Legislature Votes To Approve Sands Lease JANET BURNS

jburns@antonmediagroup.com

On Monday, May 22, following hours of public comment, the Nassau County Legislature voted to approve a lease contract between Las Vegas Sands and Nassau County for Sands’ use of lands surrounding the Nassau Hub for a casino and entertainment complex, pending Sands’ receipt of a casino license from the New York State Gaming Commission.

The vote, which was 17-1 in favor of approval, followed months of public campaigning both for and against the new casino. Of the Nassau Legislature’s 19-member body, only one member, Legislator Delia DeRiggiWhitton, voted not to approve the contact, which was signed earlier in May by County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Legislator Kevan Abrahams recused himself from the final vote.

During public testimony on Monday, speakers included local unions, community members, former congressional candidate Robert Zimmerman, and a Sands security honcho, who broke down how the casino would utilize former members of law enforcement, private security and ‘plainclothes’ guards, and widespread surveillance methods to keep the property itself safe from criminal activity.

Robert G. Goldstein, Sands chairman and chief executive officer, commented in a statement: “The approval granted today by the Nassau County legislature is an important step in our company’s efforts to secure a New York gaming license and ultimately develop a world-class hospitality, entertainment and gaming destination.”

Goldstein continued, “We thank County Executive Blakeman for his vision, leadership, dedication, and commitment to Nassau County residents and taxpayers. We appreciate and are greatly honored by the near-unanimous support that the lease transfer received today from the Nassau County legislature.”