A new Coliseum for Nassau? Yes, and no

Regarding "Islanders stay if Nassau pays" [News, May 11], my wife and I made the decision to move to Long Island 13 years ago, in order to present our daughter with a better living and growth environment, compared to what other locations had to offer. Overall, we are pleased. The first hockey game my wife and I took our daughter to was an Islanders game. This team is an important part of my family and my life.

I am an ardent and lifelong Islanders fan. In the last 39 years, the Islanders have brought us glory by winning four consecutive Stanley Cups. They have become a big part of the tapestry of Long Island with a multitude of ongoing community involvement activities. The Nassau County Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and subsequently, a modified Lighthouse project, must become a central recreational and economic focal point for Nassau County and Long Island.

Renovation of the Coliseum and developing the area surrounding it would yield tremendous economic and recreational benefits. This could serve as an incentive to keep the younger generation and recent college graduates here.

Norm Misrok, Bellmore
 

While I applaud Newsday for raising appropriate concern on behalf of the Nassau County taxpayer, I believe County Executive Edward Mangano's strategic vision to redevelop the Nassau Coliseum while supporting the Shinnecock casino at Belmont is outstanding.

Placing a casino at Belmont makes much more sense given the racetrack's proximity to JFK Airport, with commuter access available through the existing Long Island Rail Road station. A casino at the Nassau Coliseum site would have been difficult to integrate given the proximity of Hofstra University and Kellenberg High School.

Redeveloping the Nassau Coliseum would create thousands of jobs for the construction industry, which has been devastated in the recent recession. Borrowing money in the municipal bond market makes sense, as interest rates remain at historic lows. The estimated price tag of $400 million can be offset by selling naming rights to the new Coliseum and minor-league ballpark.

Michael Mulhall, Rockville Centre
 

The Nassau Interim Finance Authority has taken over Nassau County's finances because the county is broke. Now there is a county proposal to spend $400 million, before the inevitable cost overruns, creating more county debt, raising our taxes to fund a new Coliseum for the Islanders and a minor-league baseball stadium, both private businesses. Economic studies have shown that public funding of sports stadiums provides no long-term financial benefits to their communities.

If this is such a good deal, let Charles Wang arrange 100 percent private funding of the redevelopment of the Nassau Hub, as he previously was willing to do. He has stated the only way to make the redevelopment profitable for him was to have massive development of the Hub. Now that the Hempstead Town Board has rejected his grand plan, it makes no financial sense for the public to pay to build the proposed stadiums.

Mark Rosen, East Meadow
 

First, the August 1 vote is a old political trick. The voter turnout on an hot summer Monday with many voters on vacation will be heavily caucused by GOP party supporters to ensure jobs and politically controlled contracts for friends and relatives. A November election day vote would be fairer to all.

Second, the New York Islanders would be better off with more practice and better management than building a new arena. In today's economy, renovation rather than a new Coliseum might be the answer. The road to more revenue for Nassau County is a winning team, not a losing one in a new venue.

Third, the entire Lighthouse project was opposed and shot down by the Town of Hempstead led by Supervisor Kate Murray. Now that Nassau County is once again Republican controlled, she seems ready to sell the hot dogs at a new Nassau Coliseum.

Jerry Lamonica, Freeport