Comments on: A Hard Look at Ed Mangano and Charles Wang’s Plan to Rebuild Nassau Coliseum

By: The Untold Story Behind the Coliseum Referendum « Jed Morey

The Untold Story Behind the Coliseum Referendum « Jed Morey — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:37:20 +0000

[...] many questions, too much posturing and too little time for one writer to pen a comprehensive piece. (CLICK TO VIEW COVER STORY) This was a billion-dollar proposition. Those don’t come along every day. All sides of the issue [...]

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 17:16:59 +0000

Hey Don, that’s like my saying “My finances would be great, I’ll just sell my 60-year old house in central Nassau County for $5 million.”

You’re assuming that people are lining up to buy the property – and that they want to pay a particular price.

News flash: They’re not.

Whatever is “eventually” built, will not help us when we need help – meaning NOW.

By: Don from Levittown

Don from Levittown — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:12:36 +0000

Who are you calling “fools”, Rebecca?

Mangano and Wang’s Coliseumscam was just another expensive boondoggle, and I’m glad that the voters of Nassau Country rejected it. Taxpayer money should NEVER be used to develop sports stadiums or arenas unless the team will be owned by the taxpayers.

Now, the county should do what it should have done in the first place… sell the Coliseum and the land that it sits on to a private developer. Whatever is eventually built on the site will generate tax dollars for the county.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:15:40 +0000

To anyone who doesn’t want higher taxes:
Voting “no” will mean the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Islanders and other Coliseum events.

And if the money doesn’t come from them, the County is going to get it from us.

So the “no” voters have essentially voted for higher taxes.

Congratulations, fools.

By: CJ

CJ — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 03:46:42 +0000

I look really hard to see where my taxes go ever year. They seem to disappear in schools that are not able to compete, shortchanging kids everyday. I wouldn’t have to look really hard if the Coliseum were rebuilt. I think many that are in financial distress wouldn’t have to look hard to see that even temporary job creation is better than no job creation.

By: Howard Kudler

Howard Kudler — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:58:13 +0000

Let’s ALL Sing—
(A little ditty I wrote to the tune of
Take me out to the Ball Game)

I don’t want NO NEW TAXES,
I don’t want to pay more!

Why do the Pols tax me out of my home,
When the Yankees and Mets did it all on their own?

Oh, The Islanders claim to be leaving,
but I think it’s my neighbors instead,
‘Cause it’s 4, or 5, or 6 hundred M bucks that placing us more in the red!

Please VOTE NO! for New Taxes on August 1st (Monday)!
PS- I launched this campaign on my own! No Party, Union or Corporation put me up to this!
The County wants the Sports Arena to make the profits, while we pay the Rent! Any Questions?

Howard Kudler
Your Neighbor

By: Jim

Jim — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:26:58 +0000

Angie (or is it Rebecca posting under a different name?)

Math has nothing to do with it. A handful of local business does not outweigh the entirety of Nassau County. This MAY create some TEMPORARY jobs.

If you read the newspapers (or maybe your reading skills are not up to par) you would know that we are tired of tax increases ($58? yeah ok – let’s get an independent estimate of the cost of this boondoggle) and BAILOUTS using taxpayer funds. Adding more debt to a county already in default is irresponsible. It makes no sense economically (and I’m not talking about the Home Ec you probably took.)

But, don’t worry I’m sure you will win the vote with a low turnout. Wang is too well organized and stands too gain too much to let this fish get away.

By: Tony S

Tony S — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 05:08:56 +0000

Angie I suppose when you said “good at helping out our local communities under the radar.” you might have meant helping charities.
Let me tell you that if my taxes go up by $58 annually for the next 30 years (equating to approx. $2000 when you factor in interest ) That I’ll personally not be able to make my typical contributions to many local charities myself.
Adversely there are many households that will be feeling additional duress from this increase in their property taxes and hey may have difficulty getting by. Is the benefit of having a hockey team here worth hurting your neighbors?

In response to the person who said young people are leaving Long Island I have to say .. lot’s of people are leaving Long Island or trying to. It’s the crushing cost of living, lack of decent higher paying jobs, deteriorating quality of life and HIGH TAXES that many are desperate to escape from. Building a new Ice rink and having your taxes go up by an additional 4% annually ($58 versus the $16 that some claim they would rise if it gets voted down which is utter nonsense) is not going to improve the likelihood that any young people will remain here. Rethink you argument and you point of view on this preposterous proposition.

Only a fool would vote themselves a increase in their taxes.
Vote No Monday August 1

By: Tony S

Tony S — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:56:44 +0000

Well done article.
You really did your homework and posted information gleaned from the analysis and studies in a clear and concise fashion.
It’s sad that so many proponents would continue to believe and repeat the blatant falsehoods regarding the issue but I suppose desperation on behave of the hockey crowd and lobbying by labor unions will always get that sort of response.
One poster questioned why this issue is being voted on in August (Aug. 1) and the reason can be ascertained by looking at how off calender elections historically are low in voter turn out. Additionally residents should also examine how the Nassau co. legislature attempted to force through a rezoning of the legislative districts this year in order to give the Nassau Republican party a super majority which is needed to move this referendum forward if it wins on Aug. 1. Thankfully State Supreme Court Justice Steven Jaeger ruled against the plan by the Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature to redistrict the Legislature for the 2011 elections. The judge said that, according to the Nassau County Charter, the redistricting must wait two more years.
This entire deal smells and any intelligent citizen would see that.
You’re being asked to have your property taxes increased by 4% in order to finance the building of a new ice rink for the benefit of a billionaires corporation. The Coliseum is about the most inefficient use of that parcel of real estate as far as money and tax revenue that there is. Vote NO on Monday August 1 and keep from being fleeced.

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:09:38 +0000

The Islanders have been too good at helping out our local communities under the radar.

We have to keep them here.

Don’t quibble with me about $58.
Talk to your school districts about the $6,000 – $8,000 – $10,000-PLUS you have paid them every year.

VOTE YES.

By: Angie

Angie — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 18:40:08 +0000

Jim,
So you agree it will benefit businesses who CREATE JOBS and REDUCE HOMEOWNER TAXES but you don’t want to support it?

Who taught you math?
I want my school tax dollars back!!!

VOTE YES!!!!!

By: VOTE NO

VOTE NO — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 20:27:31 +0000

My tenant wants me to renovate my house for him but won’t agree to help pay for it or tell me how much more rent he will pay me after I spend the money.

sounds fair.

By: Tom

Tom — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:48:38 +0000

Who owns the NVMC now? The tax payer! So when the landlord is a slum lord they need to fix it! They have done nothing in 40 years!!! It will be a pure failure by the county when the Islanders leave in 2015 for $11 a year!!! All the great studies being put forth on why this will not work, is great and all but look at some studies when team relocate an area, you are headed to slumtopia!!!LOL $11 you people are amazing!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:49:45 +0000

Rebecca

The facts as I see it is this benefits union workers, local businesses, and Islander fans. Are you on one of those three categories? What about those of us who are not. We just get a county with an increased debt burden (and possibly lower credit rating) and higher taxes. Sorry but I dont agree with the rosy projections that this will provide profit for the county “down the road” and assuming certain attendance levels.

A new venue is a wonderful thing – when you can afford it. Let Wang build it himself. If he does not want to, well let him walk. It means it does not make economic sense if he won’t bear the costs and risks.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:53:12 +0000

PS That so-called specialist’s comment about “selling to someone privately” is not tenable at all.
The Town’s zoning won’t let anyone develop What’s needed to turn a profit.

You heard we could develop 5.5 million square feet, but check the facts:
Nearly HALF of their “allowed development” consists of PARKING LOTS.

It’s this Coliseum plan, or nothing.
Vote YES.

By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:42:08 +0000

Jim,
The facts completely support voting YES.

We need to KEEP the Islanders, KEEP the $232 million in economic activity.

Ask the local restaurant and store owners for the facts.

Don’t take your anti-Newsday bias out on us!!!

By: Denis

Denis — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 16:35:25 +0000

What an ill informed hatchet job. Islanders make up less than a third of the events at the arena. Vote no and further reduce the already wretched quality of living in Nassau county. Watch as concerts, family events, the circus, wrestling and everything else leaves town for good. Whine and cry as you pay NYC prices for events, and tack on increased transportation costs that will wipe out any perceived savings you will get from saying no. Vote no and guarantee yourself a tax increase as nothing will be built on the site for another decade and the county will need to plug the revenue hole the closed Coliseum will leave behind.

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 14:24:00 +0000

I’m voing no simply because Newsday has huge banners asking me to vote “yes”. If Newsday is backing it there’s something wrong with the deal.

By: EyeWitness

EyeWitness — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:46:06 +0000

Why are the taxpayers buying Wang a new coliseum?

By: Richard Cooper

Richard Cooper — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 01:52:35 +0000

Don’t fall for the Coliseumscam snake oil
What Is Seen and What Is Unseen In Coliseumscam http://stopnassaucoliseumfunding.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/what-is-seen-what-is-not-seen-in-coliseumscam/