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Fair Mangano criticizes proposed tax break, but Superblock developer says it’s all 'politics'
iStar faces strong opposition, but has support of unions
Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano voiced his opposition to a 20-year, $109 million tax break a developer is seeking to build two luxury apartment buildings on the Superblock, just days before the Nassau County Industrial Development Agency held a public hearing last week to gather community input.
“I am opposed to the extent of the current tax benefit package, and urge the parties to meet with the community and City Council to determine what is in the best interest of Long Beach’s economic growth along the boardwalk,” Mangano said in a statement.
The developer, iStar Inc., is seeking approval for a payment in lieu of taxes, or PILOT, program.
Nassau County Legislator Denise Ford (R-Long Beach) has also voiced her opposition to the project, as have a number of civic groups, and hundreds of residents attended Wednesday’s hearing to call on the IDA to reject the application. A Change.org petition against the PILOT that was recently launched by the local community group Project 11561 has already gathered more than 800 signatures.
“iStar doesn’t seem to be grasping why residents are opposed to a $109 million PILOT,” said John Bendo, president of the West End Neighbors Civic Association. “They seem to think that because they are paying something, albeit 75 percent less than they should pay in taxes, we should be OK with it. While they’re trying to use the tax break to ensure themselves an adequate profit margin, they seem to be dismissive of the residents’ point that they pay their full taxes, and so should iStar.”
Meanwhile, former U.S. Sen. Al D’Amato, one of the most vocal opponents of the PILOT request, claimed in a Feb. 12 letter to IDA Executive Director Joseph Kearney that 70 percent of any tax abatement would be at the expense of the Long Beach School District and not the city.
