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Finger Pointing Begins Amidst Islanders Move to Brooklyn

Some residents fear team's departure leaves Nassau County in a worse state.

While Brooklyn residents rejoiced Wednesday alongside Mayor Michael Bloomberg to news of the New York Islanders scheduled 2015 arrival at the Barclays Center, Nassau residents were left scratching their heads as to what went wrong.

"More than ever before, Brooklyn is the place where everyone wants to be," Bloomberg said shortly after the announcement of the Isles' departure. If Bloomberg's statement is right, it also means that Nassau County is now a place where nobody wants to be.

Local politicians expressed their disappointment Wednesday after news of the relocation broke, but that disappointment was lost on fans and residents who wanted answers.

Nassau residents and business owners began pointing fingers immediately after Islanders owner Charles Wang announced the first game of the 2015-16 season would be played in Brooklyn. From the taxpayers who voted down a referendum that would have allowed for a new arena to be built — pending NIFA's approval — to County Executive Ed Mangano, who some feel wasted time and a lot of money with that same vote, nobody was left off the ice (hockey reference).

Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray said Wednesday that she was "disappointed" after learning of the team's departure.

"They’ve been a valued part of this region's identity, and we wish the team great success in the future," the supervisor said.

However, many local fans are also still bitter about Murray's role in denying the Lighthouse Project.

Originally proposed by in 2003, the massive Lighthouse Project proposal allotted for a five-star hotel, convention centers, shopping areas, offices, condos, restaurants and a brand new Nassau Coliseum.

The Lighthouse was rejected multiple times by Murray and the town's zoning board, who continually cited the "size, scope and character" as major problems.

In 2010, one blogger went as far to say that Murray "slit Long Island's throat" by standing against the project.

The blog reads:

Thank you Kate Murray, for treating a group that wanted to invest billions of dollars in the Town of Hempstead as an inconvenience.

Then, there's the team itself.

The Islanders performance on the ice over the last handful of seasons has not helped their cause. Since being eliminated by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2006-07 playoffs, the Islanders have not finished higher than 26th out of 30 teams in the National Hockey League.

The lack of wins on the ice has resulted in a lack of fans in the seats at the Nassau Coliseum.

The once-dominant franchise that won four consecutive Stanley Cup titles in the early 1980s had transcended into a team filled with ludicrous contracts and questionable trades. The theme, which started in the mid-2000s, crippled the Islanders for many seasons and the team is still recovering.

Superstar John Tavares was thought to be a savior when the team drafted him No. 1 overall in 2009, but even the 22-year-old phenom couldn't do it all.

But now, amidst a time when Nassau is already in financial dire straits, the team's relocation some 25 miles west begs for a serious answer to the question, "Who is to blame for the Islanders leaving Nassau County?"

Robert Demarco October 26, 2012 at 02:02 pm
Nassau and TOH have always been corrupt, but this is a new low, and has severe financial impact for workers, taxpayers, and business owners. Murray should be impeached.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ October 26, 2012 at 02:42 pm
After the Islanders leave, the revenues the county received from it will be lost and the cost to the taxpayers will be far greater the minimal amount they would have had to pay had last August's referendum passed. Very shortsighted by Nassau County taxpayers. Wang should be commended for at least keeping the Islanders in the area. He could have moved the team to Kansas City or Canada. He wanted to keep the team here and it has been costing him tens of millions of dollars a year to do so.
And don't blame the fact that attendance was low for the last number of years and the team wasn't very competitive as one of the reasons for the move. The fact that the place was a dump...hands down the worst sports venue in the country.. kept many fans away and kept good players from wanting to play here. Politics and Nassau County voters are to blame.
Tom Garrett October 26, 2012 at 03:49 pm
All fingers point to the obstructionist Republican Kate Murray, remember that!
Ruth Tarlow October 26, 2012 at 05:15 pm
My guess is nobody was willing to pay Supervisor Murray under the table, so she didn't approve the lighthouse project.
Robert Demarco October 26, 2012 at 05:27 pm
Ruth, it was probablt that or something close to it. These greedy politicians are used to having their hands in the pot.
Frank October 26, 2012 at 06:59 pm
FAT KAT IS TO BLAME. ALWAYS WAS AND STILL IS A PUPPET OF HER GARDEN CITY CRONIES.
Rob October 26, 2012 at 08:49 pm
Every politician who voted against this should be voted out. Dem, Rep or independent, all of them. Wang wanted to spend hi own money and they say no. They should hvae let him build something the size of the empire state building for all i cared. the bigger it would be the more taxes he would be paying, let alone the jobs it would have created. Great Job Kate looking out for the people. As you can see by the post we are all so happy you said no.
Mike October 26, 2012 at 11:05 pm
100% Kate Murray's fault. State and county approval for the lighthouse project! Last stop was the town and Kate Murray said no. Thank Kate for driving yet another business and tax revenue source out of the county. A true visionary.
SLJ October 26, 2012 at 11:14 pm
I would think the those who voted down any plans for a new arena should be blamed as well. Why leave them out?
paul October 27, 2012 at 01:09 am
Super-loser Kate Murray announced that the New York Islanders, Nassau County's only major league sports team, would be leaving for the new Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, beginning with the 2015-2016 NHL season. The decision has made many Town of Hempstead residents enraged at Kate, because Kate Murray was a vocal opponent of the 2003-2009 application of (Islanders owner) Charles Wang's proposed "Lighthouse at Long Island" project. That project would have included a privately-funded new Nassau Coliseum, which would certainly have kept the New York Islanders playing in the Town of Hempstead, and in Nassau County, for many years to come.
It remains to be seen whether Kate Murray can withstand the political blow which will result from the hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenue and economic activity, due to the Islanders' imminent departure. Kate Murray presided over the proceedings in the Town of Hempstead that denied the Lighthouse Project, which led to the New York Islanders moving to the Barclay Center in Brooklyn.
paul October 27, 2012 at 01:11 am
Narrow minded Kate is a loser.
She has a very narrow insight into any future that the TOH can have..... Make sure she is out of office.....
Ken Konrad October 27, 2012 at 12:31 pm
I had season tickets for years but finally gave them up last year. The place IS an ancient dump. Toilet facilities are terrible and we have portable johns outside for those not willing to wait on long lines to relieve themselves. The women had it worst in that regard. Murray is to blame, but let's remember that the project was put to a referendum and it was defeated. Knock the place down and sell it. Silly rock concerts would not keep it afloat so it is a waste of hard earned money. Nassau is one of the most expensive places in the country to live in because of failure of government.
paul October 27, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Kate Murray will probably want a drive in movie theatre built at the site.
You know, like 1950 all over a gain.. Ahh, the good o'le days....... Now that would be progress.... Or maybe farm land with Indians again....
Blaise Datsun October 27, 2012 at 04:54 pm
I guess this loss will give the politicians and residents who were against the lighthouse plenty of time to decide what to rename east meadow. East Hempstead? Uniondale Manor? These people think a Sonic will save the town while ignoring the money right in front of them. Good luck everyone!
Nassau Taxpayer October 27, 2012 at 05:25 pm
Can you say "Veterans Memorial Casino"?
MIKE F October 27, 2012 at 09:37 pm
RIDDLE ME THIS...
ALL BLAMIMG KATE MURRAY, WAS I THE ONLY ONE WHO VOTED AGAINST HER IN THE LAST ELECTION? DONT VOTE FOR NAMES YOU KNOW, REMEMBER THESE POSTS WHEN HER TERM IS UP. SERVING IS A PRIVELEGE NOT A CAREER EMPTY LOTS AND STORES PAY NOTHING TOWARD OUR TAXES. ITS A WRITE-OFF FOR THE LANDLORDS AND KICKBACKS TO POLS.
Rebecca October 27, 2012 at 09:40 pm
I just hope everyone on here remembers to KEEP THE BLAME ON KATE MURRAY, not today, but on Election Day 2013 when she's up for re-election!
She'll probably tell us how she "saved us" from the Lighthouse project... I wish we could impeach her, someone just tell me how... BTW, anyone interested in a Facebook group? https://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/367950993292171/
Rebecca October 27, 2012 at 09:41 pm
I voted in favor of the referendum. Fought tooth and nail and hard driving rain to get to the voting booth, too... fat lot of good it did me :(
Rebecca October 27, 2012 at 10:14 pm
No you were not the only one.
I voted for Gary Port (2011) and for Kristen McElroy (2009). Maybe in 2013 the Dems will actually *support* the candidate who runs against Kate Murray. Maybe.
Rebecca October 27, 2012 at 10:15 pm
The Town voted against Sonic too.
paul October 28, 2012 at 03:13 am
I will say, that a percentage of Islander fans do work in the city.
That percentage will probably be very happy and will take the train from work to Brooklyn then after the game back to LI pick up their vehicles at whatever train station and go home.......... They are the big winners..... But overall the county lost 100 percent...
Business Man November 8, 2012 at 02:06 am
New name:
Murray's Mausoleum, because that's what it will become once the Isles leave. Name won't last long though, because the place will soon be torn down. As much as I hate to say it, she will be reelected in a landslide, as will her buddy Gooseby. People just don't care, don't know, don't want to know.-
Robert Demarco November 8, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Unfortunately you are right. The patronage and nepotism in TOH are appalling. Look at this kid Mike Venditto who just won Peter Schmitt's seat. He comes out of law school and because he is the son of John Venditto TOBAY supervisor, he is hired as a TOH attorney. So no other citizen or resident qualified for that position, if it even existed before Venditto's graduation. No it is 6 years later and they run him for the Legislature. There are so many of these people and their families who work for TOH that Murray cannot possibly lose an election. She is killing TOH but taking care of friends and associates.
KP LIslander December 4, 2012 at 10:55 pm
Maybe it's me, but I seem to be missing something here.
Mangano announced plans to “reinvent” the Nassau Coliseum by bringing in Forest City Ratner Companies, the same developer responsible for Barclay’s Center. This is "to help transform the venue into becoming what the county described as ‘an attractive, state-of-the-art destination for sports & entertainment.’ " Really? Mangano is doing this NOW, after Wang’s hand was forced by the TOH & Nassau County & was left with no choice but to move? Why now? Why couldn’t this have been considered BEFORE Wang was left with no option but to move to Brooklyn? How is that going to be paid for? And how would the manner in which this is to be paid for now be any different vs. how such a course of action would have been funded with the Isles kept in place in Uniondale? I don’t get it. I would really like to see the media ensure making it a point to highlight this valid & legitimate aspect in order for this to be rightly addressed as it should be & not glossed over, minimized, trivialized & conveniently brushed under the rug. What a bunch of f&^%ing short-sighted baffoons trying to cover their a$$ in vain. Yet more of the same nonsense from the same inept, dysfunctional gov’t officials being paid by the taxpayer. Mind boggling & unbelievable. Pathetic. And unconscionable that they even have the temerity to act as though they are not complicit or culpable, as if they have done nothing wrong. A-WH()Le$
Brent M. January 6, 2013 at 05:13 pm
Would anybody object if the owner of the Barclays came here . fixed up the coliseum and had the islanders play a partial set of games over the season at the coliseum again??? so atleast we can pump some money into the local markets..? just an idea..
Will s January 9, 2013 at 02:21 am
Kate Murray is an embarrassment to the TOH. Not that the islanders haven't been an embarrassment themselves, but ms murray is in her position to improve the TOH not provide favors to her backers. I've yet to hear any valid rationale for the refusal of the multiple lighthouse projects that were proposed and would love to hear the big plan she's got for that site now. Dispicable politics as usual for Kate Murray.
Robert Demarco January 9, 2013 at 12:57 pm
As I have stated before, if the Lighthouse Project were built with private funding, Kate and her Republican cronies would not have the patronage opportunities they crave with construction contracts, consulting, etc. That is all these politicians care about; they do not represent the public, except for the flunkies who rely on them for favors and employment.
Frank January 9, 2013 at 04:15 pm
Kate Murray and her Garden City Cronies killed the lighthouse deal.
Demarco is on the money. Wang wanted to pay for the whole thing without Taxpayer money. shame on Nassau. I hate the Islanders, but I hate Kate Murray even more. How she got re-elected is a mystery to me.
Frank January 9, 2013 at 04:16 pm
How very true. Nothing is better than section 8 checks. Always paid in full... always on time.
Frank January 9, 2013 at 04:19 pm
Kate Murray would object...

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Frank T June 17, 2013 at 02:39 pm
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Rich June 18, 2013 at 05:10 pm
It's (was) Piesanos
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What's to look into? Neil Koenig was the owner. He's good friends with my cousin. My cousin toldRead More me "he couldn't make a go of it." The last time I was there was in December. The food was just ok and the service was horrible. Not one course was correct and we didn't even change anything from the menu description. Note to the waitress, the appetizer is NOT supposed to come for dessert!! And Rich is correct. The name was Buongusto's PieSano's. I hope the new owners (Lia's) stop serving Chocolate Mouse (should be Mousse) as per the sign on the Prospect Avenue side of the building.
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Rick Price June 12, 2013 at 03:36 pm
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Ivan Launer June 8, 2013 at 11:06 am
There are many people behind the scenes who have worked for months in advance to make this eventRead More successful. Due to business and personal commitments, it is impossible to get them together again on short notice.
Ivan Launer June 8, 2013 at 11:07 am
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marianne krause June 10, 2013 at 10:30 am
Extremely poor planing there should hve been rain date