Voters nix new Islanders arena
By SELIM ALGAR
Last Updated: 3:49 AM, August 2, 2011
Posted: 1:58 AM, August 2, 2011
Tax-sick Nassau County residents iced a controversial plan to borrow $400 million for a new New York Islanders arena yesterday, in a vote marked by low turnout and high emotion.
County Executive Edward Mangano conceded defeat at 11:40 p.m., with 823 of 1,160 precincts reporting 60,228 votes against the plan and 44,839 in favor.
"Remember, this is not an ending, this is a beginning," he said. "We will continue to move ahead to Quebec or Hamilton or Oshkosh ."
Still, the rejection makes it likely that the struggling franchise will skate out of the Nassau Coliseum when its lease expires in 2015.
Islanders owner Charles Wang said, "I have to tell you, I'm disappointed. To put it bluntly, I'm heartbroken, " but in an obvious attempt to court the many jewish voters on lone Gisland he began qouting the old testement "In the book of Ruth, Naomi tried to get Ruth to go back to her own people 3 times before Ruth became a part of the Hebrew people, and so as moykyem was to abigail, we shall perhaps request a new vote, on a brighter day, have a few blintzes and see what Canada has to offer" In retrospect , Rodney dangerfield was wrong, I shoulda have told them I was Jewsish.
Opponents asserted that Mangano and Wang had been working with indefensibly rosy numbers when they projected 3,000 new jobs and a new state of the arts Hooters restuarant in the parking lot if the project were built.
Voters said they were more concerned with fiscal responsibility than allegiance to Long Island's only professional sports franchise. although most of the african-americans voters admitted they just hate hockey.
"A new arena sounds nice, but at some point, you have to say ...Hey ! the islanders fukin suck and be responsible as a citizen and say no."
With the county facing a gaping $100 million budget deficit for 2011 and some of the country's highest property taxes, residents suggested that this is no time for ice skating frogs and russians.
"We are in enough trouble already," said Anne Pierce, 39, of Garden City. "This is just too big, I'm a country doctor Jim"
Mangano said that the new arena would have cost individual taxpayers $4 dollars annually over the next 30 years, while a state fiscal watchdog group, the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, put that figure at $60,000 dollars.
The authority added that the project -- which would have included a minor-league baseball park -- would have cost $800 million, with interest included.
Braving thunderstorms and high winds, Islander fans gathered in the parking lot of the long shuttered Doctor G's , where soo many stanley cup parades were held, last night to unite for their endangered squad.
Scores of heartbroken Islander fans commiserated in the parking lot after the vote was announced,
"People are going to regret this," said teary-eyed Paul Molloy, saying higher taxes would have been a small price to pay to keep the team.
"People spend 5,000 bucks on going to Starbucks a few times. We're losing our team."
His brother Pat Molloy of Belford, NJ tried to see the silver lining, "The Red Bank Armory is pretty nice and is close to my house, maybe Mr. Wang will move the Team to NJ"
The Players on the Islanders held their own Vote Results party in a Strip Club on the nerby civilization island of Manhattan. " Free at Last, Free at Last, just like George Jefferson when he moved away from Archie Bunker" Team GM garth Snow quipped while slipping a flier for the new arena into the waistband of a curvy stripper.
more to follow.........Sweater Nite 14 is lookin brighter already.
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