Hofstra University, located on New York’s Long Island, has filed a legal challenge against Nassau County for allegedly holding a discussion about the proposed $4 billion integrated casino resort proposed by Las Vegas Sands that violated the state’s open meetings laws. The Nassau Coliseum campus is being targeted by Sands for the casino project, but Hofstra University is against the idea of having a casino so close to its educational facility.
At a March 2nd meeting, the Nassau County Planning Commission considered the transfer of the Nassau Hub lease to Sands. The Hub is a 76-acre, county-owned property that encompasses the Nassau Coliseum. The New York Islanders have since left the Coliseum for the UBS Arena at Belmont Park in Elmont.
New York has three available casino licenses to be issued in the downstate region. Two are expected to go to Resorts World New York City in Queens and MGM Resorts’ Empire City Casino in Yonkers. With only one casino license left, interested developers have presented elaborate and expensive resort proposals to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board in order to gain approval.
Hofstra University is amongst those opposing the Sands effort to develop the Coliseum’s grounds. The school’s administrators believe that a casino will have an adverse effect on the area, and also claim that county officials have not adhered to open meetings laws. Hofstra’s lawsuit, filed in Nassau County’s Supreme Court, takes issue with the lack of public notice and the premature closure of the public comment period.
Nassau County’s Director of Communications, Christopher Boyle, stated that Hofstra should focus more on its students rather than litigation. However, the casino project has yet to be approved and the county legislature is the only local government body that can confirm the lease transfer. Additionally, the bidding pool is expected to include proposals from other major casino operators like Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, Mohegan, and Bally’s Corp.
Hofstra University has taken legal action against Nassau County for allegedly violating open meetings laws regarding the proposed $4 billion integrated casino resort proposed by Las Vegas Sands. The planning commission’s March 2nd meeting considered the transfer of the Nassau Hub lease to Sands, which Hofstra University is opposed to due to its proximity to the school’s campus.
New York has three casino licenses to be issued in the downstate region and there is speculation that only one will remain. Several developers have presented costly, elaborate resort plans to the New York Gaming Facility Location Board in hopes of gaining approval. In addition to their opinion that a casino will have a negative effect, Hofstra has accused the county of not properly notifying the public, prematurely closing the public comment period, and violating executive session rules.
However, the Sands project has yet to be approved and the Nassau County Legislature is the only local government body that can confirm the lease transfer. The bidding pool is also expected to include proposals from other major casino operators.
