Chambers of commerce back new Coliseum

The leader and members of the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce threw the weight of 40 member organizations behind the proposal for a new coliseum and minor league baseball stadium Tuesday afternoon at a rally in Uniondale.

“Nassau County’s businesses understand how important a new sports-entertainment arena is to our local economy and hope that all our elected officials and business leaders can work together to make sure it is built,” E. Christopher Murray, a lawyer and president of the 6,000-member council, told about two dozen local chamber leaders.

They came together to show support for the Aug. 1 referendum on the county’s proposal to borrow up to $400 million — $350 million for a new coliseum plus up to $50 million for a baseball stadium. Opposition has centered on the cost to taxpayers. A percentage of the revenue from the two arenas would pay back the borrowed money, a cost that, with interest, would more than double over the debt’s 30-year life.

Murray said the poor economy does not mean it’s “a time to wring our hands and cry in our coffee. Instead, we should be putting our people back to work and helping our businesses.”

County Executive Edward Mangano told the group an independent economic impact analysis found that “a new sports-entertainment arena will create over 3,000 new permanent jobs, over 1,500 construction jobs, $403 million in tax relief for homeowners” over 30 years even as it benefits hotels, restaurants and service providers.

The rally was held in front of the Coliseum Deli on Hempstead Turnpike, where owner Ralph Galdorisi, owner of the Coliseum Deli where the rally was held, conceded that the investment in new arenas carries some risk. “But we’re all investors,” he said. “You don’t have to be a hockey fan, but be a Long Island fan, a Nassau County fan. On August 1, say ‘yes’. Invest in Nassau County.”