County Official Talks Coliseum Concerns With W.H.

Faced with the opportunity to invest in a new coliseum in the heart of Nassau County along with a minor league ballpark, residents in West Hempstead had many questions for one local official Thursday night.

 A small crowd turned out to hear Chief Deputy County Executive Rob Walker address their concerns about the project on June 16  at a meeting organized by the West Hempstead Community Support and Civic Association.

Walker provided the latest information about the plan to replace Nassau Coliseum and further develop the HUB in Uniondale through a partnership with current coliseum and New York Islanders owner, Charles Wang and residents of Nassau County.

“It’s time for us as Nassau County residents to share in that revenue,” Walker said, saying that the County right now collects very little from the property.

While he could not divulge specifics about the contract that had been worked out with Wang - assuring residents that details would be – he did say that the County entered into the negotiations demanding that the revenue it receives must be equal or more than the debt service on the coliseum.

“We structured a deal so we’re partners in everything, so if a bag of popcorn gets sold we’re getting a percent of that popcorn,” Walker said.

The plan calls for a referendum vote to take place on Aug. 1 through which Nassau residents will decide whether the government will have permission to bond up to $400 million for the project (up to $350 mil for building a new coliseum.)

If they do approve it, the plan will then move to the Legislature, who could still vote it down. If they too support it they will have to decide how much to bond.

Rosalie Norton, president of the West Hempstead civic, expressed one of the major concerns Walker has heard from residents.

 “Four-hundred million is a big bond,” she said. “How can we generate enough income from the existing team by re-doing the coliseum?”

 Walker assured her that the Islanders hockey team is only a small part of the contract, pointing out that the franchise only accounts for about 60 days that the coliseum operates each year.

 “The rest of it is all our concerts, it’s Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, the Globetrotters. Britney Spears…the Black Eyed Peas,” he said. “It’s those types of things that really generate the dollars for Nassau County.”

 He also said that one reason why the Islanders are struggling fiscally is because the poor facility they are playing in is not attraction to fans or prospective players. For example, he said some of the seats are broken and the current set-up does not even have enough room to accommodate the back-up goalie on the bench.

 Still, even those who support building a new coliseum have their doubts about the plan and its timing.

, a West Hempstead resident and Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Supervisor, accused the County officials of rushing into the bonding process because they are receiving pressure from Wang, whose lease of the Coliseum is up in 2015.

 “Your boss is asking us to bond now and plan later,” Port told Walker. “I’m not against building the coliseum, but giving us six weeks in the middle of the summer is very little time to look at this contract.”

 He added, “We have a big opportunity to make a wonderful project in that location…you guys are giving us six weeks to make a decision that is going to affect generations in this county.”

 Walker disagreed with Port’s critique of the situation, saying that the County has spent nearly a decade discussing the future of this site.

 “There’s been study after study after study…and nothing has been done for eight years,” he said. “If we wait the Islanders are gone…You’ll have an abandoned 77 acres in the heart of Nassau County that’s doing nothing to assist the economy.”

 Plus, he pointed out, the county will lose roughly $200 million in sales tax revenue that is currently generated in that area as a result of events held at the coliseum.

 Questions also emerged about the proposed minor league ballpark that may also be built on the site. (Already, the Long Island Ducks and New York Mets have submitted proposals.)

 Walter Ejnes, a school board trustee and West Hempstead resident, asked if locals would be paying twice for this addition to the County – through their taxes and again by what he anticipated would be high-priced parking fees and tickets.

Another gentleman also questioned the profitability of the ballpark, saying in the past most municipalities have struck out when trying to earn revenue this way.

 “We studied the ones that work,” Walker said, using the Ducks stadium in Central Islip as an example. “These are very low priced opportunities for you to take your family. They cover the debt service and make some additional dollars.”

 Some older residents voiced their concerns about how the bond would add to the heavy tax burden they are already bearing.

 “Nobody’s talking about it, but I don’t want to pay taxes for a sports arena,” one woman said.

Walker said the main reason why seniors and all residents are seeing their taxes rise is because of a lack of economic development and jobs losses. He said the HUB plan will address these problems along with projects in Bethpage, at the Grumman site, and at Belmont, where the Elmont community has supported the addition of a gambling casino.

 “We need to have economic development, an increase in the tax base,” he said, adding that the coliseum plan would immediately put 3,500 local people to work.

 “Without economic development and jobs this county is going nowhere. People are leaving. They are speaking with their feet,” he said, explaining that residents are relocating to places like Florida, Texas and North Carolina to find better opportunities.

 He added, “If we do not stimulate the economy all of us are paying more.”