Readers Write: Cuomo’s questionable budget figures for Belmont LIRR station

The Island Now

Gov. Cuomo claims that it will only cost $105 million to pay for a new full-time Elmont LIRR station between Bellrose and Queens Village on the Main Line and for the upgrades to the part time Belmont Park Arena events Station. 

“Belmont Arena Developers Move Comment Deadline” (Tom McCarthy – July 26). How did he come up with this number?  How will the developers $97 million share be transferred into the current MTA 2015-2019 or future 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan for LIRR to access these funds?   

A reliable cost estimate takes more than just a press release with station renderings that were probably prepared by Empire State Development Corporation project consultant.  

Costs will be further refined as the project progresses through completion of the environmental review process, preliminary and final design, award of construction contracts followed by change orders to the base contracts during construction, due to last-minute changes in scope or unforeseen site conditions.

Cuomo offered no detailed project budget, procurement strategy, force account plan, track outage plan and schedule to validate both the $105 million cost and project completion to coincide with the Islanders Belmont Arena opening 27 months away. 

If  Cuomo, Empire State Development Corporation, MTA, LIRR, elected officials, consultants and their respective employees are so confident in the $106 million price tag, let them put up their respective retirement pensions, 401Ks and mortgage their homes as collateral. They can cover any inevitable future cost overruns.

In ancient Rome, government attempted to curry favor with the masses by offering free bread and circuses.  Today, we have sports pork.  How sad that taxpayers are continually asked to pay for new stadiums.

Public dollars are being used as corporate welfare to subsidize a private-sector business. The only real beneficiaries of these expenditures are team owners and their players, who earn far more than the average fan.

It is impossible to judge the amount of new economic activities that these so-called public benefits will generate.

Between selling the stadium name, season skyboxes and reserve seating, cable, television and radio revenues, concession refreshment and souvenir sales along with rental income for other sports, rock concerts and commercial events, it is hard to believe that the Islanders Hockey Team owner and Belmont Park developers can’t finance the proposed new stadium on their own.   

Professional sports are not an essential service and should not qualify for government subsidy. Scarce taxpayer funds would be better spent elsewhere.

If this is going to be such a great financial deal, why don’t team owners float their own bonds or issue stock to finance the Belmont Park stadium rather than turn to taxpayers and government for support? Go obtain loans from banks, like medium and small businesses.

Real business people believe in capitalism and build companies on their own. How sad that some don’t want to do it the old fashion way by sweat and hard work. 

They are looking for shortcuts in the form of subsidies at taxpayers expense and favors from elected officials. What is the cost of improved sewer, water, electrical, road, traffic signal and other infrastructure improvements?  There is also increased fire, police and sanitation services.  How much will taxpayers be on the hook to pick up the tab?

The Belmont Park arena project promises all sorts of service options which are already available. Do we really need another “retail village” with various stores and boutiques?  They also propose to offer new dining options, sports bars and restaurants. 

Next, there will be conference centers and meeting rooms along with movie theaters and concert facilities.  All of these so-called benefits would just compete against existing shopping malls, upscale stores, restaurants, sports bars and end up stealing some of their customers. 

There are already plenty of hotels and colleges which offer conference centers.  The same is true for movie theaters and smaller more intimate concert facilities.

Since there are less than 60 Islanders home games, the facility will have to be leased out for another 100 events to turn a profit.  Why would any rock band appear there, when they can go to Jones Beach Theater, Westbury Music Fair, Nassau Coliseum, Shea Stadium, Arthur Ash Stadium, Forest Hills Stadium.

Madison Square Garden, Barclay Arena or Radio City Music Hall?  The same is true for World Wrestling Federation, circuses, college sports or other events requiring space for several thousand participants.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

(Larry Penner is a transportation historian, writer and advocate who previously worked 31 years for the United States Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration Region 2 New York Office. 

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