2011-06-23

              TON celebrates
the Fourth!
page 10
www.freeportbaldwinleader.com
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76th Year, No. 25 Freeport, N. I >20 The Community Newspaper Thursday, June 23, 2011 750 Sharks invade
Freeport
PICNICIREA
FOR MARINA
PATRONS
ONLY
SHARK TOURNAMENT: A 308-pound thresher shark (right) won
the 39th annual Freeport Hudson Anglers Shark Tournament. A
292-pound mako shark (above) finished third. See page 3 for
more.
Taxpayers could foot bill for a new Coliseum
by Laura Schofer
County Executive Edward Mangano
calls it the "Economic Development and
Job Creation Plan"; Democrats call it a plan
with few concrete details that relies on pub-lic
money - $400 million - that would have
to be raised through a public vote on
August 1 for a bond referendum.
The plan, announced this month by the
county, includes rebuilding the Nassau
Coliseum as well as creating a minor
league baseball field. Mr. Mangano
believes it will bring thousands of construc-tion
and white-collar jobs to the area.
It will also keep the New York Islanders
at the Nassau Coliseum through 2045.
Islanders' owner Charles Wang has said
that he will move the Islanders by 2015,
when their contract at the Coliseum
expires, unless there is a new facility.
It also includes a revenue-sharing plan
between the New York Islanders and
Nassau County.
But this private-public partnership will
cost taxpayers more money. The $400 mil-lion
bond means each household will pay
from $48 to $59 a year for the next 30
years. It will also create a new tax line,
called the Hub Development Tax line,
which is a binding referendum, if approved
by the voters.
County spokeswoman Kara Guy
explained that once the tax line is created
by the voters, it would be the responsibility
of the county Legislature to authorize the
money to be bonded.
And, little is known about the revenue-sharing
plan. "We haven't seen any kind of
agreement. We know very little about how
this would work," explained county
Legislator David Denenberg, Democrat of
Merrick.
"Any revenue the county wouldft
receive [from this revenue-sharing plan]
would go into the general tax line; it does-n't
change that you are still paying more
taxes. I'd like to see something go into the
agreement that any revenue sharing go to
the Hub Development Tax line."
The August 1 vote will also cost taxpay-ers
$2 million for the election itself.
"[Legislator] Wayne Wink asked to
move the vote to Election Day so as not to
incur any further costs," explained
Legislator Denenberg, but "the Islanders,
the county executive and the Republicans
[caucus] said they need to move fast for
construction [sometime in 2012 if
passed]."
Mr. Denenberg said he also suggested
"We move the vote to Primary Day
[September 13] but that was also voted
down." .
In the end, the Legislature voted 10-8 to
move ahead with the referendum vote on
August 1.
Even if the referendum moves ahead, the
county must get the approval of the Nassau
Interim Finance Authority (NIFA).
NIFA shows concern
"NIFA is deeply concerned about the
county executive's proposal and its fiscal
implications for the county. There was no
consultation with NIFA regarding this
major proposal," reads a prepared state-ment
from NIFA.
"NIFA's approval is required for all
county borrowing, including the $400 mil-lion
in new debt and for all major contracts.
As we await necessary information from
the county regarding the 2011 and 2012
budgets, NIFA requires details of this new
plan, which must be evaluated in the con-text
of the county's fiscal crisis the wage
freeze on county employees and the reduc-tions
in services to county residents."
The Legislature is also requesting more
information, said Mr. Denenberg, who had
hoped to receive more details on June 15.
"If we don't get the information, then
County Executive Mangano will have a lot
of explaining to do."
However, county spokeswoman Katie
Grilli-Robles said all details of the contract
with the Islanders will be given to the Leg-islature
"within a few days."
She added that an "RFP [Request For
Proposals] has been isssued for the minor
league fields. There were two responses
from the New York Mets and the Long
Island Ducks." More information will be
made available,to the Legislature and the
public later in the month, said Ms. Grilli-
Robles.
Mr. Denenberg said he intends "to hold
two or three public information meetings
for my constituents so they can to learn
more about this plan - the positive and the
negative. Then the public can decide," con-cluded
Legislator Denenberg.
Development critical
"A new sports arena and minor league
ballpark are critical to advancing Nassau's
job generating economic development
plan," said County Executive Mangano at
last month's bill-signing ceremony.
"With passage of this legislation, and
approval by residents, the county will take
a giant step forward with creating a world-class
sports-entertainment destination cen-ter
in Nassau County."
Mayor Hardwick on
crime
pages 3,10
Baldwin Day is
coming
page 5
Freeport Adopt-A-Cop
is 15!
page 6
Bay house tour
page 12