EVEN DOCTOR DOOM IS WAVERING
Sorry guys, we will still believe it when we see it, but................
The two most interesting things we saw at the August 4 DGEIS hearing were:
1. The hearing did not even last the full day. If there was any real organized opposition, the hearing could easily gone beyond 530PM and there may have been calls for more public hearings to be held at night so more opponents could attend. This is what has happened in the past when places like Garden City wanted a project stopped.
2. Where were the New York State agencies? They have the final say on the DEGEIS. They will present their comments in another form. However, if the DGEIS was in serious trouble, those agencies would have attended. It seems obvious that the support of even an unpopular Governor, two US Senators and others has sent a solid message to the State agencies involved.
The two most interesting things we saw at the August 4 DGEIS hearing were:
1. The hearing did not even last the full day. If there was any real organized opposition, the hearing could easily gone beyond 530PM and there may have been calls for more public hearings to be held at night so more opponents could attend. This is what has happened in the past when places like Garden City wanted a project stopped.
2. Where were the New York State agencies? They have the final say on the DEGEIS. They will present their comments in another form. However, if the DGEIS was in serious trouble, those agencies would have attended. It seems obvious that the support of even an unpopular Governor, two US Senators and others has sent a solid message to the State agencies involved.
GARDEN CITY WILL SUE
That is almost a lock. According to Lighthouse sources, it is expected and will be handled if and when it occurs.
Do not buy Garden City's "We will accept a reasonable compromise" approach. Garden City wants this project KILLED not cut back. Their strategy is an old one: more studies, followed by more studies, followed by more studies until the developers walk away.
Some union leaders believe Garden City will go away if it gets financial considerations similar to what Uniondale has been given. Supposedly, the problem is that there is no legal way to give Garden City any money. We do not believe money, even if it could be legally given to Garden City, would solve anything. As we said before, Garden City wants the Lighthouse completely dead.
Our friends in Garden City should remember this. Six weeks ago 10,000 Lighthouse supporters jammed the Nassau Coliseium. Hundreds attended Tuesday's hearing. It would not be hard for supporters of the Lighthouse to legally boycott and picket the high end stores on Garden City's Franklin Avenue. If Garden City follows through and acts only in its own best interests, it may very well sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.
Hopefully, it will never come to that. What is needed now is a spirit of compromise and cooperation. The question remains, is Garden City willing to do that?
Do not buy Garden City's "We will accept a reasonable compromise" approach. Garden City wants this project KILLED not cut back. Their strategy is an old one: more studies, followed by more studies, followed by more studies until the developers walk away.
Some union leaders believe Garden City will go away if it gets financial considerations similar to what Uniondale has been given. Supposedly, the problem is that there is no legal way to give Garden City any money. We do not believe money, even if it could be legally given to Garden City, would solve anything. As we said before, Garden City wants the Lighthouse completely dead.
Our friends in Garden City should remember this. Six weeks ago 10,000 Lighthouse supporters jammed the Nassau Coliseium. Hundreds attended Tuesday's hearing. It would not be hard for supporters of the Lighthouse to legally boycott and picket the high end stores on Garden City's Franklin Avenue. If Garden City follows through and acts only in its own best interests, it may very well sow the wind and reap the whirlwind.
Hopefully, it will never come to that. What is needed now is a spirit of compromise and cooperation. The question remains, is Garden City willing to do that?
WANG LAST ISLANDER OWNER STANDING?
It is long past the time for some people to get off the old saw that if it appears that the Islanders will relocate, no one will step forward to try and buy the club to keep it here. If that happens, it will be the FIRST time a team relocated without someone trying to step up and keep it in its current location. Will the attempts to keep them here succeed? Who knows, but there will potential buyers of the Isles if it comes to that.
HOW WANG BECOMES THE BAD GUY
Charles Wang is an Islander hero now and hopefully, will become one of its greatest heros.
However, if he turns down a Town of Hempstead offer that fans believe is fair, Wang instantly becomes Walter O'Malley II.
Secondly, right now the County says it does not have the money to provide a state of the art Coliseum. What if when it looks like it is losing the Isles, the County comes up with the bucks to redo the Coliseum and nothing more. If that happens and Wang insists on the whole Lighthouse project or the team goes, how do you think Islander fans will react?
It will also be interesting, if the the Town of Hempstead makes a reasonable offer that Wang refuses, to see if someone else steps forward and says "I'll take your deal, but only if I can buy the team because I need a tenant for a new Coliseum". If Mr. Wang insisted on selling to an outsider, he would be about as popular as Jack the Ripper in a house of ill repute.
As Charles Wang says, there is still a long way to go before any of these scenes become even remotely possible. Islander fans have done a lot and must not only hang in there, but be prepared to do more to help Charles Wang become one of the greatest Islander heroes of all time.
However, if he turns down a Town of Hempstead offer that fans believe is fair, Wang instantly becomes Walter O'Malley II.
Secondly, right now the County says it does not have the money to provide a state of the art Coliseum. What if when it looks like it is losing the Isles, the County comes up with the bucks to redo the Coliseum and nothing more. If that happens and Wang insists on the whole Lighthouse project or the team goes, how do you think Islander fans will react?
It will also be interesting, if the the Town of Hempstead makes a reasonable offer that Wang refuses, to see if someone else steps forward and says "I'll take your deal, but only if I can buy the team because I need a tenant for a new Coliseum". If Mr. Wang insisted on selling to an outsider, he would be about as popular as Jack the Ripper in a house of ill repute.
As Charles Wang says, there is still a long way to go before any of these scenes become even remotely possible. Islander fans have done a lot and must not only hang in there, but be prepared to do more to help Charles Wang become one of the greatest Islander heroes of all time.
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