Would anyone spend $3.8 Billion to FAIL?

I keep thinking about what went down on Tuesday at that rezoning meeting, or should I call it the Garden City "Just Say No" fest?

But you have to question, would Scott Rechler, who is well versed in developing Long Island, be involved in a project that would fail to meet his ideal of success?

Who would spend $15 million on developing plans, just to have them not work? Would the developers come up with a plan that would make those who spend $500,000 - $1,000,000 to live there angry about trying to get out of the area? Do Kate Murray and the Town of Hempstead really think the Lighthouse group hasn’t dotted their "i’s" and crossed their "t’s" (using her words)? How many more I’s and T’s can there be after spending $15,000,000 going over Traffic, Water, Garbage and sea turtles? YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!

If the News 12 poll showed that 72% (or more by now) residents of Long Island are in favor of this project in the current scope and scale and all the prior public hearings and meetings had overwhelming support, where did the opposition that was thrown about at the hearing and in the press since Monday come from?

Was there a sign-up sheet at Town Hall?

There has been overwhelming support for months, and now the Town Board decides to ask questions and reject the developers findings? Where the hell have you been? Those panel members on Tuesday asked questions as if they had never seen the plans before.

The only Democrat on the board repeatedly questioned the effect on a particular street. Wasn’t it perfectly clear in the studies that were delivered MONTHS ago what streets were reviewed? How come she didn’t ask THEN? The board continuously complained about the developer’s traffic findings, and yet the DOT and DPW said their findings were acceptable. Don’t you think they know a little bit about traffic? Also they are not being paid by anyone, so there is no political agenda at play.

And how can water be a questionable issue when the company that did the research and findings is being utilized by both parties? Do they have two separate reports, one based on each pay check they received? Shouldn’t there only be ONE set of findings?

This entire thing is NUTS! This is a war of words and of wills.

They questioned the density of the project simply because it’s the largest proposed development on Long Island, but if the board members would take off their blinders they would see that this type of mixed use development is happening all over the country. AND IT WORKS. You don’t spend $3.8 billion dollars on something that isn’t going to work.

The Town doesn’t want to deal with Charles’ Wang’s deadline -- the one that he hasn’t swayed from since he uttered it the first time. The Town Supervisor’s deadline seems to be the day after the election or perhaps the 12th of never.

Hey Kate! JUST SAY NO! OR JUST SAY YES! But have the backbone to make a decision and live with the consequences and not make statements that fit the audience every time you appear.

There will be plenty of towns that would love to have this sort of tax revenue and employment opportunity. Why the rest of the residents of Long Island have to wait on the edge of our chairs while Garden city throws a hissy fit is beyond me.

Oh, and PS, anyone else find it interesting that Tim Knight, Publisher of Newsday, has resigned? Maybe even he couldn’t stand what it has become.