Las Vegas Sands Could Find Approval for NY Property but With No Casino

Article by : Erik Gibbs Jun 21, 2024

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A public hearing convened by the County Planning Commission on Thursday focused on a new 42-year lease proposal for the Nassau Hub location, marking the latest effort to reinvigorate the Sands casino project. The proposal, introduced by the hotel corporation Sands, seeks to permit the company to operate, occupy, and control the Nassau Coliseum site.

Significantly, this new lease does not include authorization to build a casino, which differs from the original 99-year lease, which had provisions for such a development.

Members of the community, notably George Krug, a representative of the advocacy group Say No to the Casino, voiced opposition at the hearing. Krug argued that the lease is a strategic maneuver by Sands to secure long-term control over the site, with the ultimate aim of obtaining a gaming license from the state in the future.

He expressed concerns that once Sands gains control, it would maintain its hold on the property indefinitely, only relinquishing it at its discretion. Lynn Krug, George’s wife, also spoke against the lease, criticizing the casino project as inappropriate for the Nassau Coliseum site.

The concerns raised during the hearing were not limited to the potential for a future casino. George Krug highlighted the financial risks the project could pose to the community, pointing out the lack of an economic impact analysis for the proposed casino.

He questioned the potential benefits of the project for the residents of Nassau County and Long Island, suggesting that the economic promises of such developments are often overstated or fail to materialize. Lynn Krug called on the Planning Commission to reject the lease, urging them to exhibit vision and political courage by deeming the project unsuitable for the location.

The hearing underscored a significant divide between proponents of the lease and local residents who oppose it, reflecting broader community concerns about the potential long-term implications of Sands’ control over the Nassau Coliseum site.

Despite the intense opposition, representatives from Las Vegas Sands did not provide any comments during Thursday’s public hearing.

The next steps in the process include a scheduled meeting between the Planning Commission and a park advisory committee next month. Following this meeting, the Planning Commission will offer its recommendation to the legislature, which will play a crucial role in determining the future of the lease proposal and the Nassau Coliseum site.