THE ARENA REFERENDUM PLUS/MINUS
Predictions, final words about Monday’s vote
11:00 am: The day has almost arrived. Victory on Monday means the process continues to keep the Islanders in Nassau and develop a new arena. If there is defeat, how could the Islanders get off the mat after the community tells the team that not enough people care to keep it here?
Here is our Plus/Minus look back at the weeks leading up to the Aug. 1 referendum on a new arena for Nassau County and on the future of the New York Islanders, followed by a prediction and some final thoughts.
Plus: Charles Wang has made it fairly clear that, “There is no Plan B” and the Islanders “will need somewhere to play” if Monday’s referendum fails or the deal is not later approved by NIFA and Nassau Legislature. His appearances on WFAN and local television stations were effective. Wang was well-prepared and he came off as a good person sincerely dedicated to Long Island.
Minus: To guarantee a big victory on Monday, Wang should have been even bolder and tougher about the Islanders playing somewhere else besides Nassau as soon as possible if NO wins. As crazy as this may sound to some who have followed this saga daily, there are still plenty of people who do not grasp how important Monday is.
Plus: Wang and Ed Mangano are hosting an election night-type reception at the Coliseum on Monday night starting at 8:30. It’s not over-confidence, but a way to thank supporters, volunteers and employees. For the media, the event will also serve as an ideal backdrop – win or lose.
Minus: Point Blank has learned that Billy Joel, who cashed in at the Coliseum for more than a generation, has so far decided to not be involved in the new arena issue because he was concerned about the “controversy.” In the last twenty years – unlike contemporaries such as Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Jackson Browne, Joel has not produced any new rock music. He has not taken a stand on anything except repackaging his greatest hits and making a fortune playing nostalgia concerts. Hey Piano Man, grow a pair.
Plus: The support from Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils was well-done.
Minus: Ed Westfall, Denis Potvin, Bryan Trottier, Pat LaFontaine, Patrick Flatley, Kenny Jonsson, Bill Torrey, Al Arbour, Michael Peca, John Tavares…by the looks of it, the Islanders chose to not invite them to get involved. But Ty Wishart, in town for the week, spoke at the rally. You don’t think gentlemen like Torrey and Arbour would not make an impact with older, possibly lapsed Islanders fans? Should the Edmonton Oilers need support, can you envision them not enlisting Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Taylor Hall?
Plus: Newsday‘s lead editorial giving a very big thumbs up to voting YES was well-written, balanced, informed and perfectly timed.
Minus: The paper’s fair account of the likelihood of commercial taxes rising with a new arena awoke some deal critics who probably weren’t inspired enough to vote NO on Monday, but are now motivated. (Again, with Newsday, do not shoot the messenger).
Plus: Giving voters a taste of what the proposed arena would look like – see Sunday’s Newsday – was a good idea.
Minus: Desmond Ryan of the developers’ group Association For A Better Long Island surprisingly never effectively proved any points. He came off like an annoying hockey blogger constantly jabbing at a general manager about a minor trade. Ryan’s not a bad guy, but he did not serve his partners well. I guess we’ll see on Monday if he had any impact.
Minus: Jay Jacobs. Wow.
Minus: Kate Murray, puppet.
Plus: You can disagree with their views, but Nassau Legislature members such as Wayne Wink and Kevan Abrahams have been respectful in their criticism of the arena deal.
Minus: You can agree with his views, but Republican Majority presiding officer Peter Schmitt managed to come across as an ignoramous on the Wangano deal this month after playing a role in blowing up the Lighthouse Project a few years ago. Quite a feat, sir.
Plus: Islanders fans – including the fiercest critics of Wang and non-believers in the team’s slow and steady rebuilding program – put aside the hockey talk to get behind this arena deal. The Islanders are lucky to have them. Understand this: more than any other group, including the unions, the organization is counting on Islanders fans to be at the polls on Monday.
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Prediction: YES will win. The decision to hold the referendum on Aug. 1 continues to be key. YES will win because Islanders fans will not only show up to vote in the affirmative, but the majority of them will convince friends, relatives, neighbors and co-workers to join them.
I do not share the high level of faith in union members that the Islanders and Mangano’s staff appear to have. Many care, but from the half-hearted “passion” I saw at the rally on Wednesday and what I have witnessed over the last several years of this process, I would not count on a massive display of support at the polls.
As much as the insecure members of Islanders Country wanted to make this about more than the team and also about concerts, family shows, trade shows, exhibitions and…sorry, I fell asleep there for a bit…in the end this vote is about the future of the New York Islanders. The Islanders are the primary tenant and most important occupant by far. Wang is in this position because he owns the Islanders. Lou Lamoriello, Glen Sather and Gary Bettman have released statements of support because they are partners in the National Hockey League. Have Jay-Z, Joel or even one popular musician? Disney on Ice? Ringling Brothers?
Of course not.
I will estimate that less than 10% of the Nassau residents who vote YES on Monday will be a) not Islanders fans or b) not encouraged to vote by an Islanders fan or – to a far lesser extent – by a member of the supporting unions.
YES will win, but will it be enough for smooth approvals by NIFA and in the legislature? Of course not.
On Monday, it will be about the final results. Tuesday will be about turnout.
The successful referendum will be a cause for celebration at the Wang and Mangano party on Monday night, but I believe the opposition – led by the Democrats – will sink their teeth into the voter turnout numbers by the following morning.
There are approximately 900,000 registered voters in Nassau County. For all of the front-page stories in Newsday, are enough residents engaged in this issue to take a few minutes between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm on Monday to vote? It certainly doesn’t feel like enough are.
If voter turnout is weak, NIFA will view the results as meaningless. The Democrats will say they learned little about what their constituents truly want. Negotiations on the arena deal will re-start, and then it will be up to whether Wang has any more patience, whether Wang wants to bend some more. If you really want to make a difference on Monday, just voting YES is probably not good enough. Bring 100 or so of your registered friends.
Because, consider this. There is a lot of tough talk here and elsewhere by Islanders fans and union leaders about voting politicians out of office. If there isn’t enough support to win a vote, purposefully set for a Monday in August to give the referendum the best chance to win, how can anyone possibly think they have enough influence to impact a November election?
Comments welcomed. Good luck on Monday, everyone.
169 Responses to THE ARENA REFERENDUM PLUS/MINUS
Predictions, final words about Monday’s vote
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corey says: Thanks for this post. I dont live in Nassau but my grandparents do and I told them to vote yes. I am going to be nervous tomorrow
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John I says:
Lots of good points. Thanks for your excellent coverage throughout this. You are right to call out Billy Joel. For a man who wrote a song about Long Island becoming a no man’s land, you would think he could rally to support a development that would help towards turning a desolate parking lot into a destination for all Long Islanders. You are also write to question why Islanders of the past were not enlisted to help the effort. Especially someone like Bossy, whose job title with the team is working with the business community.
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93 Miracle says:
Billy Joel will likely be the first act in the New arena! His support would have gone a LONG way. Got to step it up there Piano man or the “lights will be out on Nassau” instead of Broadway. Yes Islanders fans must and will show up, but one thing…so many live in Suffolk. That could be a huge factor. If every islander fan on Long Island had a chance to vote, I would not be worried at all it be a lopsided win. As I have also learned, they’re are a decent amount of Islanders fans outside of Long Island that have moved away. Some, not many, in Jersey. I think we win, but I wil be nervous until I hear the results thats for sure. I have been a wreck all month long..this is all I can think about and thats sad. It should have never have came to this for this franchise. However, for some reason I have been more calm this week then the previous 3 of the month. I will have ice level seats on monday…Lets go Islanders!!!!
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AJAX says:
Wish I could vote, but I’m in Suffolk.
Unfortunately, I do not share you optimism.
“No” will win the vote. I would say by about 15%.
I hope I’m wrong.
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Bob Bassen says:
Enough cannot be said about your contributions, CB. IMO, you are always covering subjects as objectively as possible and from many different angles, thoughts and opinions. I think that is very, very refreshing.
In this day and age when politicians are really nothing more than Corporate Officers and Journalism is practically a euphemism, you, Sir, are carving-out something special.
Good luck, everyone on Monday.
Go Islanders! -
ghost of milbury says:
Billy Joel, who now splits his time between Manhattan and the Hamptons, once sang: “There ain’t no island left for Islanders like me….”
Mr. Joel, if you had any “island” left in you, you would have spoken. As for “controversy”, speaking up in support of this would have caused less “controversy” for you than your multiple DUI’s the last several years.
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Isles Fan in VA says:
CB
Just need to say thanks for amazing, unbiased coverage virtually everyday.
I hope that my pilgrimages from VA to LI to see the Isles with my sons does not end in 4 years. I can’t imagine not having the Islanders.
Everyone vote YES. I will be on the internet at 9:01 PM on Monday trying to find out about the vote results.
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John says:
A lot of the people on these boards want to vote YES and that’s great! But these same people don’t live in Nassau (in fact, I’m one of them). Being from New Jersey there’s not much I can do but sit back watch. I hope and pray this passes. I want the Isles to stay where they are. They belong in Nassau, they belong on Long Island!! All Nassau County residents – VOTE YES!!! YES YES YES!!!!
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isles72 says:
took me 10 minutes to stop laughing at the Billy Joel jab.
a+ chris .
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IslesFan says:
#5 Ajax
I am afraid I agree with you. I would like to see the vote win, but I think that with this tough economy, it could fail. I hope I am wrong.
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Billy the Kid says:
So what would be considered a good turnout?
In a nation where 50% or less eligible voters turn out for a Presidential election, would 15% of the registered voters of Nassau Count qualify as a good turnout?
The fact is that Jacobs is acting in a manner that any number less than 50% will be attacked becaue that is the kind of schmuck he seems to be. -
One more thing, I don’t think a “no” vote should be considered a rejection of the Islanders, I think its a rejection of higher property taxes.
Yes, if Islanders leave, Nassau county residents will be worse off financially and will probably see a tax increase to make up for the loss of the money generated by the team, but I don’t think most residents see it that way.
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Chris, I hope and pray that you are right and the Yes vote wins. I have a huge knot in my stomach though, and the reason is that all the people who want to vote YES are not Nassau residents. My friends father (75 yr old) wants his grand daughter to take him to the polls to vote no! I am paying him a visit tomorrow to give him some facts. I am also driving all around town with a Vote yes poster in back of my car. I also got 6 absentee ballots from friends who are away. Still….I feel sick to my stomach with worry. Someone please make me feel better. Usually, I am the therapist, but I need some positive words from you guys, HELP!!
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Isles fan in CA says:
Was a Suffolk resident before relocating out to the West Coast and would have gladly marched to the polls if it was possible. Special Thanks to all my fellow Islander fans who are heading out and bringing family and friends along to Vote YES on Monday.
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TimQ says:
I support this initiative completely but still find it amazing that it has come down to this. A once proud franchise struggles to pull together enough support to justify its existence. Very sad statement.
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rpchief2 says:
Another Suffolk Islander fan, my hands are tied. Do not have any relatives in Nassau and only a few friends live there. I’m gonna be pissed if Nassau politics take my team away. I have two friends who dont care either way. I told them I would give them the 50 bucks a year if they vote yes( even thought we know its only 13.80). I think CB is right with the fact it will pass but not by enough to make the dems happy. Still have a long way to go on this. Get out of Nassau but stay in NY.
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Billy Joel says:
I plan on showing my support in a spectacular fashion. By crashing my car through a polling station! Vote yes!!!
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mht says:
Chris,you have done an incredible job on this issue.I unfortunately do not share your opportunism.I see and feel the anger in the streets of Nassau County.I expect a much larger turn out than you have projected and this referendum will be soundly defeated.
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slsangus says: As a lifelong Democrat and a union president, I am disgusted that my party, which touts itself as standing up for working people, opposes a plan that will create or save almost 5000 jobs.
As an Islander fan, I am disgusted that every other team in the league plays in a beautiful new or newly renovated arena, without portable toilets and with concourses bright, airy, and large enough to easily handle 17,000+ crowds.
As a lifelong Long Islander, I am disgusted that every other region in the country manages to build, progress, evolve, and prosper while my home can’t get its head out of its arse long enough to realize that 1955 ended a long time ago.
As a voter, I am disgusted that the only thing about which any politician in Nassau seems to care is “how can I make the other party’s guy look bad?”
As a person who values honesty, I am disgusted that the ABLI pretends to care about my pocketbook when all its members want is to get their hands on 77 acres of prime real estate in order to build yet another mall or “55 and over active adult community.”
As the only person left in Nassau County who isn’t pining for the Carolinas or Brooklyn or Florida, I am tired of being disgusted.
I am voting YES.
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Jzimm says:
Plus: The passion comes from Islander fans, and the Islander fans in Nassau are likely to be willing to move mountains in order to find the time to vote on Monday.
Plus: I’m not convinced that people who are passionately going to vote NO, and have 8/1 circled on their calendar, are in great abundance.
Plus: For every Islander fan, there are probably four people who are completely indifferent, and those people are unlikely to vote.
Minus: If Islander fans DO NOT VOTE, THIS DEFINITELY WILL NOT PASS!!!
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geduffer says:
Vote yes on Monday, then Republican on 11/8 and every other election until the Democrats fire Jay Jacobs. If the arena goes down, I will finally transfer off Long Island and never look back.
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Kaszycki's Krew says:
If I were Wang – I would take the stage on SUNDAY night at the Coliseum – at the concert for the Backstreet Boys / New Kids on the Block.
I would get the artists to tell the attendees to VOTE YES – otherwise – detail about how much more $$ and time they would have to spend to see the show at the Prudential Center (MSG is closed this summer and the next 2) and how acts like this NEVER go to Long Island again.
I would ask them to do a VOTE YES campaign. Wang runs the concerts now – hope he has thought of this. Because the Isles has the RIGHT STUFF BABY !!
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Dom says:
I agree, Billy Joel’s support would go a long way. He has been a proud Long Islander his whole life and has even made that clear in his songwriting. What puzzles me and I’d love to get an answer from the “Piano Man” himself to this question: “What Controversy”????? A lifelong Long Islander showing his support for a Long Island product is going to cause “controversy”? HOW????
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Dreu Theran says:
Great post CB, but predicting a Yes win is dangerous. It may make those who were inclined to vote Yes not vote at all, thinking it will pass easily without their vote. Everyone who wants this to pass MUST get out there and vote Yes! I also feel that a large percentage of the people who support this referendum do not live in Nassau County and therefore cannot vote. This could prove to be a problem as well. I’ve been posting on my Facebook page and I’ve convinced one of my sisters who still lives in Nassau to vote Yes! Everybody that can’t vote, has to get in touch with someone they know who can.
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dose says:
Nevermind Billy Joel being a no-show, who the heck knows his ‘state on mind’ these days, but I am stunned, bewildered and even hurt by the roll call of Islander greats that have been completely absent.
If it’s true that “the Islanders chose to not invite them to get involved” then something is really amiss with the owner. It makes zero sense that he wouldn’t want their help on this, and I’m scared to even guess about any unless’es. If Charles Wang didn’t ask those guys to help, that tells you something about him as a person, but I have no idea what that is. If he did ask, and they declined, that also tells you something. Either way, something just is not right here. -
Donna says:
Slsangus above said it all quite well.
me and my husband are voting yes. As for what I’m hearing around its mostly a resounding vote no. which is quite upsetting to me, but I only have one vote. I’ve tried to convince those on the fence, but some people choose to be ill informed. Hope you are right Chris about the vote passing. And as for Billy Joel, who’s he again? -
Billy Joel??? Is he still alive?? His ex Christi should have thrown a brick at his head when she had a chance!
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Ryan says:
I hate to be cynical, but I continue to have this feeling that even if the vote passes, NIFA and all other political opposition will continue to be a nightmare.
On a side note, great job by CB blasting Billy Joel. Elton John actually made a similar comment about him, saying he needs to deal with his alcohol issues and write something meaningful again. Apparently Mr. Joel isn’t too worried about controversy when he drives his car drunk through the front of someone’s house.
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@Billy Joel (18) LMFAO!!!
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PSM1966 says:
#12 I think that’s what they are banking on. 15% or less turnout. I believe the “yes” vote has more passion and more to lose and therefore are more likely to vote. I wish the “nays” were better educated on the issues and alternatives. It seems all they hear/read are “vote no if you don’t want your taxes to go up”. This scares me.
As a Billy Joel fan, I am disappointed that he hasn’t come forward with this. He doesn’t have to appear but could have done a video spot at his biker shop.
Overall I am being optimistic because people like my brother who is not a hockey fan but thinks if this brings more jobs and some place for his kids to see a show, he is all for it.
Vote Yes!
PS Maybe if it’s real humid/hot and pouring rain, the senior vote will stay home. -
dannola says:
I moved away from long island 10 years ago for the countless reasons that so many other 20 somethings have. A “no” vote will pretty much assure that I will never look back. And I know that I am not the only one who feels that way. 10 – 20 years from now, when all of the baby boomers (and current nimby’s) have passed on, and countless people in my age bracket having said “enough” years prior, long island will be the suburban detroit with no one left to give a damn.
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Since72 says:
The Islanders organization really dropped the ball on firing up the vote. I can’t imagine that the Alumni would have turned down an oppoortunity to help. If the NVMC is not replaced then those retired numbers and banners have nowhere to hang and would end up being mailed to their homes COD. For that matter, JT, MM, KO, Nino, Strome and all the rest should have been at the rally. Heck, if I’m Charles, I would have invited Messier and anyone in the hockey world that he and Bettman could have rounded up. “E” should have been there and Islander fan Christy Brinkley. Maybe she could have convinced Billy Joel. But even without him, I once saw an outstanding Billy Joel tribute band (with his former sax player) at, of all things, a Computer Associates event. Anything that would play to Long Island pride. This organization understands nothing about PR which I guess explains why CB is no longer part of it.
Let me offer one other thing: To those who think that moving somewhere like North Carolina would be great, that is where I live now and you ain’t missing a thing. Long Island is the greatest place to live, unfortunately, the people on the island don’t appreciate what they have. So my fear is that the Coliseum will go the way of the Commack Arena, sit abandoned and crumbling until it is replaced by a flea market. Or like the Levittown Roller Rink. Replaced by Rockbottom. So sad.
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JBinNYC says:
Jeez, leave Billy Joel alone. The exact reason why we need a new building is because world class performers (Billy) don’t want anything to do with this old barn. Do you really think he would have stood next to Mangano and B.O.C. and waited his turn to speak? Or maybe they’d roll out a piano and he could play in between Wishart and some Union guy curse at the crowd? Build something new, then ask Billy to open the place with a few sold-out concerts. Maybe he’ll call his buddies Paul and Elton to make an appearance.
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TM says:
BOOOOOO Billy Joel. Washed up overrated drunk. Nassau NYI fans usually have no backbone or heart. It’s fans from Suffolk,Queens,Brooklyn that carry NYI so I have no faith but am hoping for the best.
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John says:
Wow. CB- great to call out the Phony Man. The New NVMC is controversial??? Hmmm let’s look back at this persons past. He recently played shows supporting the election of President Obama in 2008 and actually dedicated the song “Movin Out” to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. Taking sides in politics apparently isn’t as controversial for the Phony Man as would his support for a new building. He married a girl old enough to be his daughter, which failed, and he has repeatedly been involved in alcohol related accidents. I’m guessing he doesn’t think those are nearly as controversial as a new building. I have seen him in concert about 25 times and have grown up listening to his music. I’m done- CB you’re right grow a pair Billy!!!!! You end your shows by saying “don’t take any s%#t from anybody.” well I’m done taking yours. You suck you bald Orson Wells wanna be. Your supposed to be LI’s biggest champion and favorite son. You let the whole area down.
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Tom D in NJ says:
CB – thanks for all! I wish all Islander fans could vote. It’s up to the fans in Nassau to carry the load. Fingers crossed!
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Ray says:
Ryan #29 your 100% correct…We have this worst politics here and there is no such thing as a comprimise…
I too was upset that at the very least Tavares was not more vocal, he is the franchise and it hurt that Moulson seemed like he has more passion….Pat LaFontane still lives here….
CB your amazing and Ihope if and hen this vote passes you are rewarded…You Know Garth more than any of us but My view of him changed at the prospects game when he and Captain Jack were waiting by the elevators to go up the suites and he spoke to me for about 10 min and took pictures with my family and what was impressive he told jack to go ahead and he will meet him up there just to talk to a fan…..I say this because you are the only source between the fans and the team and I feel that Garth has a soft side and you he can get over his feelings…..anyway vote YES and lets build this thing
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Ryan Sweeney says:
is there any way an argument could be made that since there was a low voter turnout rate that there’s a lot of people that do not have an opinion, or do not care enough whether it gets built or does not get built? if it is such a big deal to so many people you would expect that there would be a large turnout in support of no..no?
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Seth says:
Gotta love the one-sided view of this article. It’s like watching Fox News; anyone who disagrees with you is automatically “weak” or “stupid.” Too bad the people who disagree with you have a lot of worthwhile points to make that you just ignore because reality doesn’t suit your position. As the old saying goes, “You’re entitled to your own opinion, but you’re not entitled to your own facts.” This deal should fail, and I think it WILL fail. The Islanders simply don’t have enough fans for it to be worth the NHL’s time. Let’s put them where there are fans who care, like Quebec City.
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Don from Levittown says:
To think that Jacobs (or Mangano), or any other politician are out to do what’s best for Long Islanders is ludicrous. It’s all about what is in their best interests, whether it is building their legacy or lining their pockets.
We need a YES vote on Monday, or we as Long Islanders are going to be worse off. Unfortunately, I think the politics of this whole thing will kill it even if we vote YES. Either way, I’m there on Monday voting YES.
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sean says:
If the islanders leave nassau county I will never spend another dime in it. Politics is what will make this team move.Nassau county has to be the worst run county in the US. That idiot Jacobs thinks he has a solution. I hope its a big yes vote and politicians realize they can’t afford to lose millions.
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Dave says:
It’s better pass or this Island will stay as the same status don’t do anything. The area around Nassau coliseum will 100 times worst if nothing is done. Mr Wang has tried to build throughout other areas in nassau for 20-30 yrs with road blocks. Residents don’t get it the more businesses that move out of Long Island the higher taxes will become! The people that vote no are just disgruntaled always have been..never can satisfy them!
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booten says:
bring as many people as you can!
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If this doesn’t pass people better make phone calls to stop the BS and get things done to make this happen before it’s to late.
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Brian says:
Yeah, just like Quebec City, perhaps the only other city in North America with a worse arena and political climate than Long Island. Go away you frog troll.
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csk says:
trolls suck
Billy Joel has always sucked
Jay Jacobs sucks, then again, just about all politicians do these days – and always have in Nassau County
Charles Wang has somehow become the most sensible owner in the NYC area outside of the NFL teams – James Dolan? The Wilpons?
He deserves some support – the team would likely already have moved if not for him
This is the Islanders last chance to not become Toronto’s second team
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Nycisles says:
Seth
What’s more pathetic is a quebec native clinging to hope that a team folds so he can have a team again. You had your chance and you blew it. You need a ride on the waaaaaabulance. -
Take a hike Seth. More Islander fans than you might think, unfortunately many of us dont live in Nassau County.
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IslanderJerseyMike says:
Great article as always CB. I, as well many others here, am especially proud that you took a stand against Billy Joel. I would say it’s safe to say he leans Democrat in his Political stance. If that is the reason he is not coming out now then where the hell was he during the Light House project? That was backed by the Democrats was it not? As far as him not wanting to rub elbows with Mangano then why not just release a statement that says he is supporting it!!! In the end I say when we build a new arena in Nassau, which in my heart of hearts I believe we will, every banner in the rafters moves over to the new Barn except for Billy’s Banner. They can bulldoze the old barn with his banner still hanging there and then we can officially “Say Goodbye to Hollywood”
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goislesgo105 says:
I don’t get it. Both the Republicans and the Democrats say that they want the Islanders to stay on Long Island and that we need a new Coliseum. Charles Wang has said over and over that the Islanders belong in Nassau.Why can’t the three sides sit done and come up with something that they can all agree on and keep the Isles on Long Island? Where are the grown-ups???So frustrating!!!
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Glens says:
Yeah Seth thats great, Fox news you mean MSNBC the one that the messiah controls, that if you don’t agree they shut you down. This county and COUNTRY is done end of story all I do now is hope for CHANGE, OPP’S I mean new leadership at the local level as well as in the White house…….
I know that has nothing to do with this but being that you brought up Fox news I couldn’t resist. Anyway to all that can VOTE ON MONDAY PLEASE VOTE YES for the job’s,economy and to keep the Isles where they belong on LONG ISLAND. Notice I didn’t say Nassau county cause even though I want this to PASS I’m not sure at this point if that county and there POLITICIANS still deserve to have that building and TEAM as well as the $$$$$$ that it brings in…..
LETS GO ISLANDERS….. -
@ Seth the dirty Rags fan…It is a FACT that Jacobs is an Idiot and is clueless…
Rooting for a fan base to lose thier team is low…And the Islanders fans have been turned away since that canadian mad mike DESTROYED our team…WE get a new building and our young team countinues to get better the BARN will be ROCKING full time…I was thier just 5 years ago against Buffalo it was insane….were just waitin for a reason to come back….but really we never left…. -
I guess the piano man or downtown boy is no longer an Islander anymore. Thanks Chris for the great work and let’s hope Yes wins what’s up with the trade that never happen yet?
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Well, I have my dad, his girlfriend, my ranger fan Al and his wife, my friend Dom all voting yes!! Sucks that you cannnot help your favorite team more….wish I could vote yes. My friend Dom said there are alot of misinformed people out there who are uptight over taxes, also think the timing of our country debt issues may not be good timing as well for a vote. Too much uncertainty to ask for a tax increase.
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anthony c says:
billy joel is a hack. And him not supporting this because of “controversy” is a joke.
And seth, go play in traffic you jerk.
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the man says:
seth slags fox news, which is good, but then used fox logic, which is bad. this is chris botta’s blog, and he’s presenting his reasons for his opinions. it’s a blog post, not an article, though it’s as well informed as any article should be. if you disagree you should have put all your own points in your post instead of whining.
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OA PEST says:
I am voting NO. Taxes are hign enough as it is. And truly I wouldn’t miss the NHL at all. Maybe the Coliseum gets some minor repairs and the AHL comes here. More affordable and better to watch.
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Zarley says:
Good to see you haveing a sense of humor about yourself when you compared Desmond Ryan to an annoying hockey blogger. I had to read it twice and cracked up.
We’re All Islanders.
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Art says:
great point about all the blowhards saying they’ll vote Murray and the rest out of office. Hard to believe Islanders fans are so delusional that they think Murray or the Nasau Dems lose sleep over that. Isles fans are losing sleep just over winning this election that was set up for them to win easily.
Vote YES.
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Billy the Kid says:
Billy Joel has not made ANY rock music in the last 20 years. He has basically gone into retirement since he turned 40. What a waste. All he’s known for is marrying women 40 years younger and driving his car into telephone poles. He has been such a disappointment to me.
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Tim Q says:
Don’t just vote YES. Like CB wrote, make sure you’re responsible for getting another 100 votes from your contacts.
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charlie says:
You know people are trolls when they don’t even recognize that Chris complimented some of the Dems for being respectful in the process, ripped on Schmitt and clearly does not have a lot of respect for the political talents of Mangano. I guess that’s what they’re trolls and don’t even read the column.
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voter says:
I wasn’t too nervous about winning. But seeing the response from my fellow fans on Twitter and message boards has made me nervous.
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Isles Fan in Toronto says:
VOTE YES!!! Without the YES, our team will not be called the New York Islanders in 2015. I live in Toronto and cannot vote. But I am urgeing everybody who is eligible to VOTE YES, To preserve our beloved NEW YORK ISLANDERS!!!
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Harry7273 says:
We haven’t played a meaningful game in four years but Monday feels like Game 7.
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Lav says:
From talking to friends, I can confirm that the article about commercial taxes going up is definitely going to hurt.
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Can someone answer this. How can a bankrupt county like Nassau take a loan out for 400 million and really ask the taxpayers to flip the bill for it.
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Lenny says:
The Islanders got support from the Rangers and Devils but didn’t ask for any from the men who brought 4 straight Stanley Cups to Long Island. Even Bossy, who’s on the payroll, has been on vacation. Doug Weight’s a great spokesman but has done nothing. Tavares signed autographs for cash in Toronto the day of the rally. Do the Islanders really want to win this thing, or are they so disrespected even by their own legends? CB seems to get Torrey, Arbour, Trottier and LaFontaine on the phone whenever he wants. Old people would have listed to Torrey and Arbour, who are pushing 80 themselves. I can’t believe Wang is so stubborn or the staff is so stupid that they insisted on doing this without them.
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Mike From Philly says:
Why is it if the yes vote loses by a few votes we hear nothing of wang or mangano throwing a fit but if the yes wins then all the dems will be crying how this vote was not fair
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Kevin 27 says:
Two supposed big Isles fans Alan Hahn of Newsday and Opie of the O & A show ripped the Wangano deal to shreds. Thanks for the support fellas. Now I’m seeing Opie and Anthony trolls on here.
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IslesHostage says:
The timing does suck. Federal, State and County governments are bleeding money, inflation is killing us and the County is in crisis, taxes are unaffordable and it’s coinciding with such an important vote to raise money to save a vital economic cog for Nassau.
Thus if it fails, I count on a deal made ina few months between Chuck and the County to use state money already earmarked for the building, plus a mix of private and public funds to do a cheaper extensive overhaul of the NVMC with a sweetheart deal presented to Wang to entice him. Democrats and Republicans will do this together to offset the EGG on their FACES after this fiasco.
Murray actually should be lauded for her budget restraints and maintaining Hempstead’s credit rating. She came out for a plan that didn’t hurt taxpayers. The Dems, heros of the LHP, turned against us fans for political reasons and will now have to repair their image. While Murray endorsed the referendum and STAYED OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT TO NOT POLARIZE VOTERS WHO HATE HER (props), the lead Dem made himself public a-hole #1. The lead Republican didn’t help much either.
So wouldn’t it be funny if the one person playing the whole fiscal rationale who “killed” the LHP because of the cost to build schools and infrastructure being high could be the one without any egg on her face?
After the vote, I want her, Wang and the tea party clowns to speak up over the pressing issue of retaining our economic benefit by coming to a compromise. Rebuild the Coliseum and add seating and a new facade and more bathrooms and a nicer look inside as well. $200M? No demo of the old building? Fix the ice once and for all? Transform it into a modern arena with old school charm and superb acoustics? I’d hate to think ANYONE could be against a cheaper project like that that makes impeccable sense. -
Potvin5 says:
Ignore the naysayers. There desperate because they know YES will win on Monday.
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Vukota says:
CB,
Thanks for all the writing and interviews about this for the last two months. You broke more stories on the arena issue than the local papers and your coverage was more fair. After we win on Monday, go ahead and take the rest of the week off.
Mick
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OA PEST in #66 –
The County lends $400M and gets a 213% return on the loan, is paid off with 11.5% of revenues with a guaranteed minimum but no maximum. If inflation hits, the Isles pay more back. If the building operates at capacity, the Isles owner pays back MORE THAN the amount needed to break even. Over 30 years with normal inflation, what was a $14 hit on taxpayers would become more like a $14 BENEFIT to taxpayers if the building rakes in over $250,000,000 annually, which is feasible assuming LI eventually recovers, the Isles remain and the price of tickets, food and everything else goes up in normal fashion.
The debt will be fully repaid.
On top of that, the Coliseum remaining open allows the tax benefit of OVER ONE HUNDRED MILLION annually to remain there. No Coliseum and that revenue disappears, with government either cutting spending or raising taxes with that revenue stream gone.So you spend to keep a revenue stream and design a proper return of said investment. If all paid back, the net loss on the loan is zero (with a $450M GAIN on interest collection) and the net gain of keeping the Coliseum open for 30 years if the total sum of economic benefit it causes for 30 years – and that would be over $100M++ for 30 years totalling $3B + in today’s dollars just for a $850M loan being tendered.
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Strummer's Army says:
I want to thank Botta for doing more then anyone to educate Isles fans on this matter.
Ya Billy Joel, pretty weak! You will want the best dates and you will use the arena to make loads of money but you’ll have done nothing at all to support it. Lost a ton of respect for you.
Hope to God this vote wins!!!!!!
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jdun89 says:
OA PEST #66…If you’re still asking questions like that this far into the process im going to say its probably a safe bet that you’re too hard-headed for anyone to actually get through to you.
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AJP says:
Let’s not forget that is not all about Mr. Wang and the Islanders. It is also about Mr. Boulton and his new baseball stadium.
The stadium was disturbingly NOT included in the Camoin Associates Economic Survey.
Ballparks are very expensive to build and to assume it is just a “little” $50 million tack-on is fool hardy.
The Islanders have great history and fan base and undoubtly will be viable in a new arena.
Independent League baseball (un-affiliated and inferior) is a crap-shoot. Some teams in the region (Atlantic City) have gone belly-up or are in serious trouble (Newark).
And I’m not sure if a successful stadium would be beneficial for the public! Of course its success would have a serious deleterious economic effect on the Mets. (800,000 less customers)
Also the Islanders! How can we expect companies to afford to buy luxury boxes to both the Baseball Team and Islanders?
Since, you can’t vote YES to Wang and NO to Boulton, I would have to say NO because I strongly disagree to giving public funds to Boulton.
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NotBillyJoel says:
What color is the sky in your world? There is so much opposition to this vote from just about all of the people spoken too. Including a couple of Islander fans who just dont like Snow and Wang…and mangano even more. The only chance this vote has to pass is that all of these nay sayers will stay home on their lazy butts and not vote at all. If the vote fails(and it will) whichever city the isles move too will gladly pay any penalty for breaking the lease a couple of years early and the isles will make a colt like exodus from this godforsaken county way before 2015. The county and the team have not done nearly enough to convince the people against the arena to change their mind. Where is the big media blitz we were promised? Ty Wishart? really? Maybe Billy joel hasnt come out to support the new arena because, like most nassau residents, he doesnt like the way our incompetent County Exec has handled this entire arena deal.
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Tony says:
I know for a fact that Wang has given money to Joel’s causes. It’s sad that Joel didn’t support a new arena when Wang asked.
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chyzowski says:
You got trolls on here saying we’re voting yes because we trust CB’s words and these trolls are disciples of a guy named Opie from a radio show.
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Newman says:
I think we have to accept the fact that the dynasty Islanders weren’t asked because the only ones who claim to like Wang like Nystrom, Morrow and Bossy are on his payroll.
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nhl80 says:
Now that we’re 2 days away the only thing that matters is that every Isles fan in Nassau votes YES and gets a lot of people to join them.
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kg says:
I’m voting YES.
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David in Lynbrook says:
I think CB mentioned this on one of the shows with Compton recently. It’s amazing how many Isles fans write on this blog that aren’t on Long Island anymore. That says a lot and can hurt us on Monday.
So all of us that are in Nassau have to do everything we can.
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Lauren says:
YES
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Boss says:
I won’t sleep Sunday night.
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vito says:
You should have seen Wang’s face when he was asked by Boomer about Kate Murray on WFAN yesterday. She is a puppet.
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Matthew Carlyle says:
I don’t love the deal and I don’t like Wang but I’m still voting YES.
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rob says:
Chris: what time can I expect you to arrive at the RVC Rec Center to vote Yes on Monday? Bringing SNY with you?
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stephen didovich says:
absolutely vote YES you got both the
NY POST & NY Daily News saying vote NO
Ray Keating is urging a No vote. You got
sentiment if Wang wants a new building
he should pay for it himself like the Wilpons & Steinbrenners with CITIFIELD and
Yankee Stadium. Also you got fans who think Wang leaves Uniondale he would
move to Brooklyn. Barclays Center wont
have a hockey component so NO means
Islanders relocate to either Quebec City
Hamilton Ontario or Kansas City MO. -
OA PEST on Jul 30th, 2011 14:35:01 said:
I am voting NO. Taxes are hign enough as it is. And truly I wouldn’t miss the NHL at all. Maybe the Coliseum gets some minor repairs and the AHL comes here. More affordable and better to watch.idk if this is a joke considering the name you post under, but if you’re serious, do you realize how high taxes will go when the Isles leave? Carton of Boomer and Carton laid it out when he said “find me a town that lost a pro sports franchise and 5 years down the road was better off from it” You won’t. Vote YES.
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Julian R says:
I’m a longtime Islanders fan who lives in Florida. I’m also a liberal democrat. But this guy Jacobs is not making much sense to me. I really hope this passes.
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Joe says:
I wish i could move back to Nassau …. only for one day
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Doug says:
CB,
I live in NJ but have been a long time Islanders fan and was a season ticket holder.I was a bit skeptical that the vote wouls pass however I think you did a fabulous job of getting the issues across to everyone. Also, I thought the radio play by Wang helped alot also. The vote will pass probably around 55% to 45%…however then the politics and red tape will really start…again.
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isles71 says:
Yes, to only live in Nassau for just one more day. Finally heard Jay Jacobs interview and what an ignorant individual with no vision or common sense, guess that is why he is a politician. As a person who left Nassau in fall of 1986, still have to wonder how it became so bad there. Maybe this is an opportunity for the locals to take back what the corrupt gov’t has taken from them over the years. Change has to start someplace…make it Monday and Vote YES…if nothing else but to piss off Jay Jacobs!!! Go Isles!!
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KyRick says:
Rick in Louisville, Ky. gives a big yes to the vote if could vote. The Islanders are my favorite pro-team in any sport. Go Isles, Rebuild !!! Vote Passes !!
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PA Islanders says:
nice jab at the piano man
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Love the insults rather than the logic. Also, I’m not from Quebec, I’m from Massachusetts, and if I were in charge, it’d be Hamilton and Hartford long before Quebec. However, it’s plain to see that Quebec City is next in line for a team, whether they get this Islanders franchise or the one in Phoenix, or maybe the Florida Panthers.
Where are the Islanders fans, exactly? Why did only 11,000 of them show up to any given game? Atlanta drew better than the Isles did and they had no history to make up for the decade of pure failure that the blue and orange have gone through. Plus, there are young stars on the Island like Tavares and Grabner that in any other city would draw decent crowds–Carolina has made the playoffs all of four times since moving there in 1997 and yet drew 16,415 a night last year smack in the middle of college basketball country despite having a market 1/1000th the size of the Isles, largely because the fans there care and the attraction of an Eric Staal and a Jeff Skinner.
The fact of the matter is that Long Island is no longer a viable NHL market. New York doesn’t need three teams; it barely supports the Devils and they are almost always competing for a Stanley Cup. Give hockey to where people will show up, like Hamilton, Ontario. -
booboo says:
I’m glad I don’t live on Long Island. All this baloney for all these years just to build a damn rink. INSANE.
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jimmy says:
CB with some funny and scary lines on Twitter about all the pessimism. Tom Draper reference!
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A lot of experts seem to believe this will not pass. I’m going to be sick. I hope Bots is right.
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Val says:
I want this to pass as much as anybody for the right reasons but it also makes me furious that Snow is gonna have more excuses for this season.
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Ed from Hempstead says:
Agree with a lot of the others. voting YES is not enough. We have to bring a lot of people with us.
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Fred says:
The argument started about how this couldn’t be just about the Islanders. Even Picker and the Islanders people said that.
Now it’s two days before the vote and who is Wang counting on? Islanders fans.
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Ryan Middleton says:
@sean #42… I am totally with you… any non-nassau residents should boycott nassau county and spend their money elsewhere if the vote goes down. They will not see a penny of my money. Any way we can get a proposal like this in suffolk? I’d gladly take a tax increase to see them move here. All you Islanders supporters in nassau should come over to suffolk!
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gary nylund says:
Voting YES and going with 5 friends at 6 in the am.
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Jim Clark says:
It says something about Wang’s ownership that virtually none of the old heroes have spoken up. We have gotten more verbal support from Rangers, for crying out loud!
And if writers like George Vecsey says vote no because of the $58 cost (a figure he assumes is written in stone), then what is the cost when Suffolk residents like me have no reason to come to Nassau to spend money? I’ll be like Woody Hayes when his car was almost out of gas in Michigan near the border: push it before stopping for gas in “that county west”. -
avengers44 says:
i would personally like to thank jay jacobs. i usually do not make it my business to push my politics or opinions on friends or family members….w/ that said i have already recruited 10 ” yes” votes from non interested participants…mr jacobs arguments are so ridiculous and off beat that instead of avoiding his points i advised educated and free thinking people to listen closely to his sound bites…thanks for acting as my “soap box” mr jacops….10 more YES votes in our pocket.. thanks to you!!!….
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The New Isles GM says:
Not sure if anyone heard Opie and Anthony talking about the vote but they played it on NHL HOME ICE on XM yesterday. Opie insisted that as a season ticket holder he will not vote yes. He feels disconnected from the organization and lack for a better word, treated like shit. He did not find it gratifying that the Islanders tried offering nice incentives to get to his audience to vote yes. He repeated how he will be voting “no”, but followed it by how he will be going to next years games…..So he’ll spend money on season tickets again but not pay $58 dollars to see his team take the next step? Very confusing and quite honestly…should not call himself a fan. I found myself punching my car seat listening to this sample while stuck on the cross bronx Friday afternoon. I just don’t understand….
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#35 how many Islanders fans live in Brooklyn?? COme on now not many and the same with Queens but more then BK im sure. I for one am a GREAT fan from Nassau County. Suffolk might have more fans though, but I do not feel an arena in suffolk would be good. IF we lose this thing, it will be because all the suffolk county islander fans could not vote. It be a real shame.
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I would be happy if the Isles move anywhere in the tri-state area. I will vote YES and so will everyone of my family and friends, but if this does not go through, I would eliminate the “joke” that is Nassau county politics out of the scenario. Let the Shinicocks have a piece of the action and put the Isles in Belmont! Problem solved.
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MarioGazz says:
Live in Ct and would vote YES. Please vote Yes. I have come to Nassau for games and concerts. Would never come again if the vote is no Monday.
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IsleFanInTN says:
Hey Billy, “Sing us a song, you’re the piano girl”
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God save our islanders please!!!!
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Hextall72 says:
Very well put CB except the note about Billy Joel. Yes, Joel should grow a pair and man up for his hometown, but that wouldn’t change NC citizens thoughts on which way to vote or vote at all.. The islander alumni that’s wasn’t used, that i agree was a big mistake. I guess that was they’re way of not making it a islanders only issue..
NC residents, it’s in your hands..
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
CB … I agree on your plus minus points … One thing that has had me really scratching my head was not being able to notice support from Headline acts like Billy Joel … especially him. Can you see Bruce or Bon Jovi if NJ was going to lose an arena or Meadowlands stadium … Heck … They’d hold benefit concerts with the proceeds going towards construction of a new arena. I don’t see the overwhelming support aside from those fierce Nassau Islander fans and the NHL community. My friend in Vancouver even posted on a Canuck blog wishing luck to us Islander fans on the August 1st vote.
It seems we are kinda alone on this, and even after a YES victory … the battle is only going to get harder.
Do what CB says Nassau Isles fans … grab your friends even if you have to drive all over the place to take ‘em to the polls. I’d like to see at least 100,000 people turn out and get 60k YES votes.
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Stefan says:
Hey Islanders Fans,
I would vote yes, but i live in Germany. I can only wish that the Isles stay on long island.Let`s go Islanders, Let`s go Islanders Fans. Vote YES
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jack says:
Yes will win, NIFA will come in and throw a wrench into the deal, Wang will either have to poop or get off the pot and move, lets hope the pols just stay the hell out of it and let the voters demands stand. Yeah right.
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crying says:
i live in queens and have been a season ticket holder for many years. i can’t vote but i have people from nassau going to the poles to vote yes. at this point i feel like i’m watching a dear friend about to be taken off life support……so very sad!
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Knuckle Puck says:
Agree with you CB, vote will pass but numbers will be small on both ends. NIFA or whoever will say that it was not fair and we islanders fans will have to endure more heartbreak.
I will be voting yes as well as all my family. Have emailed, texted, messaged in fantasy leagues about why all county residents should vote yes, with all the facts-hopefully those people will vote and vote yes..do not take it forgranted -
nyc dork says:
Billy Joel should be banned from the new arena. Wang will make you pay one way or another Mr!
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D in Big D says:
I think everthing that could be said has been said so lets get this done so we can go back to talking hockey.
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Bababoey to you all says:
Hey Chris, this is “Plan B”…”Plan A” was the Lighthouse project! So lets not let people think that Wang hasnt tried more than once…He spend hundreds of millions on the LHP…
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Steve J says:
Hopefully by Tuesday we will be celebrating a victory and getting back to hockey talk. Yes vote from me and 10 family members.
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Wang in Boomer & Carlton: “Kate Murray hasnt come out for or against the arena deal”…
She was there when the plan was proposed and she gave a speech too…What gives???
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Bob E says:
I predict a win but like cb said. It won’t matter. Regardless of outcome the nifa and a defeated Jacobs will put a negative spin on it.
The avg Joe thinks if no coliseum taxes then won’t go up. Little do they know it will be more the 58 bucks and we will have less and less in Nassau. Sad.
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Money making Mike says:
They are playing Billy Joel at the pool I am at… I just puked
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UIF says:
Go get ‘em, Nassau County Isles fans. Wish I could put my vote to the cause, but I’m no longer on LI, and lived in Suffolk when I was. I’ll be eternally grateful to you guys though if “yes” wins out.
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Stevie10703 says:
119, I feel the same way. Unfortunately I live in Westchester and can’t vote and the only people I know in Nassau are those that have season tickets (like I do) that sit in my section that I grew to know because of the Isles. Other than the Isles games I have no other reason to go to Nassau County because up here, we have our fair share of Malls, movie theaters, and restaurants so, why go 40 miles away when I can get that in my own backyard. Before each game, my friends and I go to a local restaurant near the Collisium to grab a bite to eat, or we buy concessions at the games, or both and while it might not be much, whatever I do buy, whether its the tickets, a beer, hot dog or pretzel, or dinner at a local restaurant or after the game going to get a beer at a local bar, I’m paying a sales tax on it which stays locally. I’m only one person, but, how many other are like me that do the same exact thing as I do that are also from outside of Nassau? That all adds up and those are all taxes that none of us would have spent in Nassau County had it not been for the Isles, now, you multiply that by anywhere from 15-40 (depending on the package) games a year and it adds up.
I’m usually an optimistic person but, I my gutt is telling me that the no votes will win the day and that will be a sad day. I wish I could vote but I can’t since I’m in Westchester but, I’m crossing my fingers that the people of Nassau County will do the right thing.
If its a no vote, I hope and pray that the Isles will stay in the area, whether that be Suffolk County, Queens, or Brooklyn. I wonder though, how viable and realistic those options are? Is Suffolk a place that would want an arena? Can an arena be built around CitiField in Queens, or can as was written here a few months back the US Tennis Center put a room of Ash Stadium and put a hockey rink inside it (I know, for tax exempt reasons with the USTA it won’t be able to happen)? How about Barlay’s Center? Will the builder want to put ice in the arena or does he really not care about a hockey team playing there? Without these three local spots, our team could be playing far away.
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Hey Chris, if the vote is a no does it mean all that much? The Islanders are here till 2015 what if something else were to come up 6 months, a year from now? I think we win, but win or lose, this is not the end.
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Jacob from Woodbury says:
If this isn’t Game 7, it’s certainly Game 6. The time is now Nassau residents and Islanders fans. Get out and vote YES on Monday. Tell everyone you know to vote YES. We cannot let the No Vote win. It is wrong. Without the Islanders, Nassau County will lose at least $243 million per year in revenue. General revenue, special revenue who cares. It’s revenue. Many people are against this project. But there are many that are for it. Let’s make sure YES wins. The future of our county and our Islanders is at stake.
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by the way, don’t listen to OA PEST
he is a rare (and young) minor league hockey fan – minor league hockey IS great here in CT, but trolling on here is not cool or necessary or helpful
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george vesey said today in the times that the isles use to be the best sports team he ever covered as he mentioned when the isles had boss, trots, dennis, smitty etc. he mentioned rightfully about the long list of inept owners including wang. while many deserve blame, i have had it with wang and he deserves what he gets. wang treats the stanley cup teams as if they never exisited and treats us fans the same way. wang said on the radio the isles have a large fan base that lives outside of long island but unless a person lives 15 blocks from the nvmc you cant listen to the games on the radio. there is a reason the isles have less coverage then the red bulls or the liberty. if you treat your fans like garbage and dont spend money to improve the product and have no player development director or scouts and treat the legacy of what once was the greatest sports franchise ever as just a laughing stock with your new 3rd jersey clown suits as just another example and you ignore the isles past great dynasty players to help you because they and the isles great heritage means nothing to you then as the saying goes you reap what you sew. as you said to us fans in the past, shut up and sit down and it is that attitude that brings you now this indifference on weather the isles leave or not.
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Harsh words, Robert. But you do make many good points. This organization has had terrible public relations in all of the 19 past years that I’ve watched them. We’ve had some seriously crooked owners. Charles certainly has his faults. But without him, what would we have? Charles Koppelman and Bob Gutkowski were apparently not able to raise enough money in their bid prior to Wang’s purchase of the team. No one else was going to keep them in Nassau County. But Wang did. He took these politicians and these provincial people head-on. On another hand, Charles has not been as welcoming to the alumni as he probably could have been and much of that is because he foolishly allowed Mike Milbury to continue his managerial duties. Charles has made major mistakes. But he has also invested in the arena and attempted to lure free agents with larger salary offers. Maybe if Charles had fired Milbury and put someone capable in charge, we wouldn’t be in this position. But here we are. There’s nothing wrong with the job Garth Snow has done in my opinion. Then again, after Maloney and Milbury everyone comes up smelling rosy. I hope that you want to see this team succeed no matter who owns it. Vote YES on Monday so that we can continue arguing about this 4 years from now.
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Lotta Draught says:
The Isles very existence is at stake and not even one HOF legend was brought in to support the vote and team?
UTTERLY DISGUSTING! Charles Wang, you should be ashamed of yourself for lack of effort.
Tanking the vote just like the team has for the past four seasons.
Just sell the team you @ ss-hat!
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Pnut says:
Well we’re living here in Long Is-lund
And they’re knocking the Coli-seum down
Out in Man-hattan they’re killing time
Fixing that place.
Still is a dump.In the eight-ies we rooted for Boss-y
Man his car-reer was cut really short
Make the playoffs this year Garrrrrrth
Get them to the dance
Progress won’t be slow
And we’re living here in Long Is-lund.The high tax-es were just handed down
And no one can afford to staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
aaaaaaah aaahhhhh ooooooooh ooooooh ohhhhhhh.We’re waiting for a new NVMC
For the Long Is-lund that doesn’t exist
The promises our parents made
If we worked hard.
We would get paid.So the banners hang up in the rafters
They’re a distant memory for us all
Ziggy never got us to the dance
Hitting the Iron,
Eric Fi-chaud.Still we’re waiting here in Long Is-lund.
In Suffolk I don’t have a voice
And the union people have a little saaaayyyyyy aaaaaaaaaah aaaaaaaaaaahEvery body had an Islanders Jersey
Was the jersey that their old man had got
Something happened on the way to that place
Made a vote in August for a brand new place, hey hey hey ooh whoaWell I’m living here in Long Island
And it’s hard to keep a good fan down.
Wish I could be voting todaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah aaaaaaah aaaaaaah aaaaaaah oh oh oh.GUITAR SOLO
aaaaaaah aaaaaaah aaaaaaah oh oh oh.
And it’s getting very hard to staaaaaaaaa-aaaaa-aaaaaaaaaay.
And we’re still living here in long Is-lund.….or something….
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Steven says:
I agree 135. Charles has made his share of mistakes but who else stepped up and bought the team? The horrible lease and corrupt politicans have done more harm than Charles has done. The legends should have gotten together with some money people to buy the team if they thought they could do better. If the vote passes we can begin to finally correct many of the problems of the past.
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CB – doing anything special with the blog on Monday?
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Joe Conte wrote a blog and agreed with you that the unions are weak and Wang and Mangano have put too much faith in them. Conte seems to be plugged into politics and thinks the vote could be no.
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Darren says:
Vote YES. I am and all of my family
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Marc says:
Wang did a great job of getting on TV and radio in the final week, but was it enough? Having Islanders’ legends & top current players anywhere but Long Island was a mistake. Hopefully it won’t result in a loss. Would be nice to see PLAYERS recruiting voters on Monday but that’s probably not going to happen. Let’s also hope that voters believe the bi-partisan numbers which makes it a no-brainer to vote yes. A bunch of family & friends received pre-recorded “vote no” calls, but I didn’t get any calls from either side. Everyone seems to think it will be a low voter turnout in which case the advantage should go to YES. Why can’t anything ever be easy for this franchise?
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max says:
Isles fans have reason to be worried. After the team makes a pretty small move like getting Rolston, this site gets 200 comments in 2 hours. For a story on the arena, you might get 150 in a day and sometimes a lot less. It also seems like more than half the fans here are not from Nassau County and maybe more like 75%.
CB – you mention Islandermania from time to time. They have a poll in the site asking fans that are registered voters in Nassau how they are going to vote. For all of the people that go to that message board, there are only like 100 that say they are from Nassau and voting yes.
If the Isles org is counting on the fans, they should have done a much better job promoting this to everyone.
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Big Van Vader says:
Bring everyone you can with you when you head to the polls. I’m bringing 3-5 votes. It’s each Isles fans’ responsibility to bring more than one vote when they hit the polls on monday. Even if you are not living in Nassau currently, as long as you know people who do, make it your business to call, text, email them and get them to help you out with a yes vote.
As Isles fans, we ALWAYS have to endure.
This is one of the toughest things we have had to go through but we WILL survive this too if we all DO something.We CAN make this happen.
Let’s Go Islanders.
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Greg says:
My best friend has a low level job with the team selling tickets. He never knows much about what’s going on with the team, but he said everyone there has been nervous all week. Besides the Jacobs interview on WFAN which made everyone laugh for a while, he said nerves are raw. There isn’t a lot of optimism and there’s been some finger pointing about the rally being a dud and wondering why the team didn’t get out more in the community besides the interviews Wang did. I would have thought they’d leave nothing to chance but Wang has his ways and guys like Snow and the other bosses there never tell him he’s wrong and just do as they’re told.
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CG says:
I am pretty worried about the vote. The islanders conducted this campaign like they were running for class president. Very minor league. What a shock. My feeling is that they did not go all out on this because this is not want Charles Wang wanted. Not even close. I am also not convinced that a no vote means the end. I am voting yes because I love the Isles and would pay more than 58 bucks a year for them to stay. However, the reason why I think this vote is in trouble is because I can understand people voting no out of skepticism of our county govt. Let’s hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
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I love Billy Joels music…Hes a great artist…But this is a “weak move” by “BJ”…Or should I say, “non move”?
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StevieL says:
Hey “NO’ voters! I got news for you! Your taxes are going up regardless of the vote outcome on Monday! How can you be so naive as to think by voting “No’ you are saving your family a tank of gas? Here is a chance for a “drop” of your tax money actually going to something that has entertainment value, that your kids and their kids can enjoy for years to come!
I honestly can not comprehend how anyone who is half educated on the facts of this vote can possibly vote no! Even Newsday endorsed a Yes vote and you know that killed them to do it!
Please use your brain, have some vision, review the facts and cast the only logical vote on Monday! “VOTE YES!” -
wtf? says:
Seth- Ive been reading Newsday comnments and believe me, 9 out of 10 no voters have no reasonable answer for as to why they are voting no… Most of them are “WAITZ, THIZ IZ A SXDCAM!>!”… The way I depict spelling is actually pretty accurate as well
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nyifan72 says:
Vote YES. Convince ten friends to do the same. We will win.
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oliver says:
Of 900,000 registered voters, I predict less than 60,000 will vote. That’s less than 6%. I’ll vote and I’ll vote Yes but this whole thing has been a farce.
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Hud says:
Billy Joel is in trouble now? You know he is a musician, right? Nothing going on with the Isles has anything to do with Blue Oyster Cult or Billy Joel, if Long Islanders want the Isles to stay they will, if not, they wont. Peace
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WHy is there even a vote can someone tell me this? Why take such a big chance. If its a Yes then great and you move on to the next step and can alway say “well the people want this” but if the vote is no then, the ball is no longer in Wang’s court. RIght now he has the hand the leverage but if they lose this vote then the Islanders looks really dumb. I think the determination of fans to bring people to the polls, the low turnout, will result in victory. Most people are okay with this you can really tell that most people want the arena or dont care which means a lot of people are out there that aren’t goign to vote at all that can easilly be made to vote Yes if you get them. I just cant see people coming out in droves and voting no. PLEASE No. I really hope monday is a sigh of relief and we can laugh about this one or not even think about it, like it had no barring. Again, If the vote fails Islanders and Wang look REAL stupid for doing it this way. This was suppose to be a slam dunk. LETS GET IT DONE!
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There’s a good reason why the alumni wasn’t asked because I think alot of residents are mad about this deal. They do not want to look bad in the public eye. I’m telling you if this vote does not pass Wang will find away to break the lease and move the team. A man only has so much patience. The team will suffer if this doesn’t pass. I also think the alumni is sick n tired of the way this whole process is being handled by both parties. It’s a sick feeling! It’s strange but a large majority of islander fans don’t even live in Nassau that’s what may effect the vote. Only way is to contact you friends n family that live here.
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Dinerboss says:
The only way we win the yes vote is if the young voters 19 -23 go out in droves, and hopefully they can bring there parents and grandparents and friends.Let’s see if these kids whose parents brought them to isles games when they were younger,care and step up for this organization,and there future.Over the years the isles catered to the young kids,and made the hockey games a family oriented experience let’s hope some of these kids that have grown with this team get motivated enough to go beyond and above and go vote.We need the masses to step up. VOTE YES !!!!
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Eventhough these players are Professionals… I don’t know how it would not effect them on the ice…has too most defiantly! It is like dealing with children in pre-school the way this whole issue is being handled! I’m still voting yes because progress has to start in Nassau before it’s to late, it will only get worst!
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The great Larry Brooks in Sunday’s NY Post weighs in about the real possibility of Mikhail Prokhorov buying the Islanders and moving them to the new Barclay’s Center.Brooks chimes in that the this building will be able to accommodate a NHL playing surface.Pat Hickey in yesterday’s Montreal Gazette writes about the real obscenity about Charles Wang’s smoke and mirrored, ludicrously rosy financial projections filled proposal.This baby if the YES vote is successful {Which I do not think it will],will never ever make it past the legislature or NIFA.And the taxpayers of Nassau County will be stuck with a $2.2 million bill for an election that could have been held free either in September{The Day of the Primary elections],or the first Tuesday in November day of the general elections]
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How did this become a ‘bash Billy Joel’ forum? Jeez. The guy’s a mess, okay? Who knows why he’s not out there on this? But people are so fast with the venom, just like with DiPietro. It’s scary already. And by the way, I’m no big fan of his music.
There’s a ton of negativity coming from even ardent supporters, all Islander fans. It’s like a collective fear, a mass neurosis. We’re all scared we’re gonna lose our team and it makes us crazy. I guess it points up the bond, and that’s what it’s about. With the madness in Washington and this vote going down at the same time, it sure does add some zing to the summer. And I’m back to thinking that even if this particular vote is NAY, some kind of negotiated deal will still emerge. One thing about Wang, he is a bulldog, and I have to think he’ll refuse to walk away a loser. The thought of hoisting the Cup a few years from now in a new arena that he got built has to be driving him. -
Andrew says:
It goes to show how unclassy Larry Brooks is throwing the Isles under the bus. He’s a moron anyway (I guess that what happens when you cover the Rags for all those years). As for the vote it doesn’t matter if yes wins. Getting passed NIFA and the Dems will be virtually impossible. Saving up for my airfare to Quebec in a few years.
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Tony says:
The needs of the many (Long Island) outweigh the needs of the few (Islanders fans). Tomorrow’s “NO” win will prove that only the meager minority who post on this blog want the Islanders to stay.
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Paul says:
@40 Seth…..if they go, please go with them. I thought you leftists were supposed to be nice. LOL!
Billy Joel should be banned from the Coliseum.
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Kevin says:
YES to Blue Oyster Cult. Thank you! NO to Billy “doucebag” Joel. Your an ass.
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Larry is an idiot. Why should Charles spend his own money on a building he does not own? I would love the Isles to move to Brooklyn. If some big money person has a better idea to keep the Isles in NY than this vote then step up.
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Even if the viote is yeas and I hope it is…the NIFA or the legislature will not let them build an arena…Brooklyn here we come!!!
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After all this time, effort and millions spent,it’s a day before a pivotal vote and Charlie Wang reveals that he isn’t even sure what the Arena will look like. It might also look like a parking lot. Well played Chuck.
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anthony , long beach says:
just got done viewing shawn bates penalty shot against leafs. the coliseum was sold out, and rockin billy joel’s PRESSURE just before bates took off and buried one upstairs on cujo. gotta love the irony.
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I laugh every time I read this! Newsday today!
“A report by…claims the Islanders departure could have an economic impact of 243.3 million per year. However fiscal analysts argue that residents could spend their discretionary dollars elsewhere in Nassau, leading to less of an economic loss”.
That statement is so moronic it is hard to believe they print it. I would venture that at least 50% of the people who attend events at NVMC, live outside of Nassau Cty!. The dollars they spend are never coming back to Nassau Cty.!
I don’t see this conversation ever happening. ( I live in Suffolk!)”Hey Hon, lets go out tonight. I say we go to that nice TGIF’s in EAST MEADOW!”!!LOL!! Never ever going to happen! Economic suicide Nassau! Vote YES!! -
I’ve been seeing “vote no” politicians on Fox news the past 2 days.
Have yet to see a “vote yes” story.
Its all about the tax raise on there.
If I lived in Nassau, I’d vote YES! And not just because I’m emotionally invested in the Blue and Orange.