The Final Straw

The title of this blog was suppose to be “On the Road Again” but considering yesterday’s events the topic has changed a bit.

Yesterday, I was in a pretty bad accident in Long Beach on my way home from covering an event. Everyone is okay, but both cars are most likely totaled. I won’t go into the details of the accident because it’s not really necessary and I definitely don’t need a lawsuit on my hands.

The accident came after an entire day of dodging bad drivers. There was the woman who cut me off to make an illegal right turn, the idiot from Jersey who used a highway on/off ramp as an acceleration lane to pass people on the highway and the douchbag Nassau Community College student who also sped up when he saw me changing lanes.

Famous last words to a couple of coworkers was, “I really feel that at some point before I leave this place, I will get into an accident.” I didn’t actually expect yesterday would be the day. I’ve been doing the commute for almost two years now, putting about 60,000 miles on my car so the chances I would have left NY unscathed were slim to none.

My fault, her fault, no matter. Yesterday’s accident was the final straw dealing with driving in NY.

I’m tired of being tailgated and watching people blow red lights. I’m tired of people speeding up when they see me changing lanes and not move out of the way for a fire truck on a call. I’m tired of people speeding down residential streets and honking when you don’t race off the line when a light turns green.

In March Chuck and I planned on heading down to North Carolina again for a job fair geared toward people who have degrees but lack a teaching certificate. We would only be there for two days, but we looked forward to a chance to speak with district administrators about our futures in North Carolina. There, Chuck could say, “I drove 12 hours to be in Raleigh for two days and to speak to you before driving 12 hours home. I am serious about making a move.”

With a natural desire to hire one of your own, it is very hard to be considered for jobs from another state. Especially a state that has been exporting North Carolina residents for years now. The fair was a chance to prove how serious we were about moving down.

Chuck said we are still heading to this fair next month, but I’d be lying if my current situation isn’t a blow to our plans and my confidence.

It does, however, enforce the goal to move as soon as we can to a place that is far away from the Long Island lifestyle.

Where tumble weeds grow

About two years ago I attended a New York Islanders – Pittsburgh Penguins game. Dynasty era coach, Al Arbour, was back on the bench for one more game. The Nassau Coliseum was packed. It was a hell of a game and every time the crowd got riled up the building shook adding to the passion and fire the fans and the players felt that day.

Me and my friend Christine pregame at Champions in the Marriot before heading over to the Coliseum.

That feeling of a crumbling Coliseum is something I love about that old battered building. It just seems to add something to being a spectator. I’ve sat behind the glass and against the back wall and no matter where you are, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Okay…I take that back. Sitting behind the camera crew blows and I recommend heading up a couple of rows if possible.

Compared to the arenas of our rival teams, the New York Rangers (Madison Square Garden) and New Jersey Devils (the Prudential Center), the Coliseum looks sad and pathetic. But, unless you’re one of those corporate a-holes that attend Rangers games, forget getting a good cheap seat at MSG (I’m convinced this is why D-bag Rangers fans come to Islanders games. They can’t afford tickets and train fare to MSG so they just come to the Coliseum and start fights).

The Devils have a great home at The Rock, which was built relatively recently. The sight lines are great as we had awesome seats even though our noses were bleeding. I don’t know if it was the crowd or the arena, but the place was quiet. Maybe I can blame it on the Islanders shut out and some pissed off Devils fans, but it was eerie how quiet the arena felt compared to the Coliseum.

I’ll admit, I can’t remember the last Islanders game I was at that warranted any type exuberance and I think that November 2007 game was the last time I recall the Coliseum being full at all. Frustrated fans are staying home instead of paying high prices for a night of disappointment. If I want to be depressed I can do it at home, on my couch with a cheap beer in my hand.

I think the fact that DP is actually in net proves how old this photo is.

The Lighthouse Project is also a depressing story that I think shows the sheer incompetence of Long Island politicians.

I agree with those that say the project is too big. Anyone that drives on Hempstead Turnpike knows that the road is a nightmare even on a good day. Add more commercial and residential property and you have a nonstop traffic jam. Route 24 might as well be a parking lot since those will be nonexistent.

Ready to pay $20 to park near the arena, like at The Rock, or possible a couple of bucks to wait for a trolley to drive you over from the office buildings across the street? The Coliseum is the only place in Nassau with ample parking and personally, I like leaving my car at the Marriot for free, grabbing a bite to eat and walking over to the game.

Too worried about holding on to power, the Town of Hempstead has kept this project tangled in red tape for longer than I’ve been a hockey fan. Unfortunately, the people that are ultimately affected by the project are the ones casting ballots and the people that really want it done have no say.

Now the Town talks about picking up the ball and getting it rolling to finally get something done about the desolate area. It was only after Islanders owner Charles Wang all but dropped the project and the media frenzy that followed that the Town said, “Well let’s get moving on something because it’s important for Long Island.”

How do Long Island politicians think they can attract new businesses if they’re going to be put through the wringer before anything is even built? “Well, we’d love to look at Long Island, but who wants to deal with those people?”

It’s this kind of bullshit that keeps Long Island from progressing and the N.Y. Islanders and us islanders will suffer.

Some links for your reading pleasure:

Not that I want to send anyone to Newsday’s crappy-ass site:

NHL Commish Slams Hempstead Over Lighthouse Project

These were published in the East Meadow Herald:

Town OKs plan for ‘scaled-down’ development

Issues galore for the town of Hempstead to tackle

Exploring other options

Still room for ‘Smart Growth’

Prediction: Boomers Stay Put, Gen Y Keeps Renting

Thanks AOL Real Estate for this quick study:

Prediction: Boomers Stay Put, Gen Y Keeps Renting.

In my personal experience, my friends who are married have either bought a home or are on course to purchase. Single Gen Yers have continued to rent.

While I am one of the many that are seeking a cheaper cost of living, I also know many that wish to continue living in the area that they currently reside. Friends that have already moved from their hometowns seem more willing to relocate, but few seem to consider leaving the tri-state area at this time.