(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Islanders are either a franchise in grave trouble or an organization on the rise. Which one is actually realized hinges on one thing—the Lighthouse Project.
People with sensible minds who actually use the lump of gray matter between their ears can see the big picture.
Do you see it?
First things first—playing devil's advocate and to show that I am not simply a one-sided, "just build it" proponent, I will say that Charles Wang is using the Islanders.
There, I said it. Charles Wang is using the Islanders to get his legacy project built. He bought the Islanders when the fact of the matter is no one—and I do mean no one—wanted them. Why did he see value in the team when no one else did?
The Milstien/Gluckstern ownership group drove a young, promising team into the ground and they slapped the Islanders' fanbase directly in the face, which at the time was like slapping an abused wife after rescuing her from OJ Simpson.
Charles Wang came in and immediately gave the organization a breath of fresh air for the first time in many years. He spent inordinate amounts of money bringing in proven NHL talent. He has gone on to lose an average of $20 million a season since he took over.
Why would he do that? Because he's a great guy who made his billions by just writing personal checks to make up for the losses on his hockey team every year?
No.
Charles Wang bought the Islanders, the Marriott Hotel, the Omni building, and all the surrounding real estate and brought in a partner (only the largest builder on the Island in Scott Rechler) because he wants to build the Lighthouse Project.
Along the way, I think Mr. Wang has taken a strong liking to his hockey team, but make no mistake, Charles Wang bought the Islanders so he could use them to get his dream project off the ground.
That being said, let's ask ourselves the following question: Why not let a man who wants to spend over $3.5 billion putting up new buildings, housing units, retail space, hotels, and condos (and, oh yeah, a nice, new arena) in what can only be described as a suburban oasis?
While we are thinking about that question, let's consider what the opposition is saying. And we all know who the opposition is.
The town of Hempstead and your local elected officials are the No.1 reason we don't know what is going to happen. They won't say no, but they won't say yes. They say...nothing. They ask questions. They ask for more studies. They ask for delays. They make off handed comments about how the designs "looks like a city." They talk about traffic and waste water.
You know what they never talk about? They never talk about the positives. Ever.
The local politicians all want to be able to say "look what I got for my voters" by questioning The Lighthouse Group at a public hearing when they already know the answers to the questions. They all claim to be looking out for their constituents.
The amount of BS that represents is taller then the highest building Charles Wang wants to build.
The fact is that they all want to make a name for themselves on the backs and at the expense of Charles Wang.
These politicians are looking out for themselves. That is what they do. They live term to term with their insignificant little jobs and put their little signs up on Hempstead Turnpike right in front of the rotten site that is the Nassau Coliseum Parking Lot.
Now people are talking about scaling down.
Why should he scale anything down? Did Jerry Jones have to scale down his plans for a stadium that hosts eight football games a year? Did the Yankees have to scale down their new palace of baseball? The Mets? The Giants and Jets?
The man wants to spend his money building a new suburban center the likes many of us haven't seen in our lifetimes.
The questions are being answered. The concerns are mostly unfounded and the facts are clear.
The real issue here goes way beyond the New York Islanders.
The Islanders are a microcosm of what is happening on Long Island. No one wants to live here except those who make seven figures and live comfortably above the pay grade where higher taxes, ridiculous electric rates, and selfish elected officials can't affect them.
People are moving to new suburban centers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, upstate New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Entire families are abandoning Long Island because of living expenses and—most importantly—school and property taxes.
Young, single professionals would be insane to choose Long Island as a spot to build their ca
We're going to send you the most entertaining New York Islanders articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.
12 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete