse, vote against Murray. Simple as that.
You would think the ToH could simply issue a list of questions. The answer given in the Newsday piece was simply weak. Wang should ask them for the questions, and turn around with the answers. Of course, I thought that was why there was a hearing, right? So the ToH could ask questions, right?
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Dominic says:
U said it #8….watch how quick the next developer gets approved. They’ll use the excuse that the next developers proposal isn’t as large as Mr.Wangs proposal and more viable to the supporting nfrastructure. Load of BS!!!
Oh please Ms. Murray please build another BestBuy and another Mall and make sure it has another Credit Union and another CVS and another Starbucks……oh and make sure you get your developer gets you something good out of the deal. Maybe a new car? or a few grand deposited in your bank account? or some free home renovations? TOH= Corrupt as the day is long! -
Blizzard says: ….well the last time Nassau county gave Wang a hard time he went to Suffolk. Cmon to Suffolk…Plenty of land!!!!!! We will welcome the Islanders with open arms!!!!Screw Uniondale that dump. And screw the TOH.
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Mike from Philly says:
Can anyone say “Meet me at Willets Point”. Goodbye Kate, enjoy 70 acres of rotting concreate and a crumbling building.
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I’ll say now what I said the other day:
Time to step up Queens/Brooklyn/Suffolk. We need you. Come on, crazy Russian guy who bought the Nets. We need you. Come on Steve Levy, let the Lighthouse be built at the Pilgrim Psych Center. Why the hell not? -
19 ISLE in NJ 22 says:
Something just isn’t right with this whole thing … seems to be lots of discrepancies between the he said she said comments between Wang and Murray’s crew. It’s to the point where even I’m not sure anymore who’s in the wrong. Something tells me that they both are handling this in the wrong way.
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StevieL says:
I fear that this has now gotten to the “I’ll show them” point for Wang.It seems the rhetoric is becoming a spin that the TOH wants to build but Wang couldn’t deliver the final plans or answers. It is BS!! I mean there is no opposition to this outside the TOH board!!Where is it?? Show us any organized opposition! There is none!! I’m telling you, Wang will look for any other deal. Heartland project at Pilgrim or Russian deal in Brooklyn! And I don’t blame him!!
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Brian in VA says:
Hopefully the crazy Russian guy will buy us! Lets go Brooklyn Brooklanders! Its the best we got to stay at least semi-local…
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How long before kate pulls out the old and tired…”They can renovate the Coliseum right now if they want too, and we can then discuss the rest of the plan, no crossies! Honest Injun!
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Chris A says:
@18 That’s exactly what I thought as I drove by the psych center today…CB and other PB readers if McElroy says the stuff we wanna hear then do as much as humanly possible to spread the word and help her out
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stopthepain says:
The sad truth is Murray can get away with this because most people don’t care and are like 19. They see a fight, can’t determine who is right or wrong, and figure it’s a pox on both their houses. Mr. Wang, please stay on Long Island. Willets Point or wherever. Bring the tax revenue you provide to a town or city that deserves it. Let the fools who blindly support Kate complain about property taxes in the ToH complain some more when you leave. The irony may be lost on them, but at least we’ll get agood laugh out of it…
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sincityhockeyfan says:
if the islanders leave long island.. I will fly back to long island just to organize a lynching of kate murray in effigy, help organize town of hemsptead voters, and do my best to make sure she’s unemployed the day after election day
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MattyB says:
He’s a business man. He’s a developer. He’s lost millions upon millions on the Islanders, and still stays with them year after year in hopes of helping Long Islanders watch they’re team in a new arena inside a new development, instead of the old, falling apart arena we presently have….Not to mention, we don’t have a winning team, we finished dead last. Wang is doing this because it needs to be done
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Josh says:
#26, but Wang is NOT a developer. He’s a former CEO of a computer company and a hockey team owner. His profits should rise and fall based on the team’s success – proper incentive for him to make sure the team does well. Wang argued that the team can’t do well and he can’t make money in the old barn so we need a new one. Shouldn’t winning in the new place get him out of the red? Or does Wang really mean that LI can’t support a pro team without adding extra things around it?
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What i dont get about any of these assinine arguments is it goes directly against free market capitalism that some people are so quick to preach.
Why is the town, another form of government, coming in the way of a private individual’s investment? And dont give me this “brothel” analogy taht i have read on other sites. If his business model fails then hes got to fold and sell of the businesses to some other investor to redevelop.
It is only if he *succeeds* that there will be an influx of traffic, congestion, etc that these governmental obstructionists are arguing for. And quite directly, that traffic and increase of population is going to be providing income to the town and the county, giving it a bigger tax base to operate from.
What exactly is the issue? It really boils down to i suppose, who “those people” are that move in.
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Willy P says:
#27… if the islanders sold out every game Wang still would not make money. Besides with all the money he has put into the team and into the project so what if the end result is he is making money. If he is making money on the lighthouse then the lighthouse is making money in TOH… i still feel the lighthouse can be built but after this i lost a lot of hope. But just like the team Never say die. How many people thought we would have made the playoffs that year against buffalo So in other words ill finally believe its not going to happen when Wang says it… Never say dielanders
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Jon says:
#26 – Quite simply, no. Winning would not get him in the black. And when you say new place…what new place are you referring to? The arena that the owner does not want to build? As CB and others have said before, the county owns the coliseum and the land. The Islanders are tenants, it is NOT Wang’s building to rebuild. The deal is simple, the county said if you pay to rebuild the arena, you get to develop the land around it. So why would Wang rebuild the arena for no reason when it’s not his? I rent my apartment…if the pipes break or my roof caves in, the landlord pays for that, not me. Not my apartment to rebuild, not Wang’s coliseum to rebuild.
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Sorry, I meant #27
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Jim M says:
Ok, so can someone quickly fill me and I almost feel dumb for asking considering all of the Lighthouse coverage these days. What goes to say Wang does not wait for re-election in november it is?? Kate Murray loses and whoever is elected approves the Lighthouse with ease. It almost seems way to simple.
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Ethan K says:
Hate to break it to you, but Mcelroy hasn’t much of a shot against Kate Murray in the election, regardless of the Lighthouse Project. Kate Murray will get her way. Hope for Brooklyn so we can still see some games.
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Frustrated Voter says:
Wang should team up with Jim Balsille and move the Islanders to Hamilton. Balsille’s billions would really put the Isles on secure footing.
Kate would then be voted out of office. Kate Murray’s incompetence reminds me of Mike Milbury.
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Jeff says:
I have a great idea. I say everybody here should get the word out as much as possible about the up coming election to vote for McElroy if this does not get done. McElroy has not run an aggressive campaign yet. Hopefully McElroy at the home opener picked up some volunteers for her election against Murray. It is every Islanders fans responsibility and duty, especially the ones who live in the Town of Hempstead, tell your friends and family who live in the Town of Hempstead to get out and rock the vote against Kate Murray, it is the only way it will work. If Murray wins the election, let it at least show that the public has taken notice about the Lighthouse project. I am unfortunately not in the TOH, but have told friends all about the situation and have encouraged a bit to vote against her. Hopefully others are doing the same.
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SIR WILLIAM says:
First off, anyone who thinks that Wang can sell this team can buy a bridge in Brooklyn from me. Besides Mr. Blackberry no one is breaking down NHL doors for a franchise. Anyone who thinks differently just check out Phoenix where the team will be an NHL run sorespot all season and who know how much longer. There are 6 other teams on the edge of bankruptcy right now. Just look South.
So Charles in Charge can take that bluff off the table. And only an idiot would invest 200 million (or so he claims) as seed money to develop the land and then walk away empty handed. Charles is NOT an idiot. Nor is Rechler.
Kate Murray is stalling until the election is over. An election that she will win by 30-40,000 votes. She will then be in a position of power and can
tell Charles what to do with his Lighthouse. Let’s not forget that there were others suitors in the great land give-a-way by the Nassau Exec.All of which brings us to a stalemate. I have a few modest proposals for both sides.
ONE..SHUT UP. Harsh quotes back and forth do nothing but inflame the situation and make people dig in harder. Charles, be quiet and let Rechler take the point.
Kate, run on your record and win the election hands down. There is no need to stir up the population now. Let sleeping dogs lie.2…..START TALKING TO EACH OTHER….Let’s hold secret meetings and begin to hammer out a deal that all can live with. Keep it out of the papers and off the blogs. Start with the second stringers and move forward.
COMPROMISE, COMPROMISE, COMPROMISE…..
Half a loaf is better than none. Wang has to face the realization that the TOH has the hammer. PERIOD. It is up to him to make the project acceptable to the Town. Failure to do so means just that FAILURE.
Ms. Murray has to do what is right for the TOH. That is why we elected her. Most TOH residents would be for the Lighthouse if it were scaled back a bit. The TOH does not want another Lefrak City within it’s borders. It’s that simple.With a little common sense and a lot less
noise this project should get done. Funny how I never saw Tom Souzzi at the Coliseum before last night. And even funnier was the fact that they had to surround him with Bossy and Trottier so that he didn’t get booed off the ice…….SIR WILLIAM -
MattNC says:
Wang needs to realize that public perception of his position is important. His instinct is not to negotiate the specifics of the Lighthouse proposal publicly, or refute Murray’s assertions publicly, but that needs to change. He needs to issue a point-by-point response to TOH’s open letter or last month, and lay out his case that TOH is engaging in obstruction that will end up costing TOH, Nassau, LI, as well as Islander fans.
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UIF says:
Wang may be a good businessman, but he’s a lousy politician. He won…Murray contacted him by his deadline and pretty much said it’s a go if he’s willing to compromise on some specifics. In politics, that’s an epic win for Wang. Instead he gives a between periods interview complaining about it being a day before deadline. In politics, meeting a deadline is lightning quick, imo. Murray’s “let’s discuss compromising on details” seemed to me to just be a face-saving caveat so she would have something to hang her hat on. If Wang is about to get 85% of what he wants but still plays hardball because of some deadline – which means something very different in business than it does in politics – then that’s a shame.
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JayK says:
Those people who say they would love to vote against Kate Murray but can not because they don’t live in the TOH are missing the bigger picture. They need to do what I am planning on doing — vote against all Republicans, right down the line. It doesn’t matter if the person you’re voting against — like Maureen O’Connell — has nothing to do with the Lighthouse. You need to send a message to the party and its leader Joe Mondello that you will punish all candidates as a result of the stance that is certainly coming from the Republican headquarters. Take it from a registered Republican: no matter where you are in Nassau County, vote Row A, all the way.
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isles316 says:
the town doesn’t have answers because they never tried to get them. murray never met with wang and this entire process has been slowed with an effort to make wang and rechler unprepared. the study is 4000 pages and I suggest the town starts reading so they can get their answers.
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joey bagodonuts says:
Wang is playing too much of hardball here. This will come back to bite him. If the person in charge of the town board calls you about your project in an attempt to come to a mutual agreement, you better take that call. As much as Murray and Hempstead have taken their time on this, when push comes to shove, you take your time to listen to questions. Bite your tongue as the ask them, and answer them for the final time.
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gary says:
lets assume there are a few “clarifications” that the town needs–Wand should provide, even if he already has in his proposals–Lets assume he hasnt given the total $120 million road improvement answer–I dont think the differnece between the 50 and 120 is a deal breaker
Lets assume she is just stalling and once Wang supplies the “missing” answers to her quesions, then more comes up, then more etc. Lets Rechler speak from here out and show the towns questions and his answers–Let Rechler handle this–Dont make it about Wang so then the town becomes the culprit -
therain93 -- terriers fan says:
Disappointing but not surprising. And, for those of you hoping McElroy will be the hero come election time, sorry to break it to you but her virtual absence across the board suggests she isn’t serious.
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It’s hard to fathom how many good decent people still support Wang despite his record and reputation as one of the worst sports owners ever and now with his immature and unreasonable artificial deadline in connection with the most intensive real estate development anyone has had the audacity to propose on Long Island since the building of Levittown in the late 1940′s when Long Island was made up mostly of farmland! The truth is Wang can’t move the team until 2015 and all of his actions are a total bluff that hopefully will not let him get that which he never deserved. Here’s a prediction you can take to the bank-He will dump the team he never wanted well before 2015 whether he gets the approvals he clearly does not deserve or not.
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I don’t think Wang is being unreasonable. He’s been trying for many years to get approval for the Lighthouse Project. Seems to me that all he keeps getting is the runaround and more and more delays. If it were my team and my money, I’d probably feel the same way as him. There aren’t many people who would want to continue to lose millions each year stuck in a decrepit building and saddled with the worst lease in all of sports.
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Miket says:
Tony Santino was at the Centre Avenue stop in East Rockaway this am shaking hands, he was all smiles and talking to my wife and I until we started asking about the lighthouse project. He said it was a great game sunday.
I told him the game was on saturday and they lost in OT. I was then told others would like to speak with the councilman. East Rockaway is a square mile town there were 20 people at the station -
Eric W. says:
Personally, I have thrown up my hands at this whole messy situation; its been ugly to say the least. At this point I would just like to know one way or the other…
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TimQ says:
Lets be realistic here. Small minded politicians are being asked to do more than they are capable of doing. They are stalling because they don’t know what else to do. The only thing that will shake this process up is the threat that they won’t get re-elected. Unfortunately, that doesn’t look too likely unless a clear message can be communicated by opponent(s) to the incumbents. Something along the lines of …
Your taxes with the LH project: $5000
Your taxes without the LH project: $10,000
Kristin McElroy SUPPORTS the LH project
Kate Murray DOES NOT -
Marc from Troy says:
Continuing to say things like, “They have a lot of answers to provide,” is transparent BS, and the TOH should be called on it. There is no way that Wang/Rechler have spent the amount of time and money on their detailed studies as they have if they did NOT include answers to any and every question the TOH could possibly come up with. Let everyone know that the answers are there – so long as they actually read the documents.
Great quote in last night’s episode of Mad Men that made me think of this mess. Following their successful delay of a project opposed by some residents, their rep said the following:
“There’s a saying in politics: when you have no power, delay.”
Unfortunately for all of us, however, not only do they have the delay thing down pat, but right now the TOH has the power, too.
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Tom says:
IMHO, I think Charles B. Wang already HAS his answer. IMHO, I think he’s had it for close to a year now. He WANTS to audibly hear a ‘No’. That’s not going to happen. Kate will drag her feet & never say anything. Charles B. Wang needs to get on the horn with Willets Point.
The Isles stay in NY. Charles B. Wang gets his paradise. A win-win situation if I ever saw one.
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Gutty34 says:
VFW Rally in East Rockaway – October 21. Unions/Isles Fans/Nassau Residents. Enough already with our pathetic elected officials living off our tax dollars and looking for more under the table. Its small but I think will have a huge impact and send a message. Lets get News12 out for this. Lets fill the place and take over – Santino is as close to Murray as we can get and taking over his meeting can be a big start. At least we make him read 20,000 pages and keep him busy
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#51…It looks like Charles B. Wang got his answer. Call Queens. Go where you are wanted. Go where you will be loved. Go where you will be adored. Most of all? Go where you will be respected.
Islander hockey, it’s worth it.
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October 20 at 7 pm. I looked it up online. I will provide more info after I call the TOH to confirm location. CB – help is out!! Promote this local event like the rally!!! A voice is a voice. Small steps. I am so fed up already that I am willing to go these steps. First time for everything!!
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I don’t understand why people don’t think Wang should make Money on this project. This is the United States of America. Opportunity is availbale to everyone but some people can just capitalize on it better than others. Who the hell is anyone to say that Wang could make money but not that much of it.
How much are you making (soon to be EX)Councilman? Maybe the people of the TOH should start dictating how much you make….better yet how much your really worth. -
ny711ot says:
#52. I’m in. Let’s bring the house down and no more civil demonstrations. Once again our leaders are failing us and outrage is necessary. This is our last shot to make noise.
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It is stunning to me how many small minded fans think that the Lighthouse is
important to EVERYONE just because it is important to them as Islander fans.
Most people in the TOH could care less about the Islanders or their Lighthouse.If you don’t think that Murray or the board know this then you have not been paying attention.
When Rechler (not Wang) submits a plan that the Town can live with then something will get done. Until then, it will not.
So sell the team Charles. I know you have all those overwhelming offers on the table (HAHAHAHA). Lose the 200 million you’ve invested so far.
Yeah, sure………Sir William
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Steve M says: Canada has enough teams. Let’s go to suffolk, forget the TOH and Nassau.
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Sir William – # 56. I know this is not a forum to bash but this is a heated debate and in my opinion not to be avoided. Can you please please please provide all of us one reason why this is not important to LI. Putting aside the Isles what is your argument against. I see many for but not one legit against. Water…come on man. Traffic. Where isnt there traffic??? I live in the five towns. Should I not allow another business to move in or another building to come up because there is a load of traffic on Broadway?? Move to Montana if you want quiet roads and 100′s of acres to yourself. Your concerned about your local businesses??? Keep shopping and dont change what you do now and nothing changes. Las Vegas, the fastest growing city in the US figured it out – water, traffic etc….. This is NY – the brightest, wealthiest and most resourceful metropolis in the world and we cant figure out water concerns. Please. I am so sick and tired of GC residents, many of whom have not actually earned their owm fortunes but had it handed to them from mommy/daddy/grandpappy. How could you think that your miniscule dot on the Nassau landscape should shape this project for all of us. Sir William – when you can point out a legit concern and hard facts that Murray is not a corrupt political figure than I will listen to you. I think what we are seeing is that if you have enough money – you can “buy” the TOH. As a 35 year old LI’er I am angry that my friends all leave for bigger houses, more land, and less taxes north and south of us. Many want to stay here but cant justify an 800K house + 12K in taxes for a dot of land and a 75 year old wreck. Get this done already for the sake of LI – I dont want to hear about water and traffic. Has anyone in the history of the US died from lack of water….something tells me we wont run out of it. Traffic…..it a phenom and even the best designed highways roads et…suffer. Thus is life mighty Sir William.
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Sir William – Kate Murray not a corrupt politician? Are you kidding? Isn’t she the one who put her Dad in a fake job on the payroll of the ToH???? Nah, you’re right – Kate only has the interests of her constituents at heart.
Let’s assume for a second that the Lighthouse is a pure real estate deal with none of the added tax revenue that comes from having a pro-sports team. Just the opportunity to improve the Island’s housing and commercial real estate base at no cost to the ToH is a no-brainer. This would provide much needed tax revenue to all relevant agencies. But no. Instead we will continue our slow but steady decline on Long Island all to appease the ego of a faded politician and political party. Shame on all of us for allowing this to happen… -
Thank you Gutty (#58)for the well written comment. I’m so tired of all of these people and politicians playing us for fools and there lame excuses as to why this shouldn’t be built.
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isles14 says:
the pilgrim state islanders.i wonder what the jerseys would look like?
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Study after study has shown that sports teams do very little to boost the local economy. Is Hackensack thriving because of the Jets and Giants. Hardly.
Exactly what does how a resident of Garden City earns their money have to do with the Lighthouse?
Stick to facts not rambling diatribes.
And the simple fact is that many residents of the TOH do not want a project of this scale.
Anyone who thinks that housing prices will fall, taxes will be rolled back and that jobes will be plentiful because of the Lighthouse is not in touch with reality……..Sir William
unreal. just give Mr. Wang a Yes or No answer already. stop with the games.