We've made a conscious effort to stay away from the Lighthouse stuff on this blog. We're not a political blog. We like to talk hockey in these parts, not economic impact statements or zoning guidelines. Nobody wants to hear us get on our high horses and spout political rhetoric when this blog is supposed to be two friends discussing the game we love. So you'll forgive us if we've ignored all the happenings with the Lighthouse lately.
That said...
Tomorrow's a big day for the Lighthouse, the future of the Islanders and, potentially, the future of Long Island. As an Islanders fan, I have a vested interest in what happens with the Lighthouse, but I have an even greater interest as a 20-something resident of Long Island - the very kind of resident that is fleeing Long Island at a rapid clip. Will anything that happens tomorrow make me think that I'll be able to raise my daughter here? Probably not. But it's nice to know these sort of things are up for consideration.
Look, if I'm cynical about the Lighthouse, it's nothing personal. Obviously, there's a lot at stake for someone like me. But just about every other stadium built or proposed over the past decade has come with strings attached. Think about it.
- The Jets' proposed West Side stadium was tied to the 2012 Olympics and became a huge political issue, eventually killing the project.
- The new Yankee Stadium was built essentially because the Mets announced plans to build a new ballpark and God forbid the Yankees look second-class in anything.
- That Mets ballpark, of course, is sponsored by a bank that received government aid just to stay afloat.
- The upcoming stadium for the Jets and Giants seems to be nothing more than a way to introduce the idea of personal seat licenses to the New York area.
The Lighthouse is the one arena development that makes sense; as in, it's not a total money grab. You take a bunch of land that currently serves no purpose and cultivate it into something that not only stands for something, but helps the economy and citizens of Nassau County. What could be better than that?
And yet, we have Kate Murray, who fought this thing tooth and nail until she realized it was election season. Now, she's suddenly Charles Wang's biggest supporter? Please. Something doesn't add up.
Kate Murray notwithstanding, there's plenty of optimism as tomorrow's hearing nears. That's great. As for me, I'll be unable to attend due to parental responsibilities. I'll be watching from a distance, hoping this thing gets worked out. While I'm cautious out of fear of getting burned yet again, I realize that this really is the last chance for the New York Islanders, not to mention many people my age who are considering where their future lies. It literally is now or never. And if there's any justice in this world, it'll be now instead of never.
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