Thor Needs To Get Out Of Coney Once And For All

It is now plain as the summer sunlight that Thor Equities and Joe Sitt is just another Fred Trump or Robert Moses; the foes in the Coney Island history. Joe Sitt has done nothing to prove wrong what everyone has said about him and his company. They they are mainly speculators out to rip off with Coney Island and its legend and charm.

After bulldozing thriving attractions and a theme park that could've still been left to function while the new Coney Island finally happens, Thor Equities has only made a shambles of everything they touch. As recent as a few days ago, they shut down their own amusement park; Dreamland, which was supposed to be the fill the void they left empty after carelessly evicting the long standing Astroland Amusement Park. Thor has made a mess of their empty lots from a hooky kiddie inflatable slide to a distressing flea market and they yearly short-lived makeshift carnivals that goes kaput before the season ends. Actually coming in late and leaving early.

And even though they could still reopen in a few days they have already displayed a lack of respect. A lack of business savvy doesn't seem to be at the crux of the problem here but a mere lack of respect with a sole interest in financial gain.

There is now a petition going on to boot them out as well as an angry 'Save Coney Island' coalition retort to the matter.

Save Coney Island writes:

“The closure of ‘Dreamland,’ Thor Equities’ half-hearted attempt at anamusement park, is only the latest installment in Thor's deliberatecampaign to blight Coney Island,” said Save Coney Island spokesman JuanRivero. “First, Thor senselessly drove out many of Coney Island’slong-established amusements — including the beloved Astroland amusementpark — now Thor is even shutting down the amusements that they themselvesbrought in.”

So, sign the petition, make your comments heard on the Internet, and pressure the city to give Thor Equities its 'Get out of Coney card'.

The City's Claws Could Swipe Your Hot Dog

Image by ConeyHOP

The passing of the Mayor's Coney rezoning and revitization plan which carries a major flaw; one that would shrink the amusment area by shadowing it with useless highrises is also a big threat for an iconic structure in Coney Island: Nathan's Famous!

Fortunately, forces are underway to stop the city's claws from eradicating Nathan's as we've known it.

The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported:

Two separate petitions have started on PetitionSpot.com that are aiming to protect the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Stand building in Coney Island.

The hot dog stand, on the corner of Surf and Stillwell avenues, is the very first of the national chain’s outlets, founded by Nathan Handwerker in 1916. It is also the most iconic of the amusement area’s many food merchants, each year hosting the Coney Island Hot Dog Eating Contest.

The building would be torn down to make way for one of several high-rises planned for the neighborhood. Dick Zigun, representing Coney Island USA, an arts center, has said, “We are in favor of the amusements and the housing but we think there should be more room for more rides and less room for hotels. And the demolition of Nathan’s? No way.”

Here is the online petition started by Funtime3 to save Nathan's Famous. We urge you to go and sign it now. At the moment it's at 251 supporters with a goal of 50,000. There are apparently a few petitions for Nathan's at Petitionspot.com, search their site and find the one you like.