Nassau Legislature OKs Sands lease for casino

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“The overwhelming bipartisan approval of lease terms with the Sands by the county Legislature afrms that Nassau County has made the right decision,” Blakeman said in a statement. “This is the frst hurdle overcome to provide a world-class entertainment center with a luxury spa and hotel, creating thousands of jobs and economic prosperity for Nassau County. I am very pleased with the vote.”.

The county, Blakeman said, will receive $54 million from Sands, whether or not the project is constructed or not. Lease amendments made on Monday night include an additional $10 million for Uniondale and East Meadow and an extra $5 million from the Town of Hempstead.

The next steps for Sands include obtaining a gaming license from the state’s licensing board, receiving zoning approvals from the Town of Hempstead, backing from community groups and environmental impact studies.

The Sands proposal has caught the ire of some residents, including the non-partisan “Say No to the Casino Civic Association.” The group, in a statement, expressed disappointment in the Legislature’s vote on the lease agreement but said the fght to prevent a casino from coming to Nassau County is not over.

“Tonight’s vote is only the frst step in the casino siting process. It is not a fait accompli,” according to the statement. “As the process moves forward, we are confdent that community opposition from our group and others will be successful in preventing the Las Vegas Sands from building a casino at the heart of our county.”

The group held a rally outside the legisla- tive building Sunday to urge legislators to vote against the proposal.

Goldstein said the Sands team will look forward to working with all community stakeholders to develop a project benefcial to the community.

“We have held over 300 community meetings and are proud of the widespread coalition we have built with our new neighbors across Long Island,” Goldstein said. “We are grateful for the trust they have placed in us and look forward to continuing to collaborate with the community.”