Serving The Willistons, Albertson, Herricks, Mineola, Roslyn Heights, and Searingtown
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Friday, December 22, 2017
Vol. 66, No. 51
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NEW YEARâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DINING GUIDE
PHILLIPS PRESSED ON SEXUAL ASSAULT BILL
COUNTY LEGISLATURE OKs INDEPENDENT I.G.
PAGES 29-36, 45-52
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PAGE 60
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N.Y. Islanders score big with Belmont arena Cuomo announces return of Long Islandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hockey team from Brooklyn BY R E B ECC A K L A R When the New York Islanders left Nassau County, they left a hole in the heart of Long Island, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday. Cuomo then announced that the hole in the heart of Long Island was being ďŹ xed â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the hockey team would be coming home by building a new arena at Belmont Park. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When they left and went to Brooklyn, Long Island lost something,â&#x20AC;? Cuomo said at a press conference Wednesday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because it was so much part of the identity and the culture of Long Island.â&#x20AC;? The Islanders, partnered with Sterling Development and Oak View Group, plan to create a 18,000-seat arena, a multipurpose event center, a retail center and a hotel. The Islanders beat out the New York City Football Club, partnered with The Related Companies, to build on the Belmont land. The proposals were in response to an Empire State Development
Corp. request for proposal to build on 43-acres of state owned land currently used for parking spaces at Belmont Park. Cuomo said â&#x20AC;&#x153;today is a win win win.â&#x20AC;? Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win for the fans, because Belmont is easier to get to than Barclays center, he said. It was also announced that the LIRR will have service to Belmont all year round when the arena opens. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win for the team, he said, because it will increase attendance and passion. And, he said, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a win for the community because the â&#x20AC;&#x153;big economic development initiative is going to utilize this great asset that has been underutilized for years now.â&#x20AC;? But not all residents agree. While many Islanders fans are happy to see the team return to Nassau, other residents are not pleased with the chosen project. During the Tuesday night Floral Continued on Page 61
PHOTO BY REBECCA KLAR
Call for law
Kathyrn Robb shares her story of sexual abuse as a child growing up in Manhasset during a press conference on Monday outside state Sen. Elaine Phillips office.
$1.8B awarded for MTA 3rd track project BY R E B ECC A K L A R The MTA board approved a design for construction and awarded a $1.813 billion contract to 3rd Track Constructors last Wednesday.
The group is a consortium of ďŹ rms including Dragados USA Inc., John P. Picone Inc., CCA Civil Inc., and Halmar International LLC. The decision comes after a three-month long selection pro-
cess, according to a MTA release. The project will create a third track and eliminate several street-level grade crossings across the LIRR Main Line between Floral Park and Hicksville. Continued on Page 69
For the latest news visit us at www.theislandnow.com D onâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to follow us on Twitter @Theislandnow and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow