Politics & Government

Maragos: Isles Playoff Games to Generate $4 Million for County

A weekly look at the major news in Nassau County.

Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos conducted an analysis that indicates the New York Islanders hockey team playoff home games generate more than $1 million each in overall economic activity.

The Nassau County government coffers are estimated to earn over $500,000 for the first three games held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Every home game the New York Islanders play, if sold out, generates about $166,000 in ticket tax, parking, concessions sold and sales tax.

“The buzz the Islanders have created by winning two games against the top seeded Pittsburgh Penguins is great for the sport but also great for our local economy,” Maragos said. “Anytime the Coliseum can be filled to capacity, which is over 16,000 attendees for Islander games, the county receives a portion of the ticket tax, parking and concessions revenue.”

According to the Uniondale Hub Redevelopment Project Economic Impact Analysis of June 2011 each attendee to the Coliseum generates an indirect economic activity total of approximately $84.

Consequently, the three sold out Islander playoff games will result in 16,170 attendees per game and generate an overall economic activity estimate of $4 million.

Maragos: Nassau County Paid Up To 32 Percent Less Than NYC for Sandy Debris Removal

Comptroller Maragos said the cost of Superstorm Sandy debris removal was up to 32 percent less than in New York City.

A New York Times article late last week reported that the cost to New York City taxpayers was about $100 per cubic yard of debris removal from central piles, approximately twice as much as the national average. New Jersey was charged approximately $50 per cubic yard.

The Nassau County average cost for similar debris removal was $68.12 per cubic yard, significantly less than New York City but higher than New Jersey.

The county is estimated to have removed, from central piles, 460,861 cubic yards of debris. New York City in comparison removed nearly 1.0 million cubic yards from its central piles.

Of the total debris of 460,861 cubic yards removed from the county’s central piles, 187,518 cubic yards were hauled and disposed at local Long Island dump sites at an average cost $47.77 per cubic yard, including disposal fees (tipping).

The county also barged 273,343 cubic yards of debris upstate at an average rate of $82.08 per cubic yard including tipping. The combined weighted average rate paid to dispose of all debris was $68.12 per cubic yard.

LI Marathon Draws More Than 8,000 Participants

Nassau County Executive Ed. Mangano and Scott Rechler, Chairman and CEO of Long Island Marathon title sponsor RXR Realty, led marathon runners in tributes to the victims and survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings as part of the opening ceremonies of the 2013 RXR Long Island Marathon this past weekend.

More than 8,000 people participated in this year’s marathon. There was an estimated 25,000 spectators along the route and in Eisenhower Park cheering on participants. Leading up to the marathon festivities, there had been significant security concerns after what transpired in Boston.


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