Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
How do they go from a mega-overly-ambitious private equity development to a pathetic, taxpayer footed "new arena" only proposal?! Are our elected reps. SO dysfunctional that they cannot meet in the middle on a plan that will work for everyone? Simply putting up a new building will not help the Islander's attendance and demographic issues and will not turn them into a revenue cow. However, a real sport/entertainment complex (maybe get an NBA franchise), retail, affordable housing would create a real hub, be a boon to Hofstra AND NCCC, create jobs (besides the Teamster welfare currently on the table). Sort of like the Lighthouse Project scaled back (like without the gaudy "Lighthouse" hi-rise). Nope, Kate and Co. made sure the "hub" stays a dump and willonly sign off on a 55+ apartment project or Walgreens. The NHL loves to compare the Islander's potential to that of Washington who built a new arena and turned the whole franchise around, but if you go there, you see it is full scale urban development with shopping, restaurants, neighborhood gentrification. The kind of ambition, scope and fortitude Town of Hempstead lacks. Anyone seen the economic ghost town Hempstead Turnpike has become? The building dept corruption? The animal shelter fiasco? Who continues to vote for these clowns?! There has got to be more to leadership than recycled light bulb programs and making speeches on opening day of snoopy soccer league! Any real issue is met with NIMBY, NIMBY, NIMBY!! Unless you want a pool, fence or shed, then it's "NIYBY" (Not In YOUR Back Yard)!!
It was never a private development, Wang wanted property rights to most of the coliseum and surrounding prime real estate and left the road improvements and infrastructure up to the taxpayers. Keep in mind that he was building a few skycrapers, housing,retail and putting bridges across to the Rexson property but only renovating the coliseum.
Wang has been always after the real estate I suspect when Al D'amato talked him into taking over the Islanders. I have a difficult time thinking this will be good for the taxpayers, but we will see.
I hate the Islanders. I hope this does not pass.
Those of you who are local, what are the odds this does?
I really don't want to see the Islanders leave but doesn't look good in this climate, it's kind of tough to float a bond issue for a hockey team with 10% unemployment and foreclosed homes.
They missed their chance with Wang - idiots... Seriously, who's buying Nassau bonds when everyone knows how broke they are?
Maybe they'll get it by with enough Isles fans. I experienced the "Drive for Five" and the mini dynasty - those were good days to be a hockey fan. What I'd worry most about is that 400MM ain't gonna get you much and if they half ass the thing it won't improve the area enough to justify it. TBH I didn't read anything beyond 400MM so maybe they're expecting to spend a whole bunch more.
The New Jersey Devils have a beautiful new arena in downtown Newark and now the business is booming there. If this does not pass then Nassau will still be left with a piece of **** outdated arena. You want to bring in businesses and create jobs??? Then pass this **** already....
Ok ....you nassau co residents are goign to have your taxes go up (again) so that billionaire wang can have a new arena built for his loser hockey team that he never puts into money to...the same taxpayers that cant balance their own books so the state has to run their finances like a 12 yr old getting an allowance..???
Am I missing somethign here..??...
and anyone that responds to this post with a comment of "Well mangano said it wont cost the taxpayers anything" are you kidding me..you dont think there will be cost overruns....>>>???
And before you say anything else...i am a big islanders fan..since 1980, attended the 1982 stanley cup finals against vancouver game 1 as an 11 yr old...look i love my team and the history they have..but i think the the islander ship as being "part of Long island " has sailed..the tickets are too expensive, the team sucks....and they will never give long island the identity that it gave them in the 70s and 80s ever again...
loo it dont affect me...i just hope the nassau county taxpayer has enough common sense to say no to this crook wang...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
coliseum
