At about 1:30 this morning, I was woken by a familiar noise. The cell phone sitting next to my bed flashed, vibrated, and sounded the familiar tune which signified a text message. Still half asleep, I opened up the phone and couldn't believe what I read:
Murray Gives Lighthouse Thumbs Down.
Was this a bad April Fools joke? The Lighthouse meeting held last week was such a success, how could it be shot down so fast? Convinced I was the victim of a bad prank, I responded to the text with two words: says who? What I read next put me into a full panic and led me to believe that this was no April Fools joke.
Botta
I immediately ran to my computer and went to islanderpointblank.com, where I saw the article. "This is bad," I kept saying, "this is really bad."
To summarize what has transpired, Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray has decided to officially declare her opposition of the Lighthouse Project. Her alternative: a fully renovated Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, which she says will create thousands of jobs for the struggling economy. The money to get this project going Murray states, will be federal stimulus dollars.
Wait, federal stimulus dollars?!?!
Renovating an old building, home to a struggling hockey franchise which struggles to bring in ten thousand people per game isn't exactly what I had in mind when I think about stimulus relief.
Murray says that the renovation will create thousands of jobs, thus saving Nassau. However, if she were to look at the center of the map of the Lighthouse, found here, she would see that on top of renovating the Coliseum, other PERMANENT jobs would be created. The apartments would need doormen, the convention center would need security. Are those TEMPORARY construction jobs more important than the proposed PERMANENT jobs? Shame on you Kate Murray.
Finally, one more thing, as an Islander fan, really bothered me. In a public statement, Murray stated that the county should "score the Coliseum's greatest victory since the Islanders 1984 Stanley Cup". For photos of that Stanley Cup victory, click here.
1984? Are you kidding me? If Kate Murray wants to appeal to Islander fans (a moot point by now), she should at least realize that the Isles LOST in five games to the Oilers. So thank you, Ms. Murray, not only for busting Islander fans' bubbles regarding the Lighthouse, but also pouring salt on our wounds.
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3 comments:
The problem is not Murray...try the New York State Political Boss, Joe Mondello. Murray is only following orders.
Mr. Wang, your Lighthouse project will NEVER be built. And it's all because the Republicans are NOT in power.
Mondello is the big Republican boss in New York State. He came from Nassau County where he learned his trade from one of the most corrupt political leaders ever, Joe Margiotta.
And if I remember correctly, didn't Margiotta go to Federal Prision for Mail Fraud? Mondello was picked by Margiotta to lead the Republicans but a lot knew that Margiotta still called the shots.
Even when Mondello became the State's big Republican boss, until last December, was Mondello REALLY calling the shots?
This is all a political power play. They are stalling until the Republicans can get a person in the County Executive office.
And they truly hate Suozzi because he was successful in rescuing Nassau from bankruptcy caused by over 40 years of Republicans rule. Rule that still has Nassau County as the highest taxed county in the WORLD!
Many NHL internet sites have praised this project. "The Fourth Period" says the editor can't figure out why there is a delay.
That answer I feel lies at the feet of Joe Mondello. What if the Islanders move? What happens? The Republicans call Wang a traitor and try to demonize Suozzi and the Democrats.
Think about it. If the Lighthouse is passed tomorrow, Suozzi and the Democrats will be sharing the handshakes with Wang.
And the Repubicans are finished.
I wouldn't be surprised if Mondello is discussing a bailout plan right now if the Islanders do leave Nassau County. I would not be shocked if they have discussed another team, a minor league one coming to the Coliseum to replace the Islanders.
If you don't think it can happen, you really haven't been paying attention to today's dirty politics.
Mr. Suozzi should be given a hero's salute for what he has done to save Nassau County.
Mr. Wang has had his share of criticisms about the way he has handeled the Islanders nut he wants to make a go of it and should be saluted for wanting to make Nassau County a jewel for wanting the Lighthouse project happen.
Too bad Joe Mondello is standing in the way.
Mondello HAS to be planning a secret out-plan for the future to save face for the Republicans even as we speak.
In your meeting this Thursday, these concerns should be brought up:
Why are the Republicans stalling?
Are they planning another team to replace the Islanders once they go?
What is the Republicans plan to bring the taxes down and bring jobs to Nassau County when the Islanders leave?
Please suggest at that meeting, considering the dirty deals by Republicans over the years, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo should be investigating Mondello.
He should be asked, are YOU telling Murray to stall?
And if so, why are you jeopardizing the future of Nassau County for your own selfish political reasons?
Mr. Wang and Islander fans, if Murray won't attend your meeting on Thursday, you should ask Mr. Suozzi demand that Mr. Cuomo start investigating Joe Mondello now.
Nassau County MUST rid themselves of this Margiotta Republican cancer once and for all.
Or you lose your Islanders and you will see the end of Nassau County.
Let me repeat that...YOU WILL LOSE NASSAU COUNTY!
You clearly have a far greater knowledge of all the politics behind this (specifically on the state level) than I do. Kudos.
Also, the Lighthouse meeting was actually LAST thursday, March 26. It was a great success, and as figured, Kate Murray wasn't there. For more on the story, go to this page...
http://fscfaceoff.blogspot.com/2009/03/180th-lighthouse-meeting-recap.html
But won't there be an election for Murray's spot this November? If she losses (she will be going up for re-election), how is there not a chance that Hempstead will approve the project?
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