Voters in Nassau County have the chance to cast a ballot on whether $400 million in taxpayer money should go towards building a new arena to replace the aging Nassau Coliseum. Islanders owner Charles Wang, who has been begging and pleading for some help for years, even threatening to take the team to Queens, told reporters, "I vote ‘yes’ of course. It’s an opportunity to do something and start the process of rebuilding Long Island." However, in this depressed economy, some people are against rebuilding anythig.
A 63-year-old resident told Newsday he voted no, "The county can do a whole lot more with the $400 million than build a new arena. Taxes are destroying us and we're going to waste it on a hockey team?" as another 63-year-old said, "Our taxes are high enough. It's not a necessity. The Islanders should pay for it themselves. They have enough money ... I'm living on a fixed income. Anything's too much." Many argue that Wang is rich enough to fund the project himself.
On the other hand, a 38-year-old Islander fan voted yes as did a 20-year-old Rangers fan who explained he "was voting in favor and could live with the 'small' increase in property taxes required to build the new arena." Some lawmakers are in favor of new arena, what with the construction jobs it would bring in.
The project would also house a minor league ballpark and convention space and provide 3,000 permanent jobs (currently, 2,000 are employed at the Coliseum). Newsday reports that some say the turnout for the measure has been "abysmally low."
