Union Chief: New Isles Arena Necessary

PitBull May 12, 2011 at 07:56 pm

Does everyone remember the snake oil salesman. This deal is just like that, the taxpayer will build it and only the rich can afford to go. And when there is only 100 people in the seats. They will tell use we were counting on the revenue to pay back the bonds and it won't be there. We are being blackmailed by wong and the Nassau Republicans. We must stand together and VOTE NO

Frank May 16, 2011 at 05:34 pm

John Durso is a panderer of the lowest order. Of course the deal is needed! Since it's a county sponsored project, your constituents are guaranteed work! And with union labor, John Durso can guarantee:
1. Cost overruns in the multi-millions. Hey, it's hard to get materials on a tiny island! 2. Delays in construction. Hey, it's Hot/Cold/Wet/Snowy/Windy here. 3. Subpar materials. Hey, don't blame me, blame China! 4. Graft on the highest order. Hey, it's NY!

Rob May 16, 2011 at 06:07 pm

Wang wanted to spend his own money but the county said no. Why should he us he own money for something that he will not own?

Willie May 16, 2011 at 06:28 pm

The legacy of Suozzi administration lives on- Turning down Lighthouse when it was private funds. Now we get stuck with taxpayer funds to justify union jobs. Why does everyone push back on private wealthy builders who may get rich but in thje process and provide real jobs, only to support taxpayer funded Union jobs.
Oh, could it be for more union votes?

cc May 16, 2011 at 07:17 pm

We need a taxpayer revolution!

Frank May 16, 2011 at 07:18 pm

Hey Everybody, read this and please comment:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/17/sports/a-companys-small-town-arenas-leave-cities-with-big-problems.html

cc May 16, 2011 at 08:19 pm

Right on! Why don't we do the same? We like higher tax's! While the unions clean up.

Frank May 17, 2011 at 08:24 pm

Funds Needed : $400,000,000
Debt Service Reserve : $45,455,000 Cost of Issuance Financed : $9,091,000 Total Bonds Issued : $454,550,000 portion not finance-able : $9,091,000 Gross Monthly Payment : $3,524,121 Less Reserve Interest : $265,154 Net Monthly Payment : $3,258,967 You need 42 million/year to pay off this bond in 20 years. View link on the stats on the NY Islanders from Forbes.com: http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/31/hockey-values-09_New-York-Islanders_312071.html Key takeaways: Revenue $62 mil Operating Inc. $-5.6 mil Player Expenses $40 mil Gate Receipts $22 mil (aka ticket sales) We need $42 million/yr, Islanders produce $22 million/ yr. Q.E.D OMG this deal Stinks!!!

Frank May 17, 2011 at 08:24 pm

OMG... You stupid Union members and islander fans, the price of this build would cause, at a minimum, a tripling of the current islander ticket. To fund this nut, the whole arena would be business box seats, while you suckers get the privilege of $150 dollar nose bleed seats!!!!
You knuckleheads would end up not going to a single game at those prices, thereby driving any needed revenue to fund the bond into the ground. And in the end, the taxpayers take in the butt. OMG OMG You need 6 hockey teams, 100 conventions, and a permanent 5 ring circus to pay that nut!!! OMG OMG OMG this deal stinks! SUCKER SUOZZI, MUNGO, DUMBO, and FAT KAT are frickin nuts!!!! You blew the lighthouse project for this mess... OMG OMG OMG OMG this deal stinks!!!!!!

R. Callahan May 18, 2011 at 06:08 pm

Say No to this arena and NO to the corrupt union bosses. If they want it, you know it is a scam.

cc May 18, 2011 at 10:24 pm

If it is such a good deal let the union fund it.

judy nitkin June 2, 2011 at 12:57 pm

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs that is one fundamental thing that is needed in Nassau County!
Have you been upstate lately, once vibrant counties are now blighted due to a lack of work. Yes, the Coliseum and etal should be built to entice businesses to open. Those not in favor of this development are not looking to the future of the County. Shame on you for such shortsightedness!

William Duckfield June 2, 2011 at 01:03 pm

What have the Bills and Sabres done for Buffalo's economy? Every economist will tell you the job and economic boost from projects such as this is a myth.

MerrickGuy June 2, 2011 at 02:11 pm

Notice how the Patch keeps posting articles about how it is necessary... Why doesn't the Patch interview one of the legislatures that voted against it? How about some fair and balanced reporting?

edgar June 2, 2011 at 04:30 pm

Wrong. The 30% of construction workers who are jobless is due to the fact that there are 30% more construction workers than the market needs. The unfortunate reality is that the building boom is over and those workers' skills are no longer needed (and may never again be needed). Those workers need to retrain, and reinvent themselves as something else. I am all for gov't assistance to them while they do that. I am not for a massively expensive and unnecessary construction project that kicks the can down the road on those jobs.

monty June 2, 2011 at 07:47 pm

Are you saying a Huffington product is biased? Why, Im shocked that you would even consider that a possibility.

monty June 2, 2011 at 07:50 pm

Mr Durso, aren't thousands & thousands of NON union workers unemployed as well? Don't THEY count? Aren't THEY part of THIS "economy too?"

patrick June 13, 2011 at 08:32 pm

And they shout "What do we want-more and more" When do we want it "Now and forever".

patrick June 13, 2011 at 08:34 pm

Amen

Daniel Garcia June 22, 2011 at 11:29 am

I like the fact each NC household will pay an additional $50 per year to pay for this albatross. then according to the county executive the NC stands to make $14m. Here's what I don't like.
1] The fact that once county begins raking in the [pie in the sky] cash windfall, each household will continue to pay the extra $50 per. Politicians always find a way to keep any monies they abscound. 2] Islanders. Vote no in August.

Clem June 22, 2011 at 12:21 pm

This boondoggle has turned me against the Republicans.

Daniel Garcia June 22, 2011 at 12:34 pm

Clem, right now the key is to forget the party and VOTE NO IN AUGUST!

An tUasal Airgead June 22, 2011 at 01:59 pm

Nassau County would receive 11.5 percent of all revenue from a new Nassau Coliseum -- or a minimum of $14 million a year -- under the agreement between County Executive Edward Mangano and the Islanders to be announced Wednesday.
The deal would give team owner Charles Wang a 30-year lease beginning in 2015 over the entire 77 acres surrounding the Coliseum, but would not grant him development rights. Details of Coliseum deal unveiled Published: June 21, 2011 11:58 PM http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/details-of-coliseum-deal-unveiled-1.2973954

Vincent June 22, 2011 at 02:02 pm

Clem, the republicans are feathering the unions caps and if this passes they will all vote Democrat anyway. It is in union members genes.

Frank June 22, 2011 at 03:04 pm

Good article!
OMG I am an oracle! I divined it before... I worte "there is no way any business would part with more than a third of its revenue". Lo and behold, we get 11.5%. lmfao! So, where's the other $28 million/yr going to come from to cover that $400 million bond? Unless Mangano has rabbits with diamond collars in his hat, this deal is going to deep six Nassau even further.

Daniel Garcia June 22, 2011 at 03:51 pm

Frank, Not to worry. He can pawn the obligation off onto the next administration and blame it on Suozzi.

James Kittle June 22, 2011 at 05:03 pm

If this thing were a good idea then they wouldn't need a special election on a Monday in the middle of summer. This is a give-away to the unions and a hockey team that has been irrelevant to the community and lousy on the ice for more than 30 years. If Wang wants a new arena, and if its going to be such a great money maker, then let him build the arena and the development complex with private money.
And why is there public money for a massive construction project, but no money for after school programs and librarians in the elementary schools? My family and I didn't move to Long Island because of the Islanders or because there was an arena for conventions or a minor league baseball team. We moved here for good schools, proximity to our jobs in New York City and a clean safe family oriented community. There is overwhelming evidence that these huge sports teams and convention complex projects are always a net loss for the taxpayers. There simply isn't any evidence that they generate positive revenue for the taxpayers who fund them. A convention center and a lousy NHL team might be a good sell in some other part of the country but it is completely unnecessary to Nassau County. Finally, Nassau County is broke. So, we don't need it and we can't afford it. Vote no on August 1st. And at the next November election vote out the people that tried to foist this upon us with a $2 million dollar special election.

Daniel Garcia June 22, 2011 at 06:10 pm

Hopefully this won't be the only public forum where voters will read why a NO vote is so pragmatic. It's up to each and everyone of us (on this thread) to speak loudly at our respective Civic Associations and any public hearings held b/n now & Aug 1, IF the administration sees fit to advise time, dates and locations. Also (and no offense to Patch) this cannot be the organ in which the Vote NO message is voiced. We need to announce in Newsday (outside their Op-Ed and Letters to the Editor section) and CableVision's News12.

Bill Sweeney June 22, 2011 at 09:55 pm

I agree. But then let him build something. It's the TOH's fault with this.

An tUasal Airgead June 22, 2011 at 10:06 pm

The County Executive will host a series of public information meetings from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on:
•Wednesday, June 29th at the East Meadow Library at 1886 Front St. (Town of Hempstead). •Thursday, June 30th at the William P. Bennett Hicksville Community Center at 28 West Carl St. (Town of Oyster Bay). •Friday, July 1st at the American Legion Hall at 730 Willis Ave. in Williston Park (Town of N. Hempstead). http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/CountyExecutive/NewsRelease/2010/6-22-2011.htm