ToH Looking for a "Do Over"?

Yeah, I was "Angry Dee" last night and wrote a typo filled tirade regarding the Lighthouse project on my HockeyBuzz page. I probably shouldn't do that, but it's still pre-season. Hopefully, I can get away with it.

It's just that October 3rd is looming large and I'm increasingly pessimistic that the Town of Hempstead Supervisor understands the magnitude of her actions and words in the press.

She says she won't give in to demands and idle threats. But these are not idle at all. To wait until now to begin to ask questions is basically a way of the Town saying "Start over."

After 8 years and $15,000,000 spent, why would the developers want to go back to the drawing board? With every change to the plans there would be additional delays and additional money spent. The only ones who stand to profit from that action is the consultants who are playing both sides of the fence. Is that truly fair to anyone?

Meanwhile, our Long Island economy is held in the balance. With so much unemployment in the construction industry these delays cause so much more than aggravation for the developers. It causes more homes lost to foreclosure and more lives disrupted.

At least Brian from Locust Valley seems to get it as his Letter to the Editor in today's Newsday entitled "Lighthouse is perfect for LI's Midlife Crisis" points out.

"The LIghthouse is just what the doctor ordered for our beloved Island...."

Yes, it is. Millions of dollars have been paid out to qualified consultants to make sure the plan WORKS. No one would invest in a project that is designed to FAIL. That is just a ridiculous and short sighted argument.

The project is designed to attract money and substantial benefits to the local economy, not to destroy what is around it. If the self-serving and unsubstantiated fears of the home owners association of Garden City is what halts this project, then shame on us Long Island.

We stand to move into the future, but we have too many clinging to the past. The possibility of losing our only professional sports team is the least of our problems. Losing our economic viability is the largest.

Nassau County is struggling to meet it's budget needs now. Wouldn't $71 million a year in tax revenue help?

Come on Kate! You are playing with political dynamite here! Don't wait until after the election to give the developers a Yes or No. By then, it will be too late!