Today a vote was held in Nassau County.  The vote was for a referendum to finance the severely needed upgrading of the ever deteriorating Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York; Home of the Historic, and once Glorious New York Islanders franchise.

When Charles Wang bought the team years ago he promised to restore this once unstoppable (4 Stanley Cups in a Row and 19 post Season Playoff appearances in a row) to glory and while there have been many a road block (Our GM's being the biggest culprits most of the time) the Team has finally started to gel and become a team to be taken seriously.

But in 2015 the long standing deal with the Coliseum is over and so are the chances of Long Island having a professional sports franchise (most people in Queens would tell you they're in 'The City' not Long Island even tho geographically, they're on LI) any longer.  This is a sad reality that so many are ignoring because they don't care, or cause they're Rangers & Devils fans.

So i want to take this time to point out 2 things.

First:

To Anyone who voted "NO" claiming the Team should pay for its own building or that their taxes would go up "drastically" maybe you all should have researched this before you made up your mind with a bunch of scare tactics from people who know nothing.

Wang provided numerous plans and opportunities to pay for a new complex and to bring in new jobs and life to the area but Kate Murray & Company repeatedly ignored the looming problem and forced this hand.  And now while people have scared you into thinking this is some enormous burden you probably should have reviewed facts.  the facts are you'll pay far more for your school taxes than anything else in your property taxes - which should enrage you even more than a referendum for a new Coliseum especially if you don't have kids in a school district.

But its good to know the majority of people in nassau still have their heads up their asses.


Second:

With the large population in Suffolk County that are Rabid Isles fans that would Vote yes if they could to be able to continue to see their favorite team play BOTH counties dropped the ball by not making this a Joint County Referendum.  Sure there would be some in Suffolk saying "Why should I pay for something in Nassau" but it was estimated that this referendum would only cost each property owning taxpayer $13.80 a year.  COuld you imagine cutting that in HALF?!  So what, $6.90 a year to keep a fabled franchise around??

Fucking Sold.

But i'm not surprised that this idea was never thought of considering the fact that not a single person has been thinking, save for Wang sometimes, since day 1 of all of this started.




So now i'm faced with the cruel reality that my favorite team may be no more in just a few short years - sure, they'll exist but not where they should be.  Not where they belong.  And to cheer for the newer version in Kansas City or even in Canada seems wrong and dirty, and frankly I won't do it.

Regardless of what happens tho, I'm proud of the Islanders and all they've meant to Long Island and to me as a fan, for so many years.  the memories of games with my family & friends, attending the Stanley Cup playoffs, my first in person Hat Trick, Glass Breaking, fight - all of it will eventually be demolished. But I'll remember it fondly, and with love.