North Hempstead residents asked the town board Tuesday night to oppose the proposed Las Vegas Sands casino citing concerns over increased crime and gambling addictions in the area.
Also during the meeting, the town board passed two resolutions declaring May Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
“Don’t unleash this epidemic on Nassau County, our community or our youth when you have this information in advance,” said resident Kim Riordan. “Those who turn a blind eye to this trainwreck waiting to happen will never be forgotten.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman announced last week a lease agreement between the county and Las Vegas Sands to develop a casino and entertainment resort at the Nassau Hub, which includes the Coliseum and a surrounding 72-acre site.
The agreement is subject to approval by the county Legislature.
Riordan cited a March Newsweek article that lists “gambling disorder” in the same category as heroin and opioid addictions, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistic Manual.
Riordan was joined by Alison O’Brien Silva, Vasu Krishnamurthy and Scott Carroll, members of the Say No to the Casino Civic Association, a group of community members across the county united in opposition against the casino.
Silva said the board may not have voting rights on the Hempstead-based issue but have powerful voices to help stop the issue. In 2015, then-Supervisor Judy Bosworth sent a letter to the Nassau Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation alongside members of the town board and Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray to halt plans on a video gambling parlor at the vacant Fortunoff building at The Source mall in Westbury
Before the proposal was pulled, the Village of Westbury and two towns filed a lawsuit against the corporation to stop the purchase of the former Fortunoff site.
“Let’s blow away the smoke and mirrors, the revenue Blakeman is celebrating is nothing more than a regressive tax squeezed like a wet rag from the most vulnerable among us,” Silva said.
When the casino opens, Blakeman said, Nassau is guaranteed $25 million in revenue with escalation costs. That figure increases to $50 million a year with escalation costs once the operation has been running for three years.
Aside from the $54 million payment to the county, Blakeman said, Sands will also pay $5 million in recurring rent until the gaming license is obtained, at which time the recurring rent will increase to $10 million annually.
DeSena, who did not say whether or not she supported the proposal, agreed with the women’s points that the recent influx in online gambling has had a negative effect on young adults and urged them also bring their concerns to the state level. She also said she would meet with Silva on the matter, as Silva requested.
In unrelated town news, the town board authorized the creation of a dog run at Roslyn Road and Lee Avenue Park, located in both East Williston and Mineola, once funding has been secured.
The project, organized by girl scout Bree Janicek, is working on her gold award in honor of her friend, Anthony Leva Jr., of East Williston, who died from cancer in 2021 and originally had a goal of establishing a dog run for his eagle project.
