An Impassioned Plea to Jay Jacobs in the final days...

Jay Jacobs
Chairman
Nassau County Democratic Committee
One Old Country Road, Suite 430
Carle Place, NY 11541

Dear Mr. Jacobs,

I am a long-time New York Islanders fan, a Westchester County resident and Democrat. Over the last few weeks, I have been saddened with the political games that Nassau County Legislative Democrats have played with their staunch opposition to the newly proposed arena to replace Nassau Coliseum. As much as gaining political favor is useful for the next County Executive race, this is NOT the way to attack Ed Mangano. Putting the future of Long Island’s sole professional and Major league team in jeopardy is exactly the opposite of productive. 

Knowing that this deal is far from ideal in regards to political capital, let’s instead look at through an economic lens. The price tag is steep, but the long term benefits of the new arena are much greater than what is there now. If the County contracts to local and union contracting firms you are pump-priming money back into the county economy. Local workers spend at local retail and eateries, that generates more taxable income; all that BEFORE the new arena is even completed. Add this project with local and union contracting to building the Belmont Casino, and that’s even more money that stays in the county. Instead of scaring residents with a sixteen dollar per year tax increase, why not highlight these benefits? Add in all the benefits that a new arena brings (concerts, WWE, trade shows, revenues from parking that are shared between Wang and County…you eventually can pay down $350 million).

I realize that this sounds naïve, but this is a Keynesian model to generate revenues and multiply out economic recovery for the county, especially since the county’s finances are under the State’s control. Be willing to horse trade, attack Mangano other ways and recruit a candidate that can beat him. The Islanders, their fans and history should not be pawns in this game.

Do you and our fellow Nassau Democrats want to lose a team and history, for political points that will cause problems in 2013?


Sincerely,
Matt Clausen

To Any reader in Nassau and Suffolk or even the City...feel free to use this letter and sub in what you'd like.