"Lighthouse Project" at the Nassau Hub

[Gavvy Cravath]

D'Amato has always been a sleeze and I never really liked him, although I came to appreciate him a little more once Hillary was our Senator because she did dick for Long Island while Al brought us some pork.

I see your point...

He was once the most powerful man in New York, even more so then the Governor

Some would say Joe Mondello, but I am with you that he was one of the Top 2 for at least 10 years...

His last remaining fiefdom appears to be the Town of Hempstead where a lot of the people in power still owe him.

The accompanying article shows the real problem. The one about the consultants picked by Ra to do the impact study raking up huge fees. This project is as much about connected lawyers, consultants and construction companies making millions of dollars in contracts and hidden fees. That gravy will go to those connected to the party in charge.

It kills the Republicans that after decades of owning Nassau and always getting all this graft now the last piece of valuable land will get developed when they are on the outside looking in.

Since they still control TOH and thus the zoning laws they can hope to delay this long enough so that maybe they can outlast Suzzoi or get control of the Legislature.

Gavy, if either party had control of both TOH and the County, this project would be half done by now.

It's mind boggling that this project woun't get done. It makes too much sense. And good ol' Garden City and their Franklin Avenue shops are complaining. NIce WASP community --- anti black and anti Jew --- right there in the heart of Nassau.

I am not a Charles Wang apologist. But the enemy of my enemy is my friend. This project makes way too much sense. And you are going to have "tumble weeds" blowing through the 80 acres of asphalt next to the Hempstead Plain by 2030 (great quote in the article).

To many, this is about the Islanders. But the bigger picture is more than this. And if Wang hired Armand D'Amato, we'd be in a new Coliseum next year.

Gavy

 

[billyS]

Some would say Joe Mondello, but I am with you that he was one of the Top 2 for at least 10 years...

D'Amato picked Mondello to be Hempstead Town Supervisor and GOP leader in Nassau when Marrigiotta (sp?) was convicted. So I'd say Mondello sucks Al dick.

True about Garden City trying to protect their Franklin Ave, also not liking Jews.

But there is a valid point about some other area taking a hit once the project completes. Hempstead went downhill after Roosevelt Field was built. There are only so many shopping dollars on Long Island. Building more Malls and stores won't cause people to shop more just spend their money somewhere else. So if they put a lot of retail in the Lighthouse project some other area, Roosevelt Field, Green Acres, The Source Mall or the one in Hicksville will take a hit.

 

[Gavvy Cravath]

Shinnecock Indians to buy Islanders?

Mangano had this up his sleeve all along. Interesting story...


http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FBJPEG0.htm

 

[Basehead]

Eh.. they can have them... what a team as we were kids.. But that was the days of Billy, Bobby, Clark, Dennis and all the other guys... they just havent done anything since those days and that was 26 years ago... damn. I will always be an Islander fan but .. ehh.. nothing exciting going on with them in a long long time and I cant even get excited about going and seeing a game in that, that, that thing they call the Coliseum.. time to rip that place down and rebuild...

 

[RuffToy]

Mangano had this up his sleeve all along. Interesting story...

First, there is no indication that the talks have anything to do w/ the tribe purchasing the Islanders.
Second, if this gets federal approval (which is a tough road to climb) it would bypass the Town of Hempstead's approval process. They have been sitting on their hands without the ability to rule, act, whatever. Classic analysis paralysis.
Third, the Lighthouse Project (even in its scaled down version) is a massive undertaking that no one seems to understand how to initialize & execute. Nor are the ramifications understood.
Fourth, a casino there is a brilliant idea that can also blend in with other concepts borne from the Lighthouse Project. Show me the money!

 

[Gavvy Cravath]

What eles is Wang going to do if he doesn't develop the area around the Coliseum? Assuredly, he won't keep the team. And Bettman? How could he let the Islanders move off the Island with a new arena? THere are no other suitors that I know of for the Islanders, hence the "jumping to conclusions". Just connecting the dots...

 

[RuffToy]

Recently Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead board offered up a compromise plan that reduces the project by over 50%. Many developers say this will render the plan economically unfeasible i.e. a negative return on investment. So once again the project is in a state of abeyance with no indication of what will happen.

Add to this, Trumps stalled plans to build a restaurant/catering hall at Jones Beach. The site was once a restaurant. Trump along with Steve Carl (Carlton on the Green) have proposed numerous plans edited to suit the complaints of every gov't agency that has voiced a negative opinion. So for years the site has been sitting naked and undeveloped. I'm not a fan of Trump but a quality restaurant at Jones Beach will kill...and is sorely needed like the Lighthouse Project.

So, if any of you local politicians are reading this (and I know for a fact some of you lurk on here) take your heads out your ass and stop creating the Land of No. Long Island is in need of development both economically and physically. Find solutions not roadblocks.

And a side note to Ed Mangano. We chatted many times when our boys were in the cub scouts together. You have a good head on your shoulders. Glad to see you rise to NC Executive. Don't disappoint those that support you. BTW I think your idea for a casino at Lighthouse is a great idea. Fuck those that fight you on moral grounds.

 

[billyS]

I'm in favor of a new Coliseum, but I don't think we need a mini city built on that spot. I think Kate Murray has a set for standing up to the people in her own party to protect the suburban nature of her Town.

Unless they come up with a viable solution to unclog the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Ave, thereby alleviating the traffid jam southbound on the Meadowbrook Parkway every rush hour, building a city on that land does not make sense for the people in the Town of Hempstead.

 

[trader1]

Recently Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead board offered up a compromise plan that reduces the project by over 50%. Many developers say this will render the plan economically unfeasible i.e. a negative return on investment. So once again the project is in a state of abeyance with no indication of what will happen.

Add to this, Trumps stalled plans to build a restaurant/catering hall at Jones Beach. The site was once a restaurant. Trump along with Steve Carl (Carlton on the Green) have proposed numerous plans edited to suit the complaints of every gov't agency that has voiced a negative opinion. So for years the site has been sitting naked and undeveloped. I'm not a fan of Trump but a quality restaurant at Jones Beach will kill...and is sorely needed like the Lighthouse Project.

So, if any of you local politicians are reading this (and I know for a fact some of you lurk on here) take your heads out your ass and stop creating the Land of No. Long Island is in need of development both economically and physically. Find solutions not roadblocks.

And a side note to Ed Mangano. We chatted many times when our boys were in the cub scouts together. You have a good head on your shoulders. Glad to see you rise to NC Executive. Don't disappoint those that support you. BTW I think your idea for a casino at Lighthouse is a great idea. Fuck those that fight you on moral grounds.

I agree and think Mangano, given time, will move the County forward on a positive way..

Do you think he is lurker here? ~

 

[billyS]

Mangano, given time, will move the County forward on a positive way..

Yeah right. Mangano is a throw back to the old Mondello/Gulllato way of stuffing the County government with Republican lackeys. He already started this shit so now we have two $120,000 a year Park commissioners and he is giving all the connected law firms bullshit contracts on the taxpayer dime. Hold on to your wallets...the Mondello crew is back in charge.

 

[Gavvy Cravath]

That Hempstead Town Board is controlled by D'Amato. If Wang hired Armand as the $1,000,000 consultant that day four of five years back, the Isles would be opening in a new building this October.

 

[Retoxicate]

I'm in favor of a new Coliseum, but I don't think we need a mini city built on that spot. I think Kate Murray has a set for standing up to the people in her own party to protect the suburban nature of her Town.

Unless they come up with a viable solution to unclog the intersection of Hempstead Turnpike and Merrick Ave, thereby alleviating the traffid jam southbound on the Meadowbrook Parkway every rush hour, building a city on that land does not make sense for the people in the Town of Hempstead.

I think the traffic would be a real issue. But if the project isn't significant, I don't see the point of the Islanders staying. I was really happy about the idea of adding several sheets of ice. As a hockey player with kids that play, the more ice in Nassau, the better.

 

[teps]

Maybe all this BS could be a blessing in disguise. If Wang doesn't get what he wants he may sell the team. I heard that the trio of TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer, actor Dennis Leary and former Islander Pat LaFontaine want to buy the team from Wang.

 

[Gavvy Cravath]

Maybe all this BS could be a blessing in disguise. If Wang doesn't get what he wants he may sell the team. I heard that the trio of TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer, actor Dennis Leary and former Islander Pat LaFontaine want to buy the team from Wang.

Huh? Gotta check this out...

 

[teps]

Once I heard this I spoke to an employee of the Islanders who works closely with the team and he knew that LaFontaine wanted to get a group of guys together to try to buy the Islanders. He had heard about Leary but didn't know about Bruckheimer.

 

[Gavvy Cravath]

Once I heard this I spoke to an employee of the Islanders who works closely with the team and he knew that LaFontaine wanted to get a group of guys together to try to buy the Islanders. He had heard about Leary but didn't know about Bruckheimer.

I talked to my father, I think most of you know him, and he hadn't heard anything. Most of those guys inside the Coliseum are just rumor mongers themselves. But, one can only hope this is true. I'll buy you your next round next time I see you!

 

[teps]

I hope it's true too. It would be great to have LaFontaine be one of the others. I don't know about Leary. I know he is into hockey and he buys a bunch of firetrucks for the FDNY, but he is also a Red Sox fan and I would assume probably a Bruins fan too. Needless to say, you remember what happened when the last Bruin was in charge of the Islanders (Milbury).