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Opposition mounts against Las Vegas Sands’ plan to develop a casino hotel at Nassau Coliseum, with locals citing concerns over environmental damage and community impact.
In compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA), the Sands New York Integrated Resort project must prepare an Environmental Impact Statement. It will identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential environmental impacts, ensuring a comprehensive and transparent review process.
John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, expressed his delight in Nassau County commencing the environmental impact study, as it will tell the fate of the casino in due time.
In a Newsday article, Durso said: “We’re an island. We have no choice; we have to be concerned about our environment.
And I am absolutely thrilled about this process because it will put to bed all the rumors the misconceptions, and tell people exactly what the facts are. And that, I think, goes a long way to moving the process forward.”
Key takeaways
- Nassau County officials have begun an environmental impact study for the proposed Sands-operated casino at Nassau Coliseum.
- Anti-casino groups claim that the project’s environmental risks are irreversible and would worsen existing problems.
- A fast-tracked review is crucial for the casino project’s viability, as it will determine LVS’s eligibility to bid on downstate casino permits.
Anti-casino group slams project’s environmental hazards
The Nassau County residents had their say this week on the potential environmental consequences, expressing concerns about:
- Air pollution
- Traffic volume
- Energy usage
- Visitor capacity at the Nassau Hub
- Water quality
- Public health
- Problem Gambling
According to a recent study, climate change and over-pumping threaten Long Island’s drinking water supply. An anti-casino group argued that building a large New York casino hotel would worsen these problems.
“The abounding harmful impacts of this massive casino are clearly unmitigable and should have informed any decisions on land control.
The SEQRA process should not only have been completed prior to entering into any lease with Las Vegas Sands but also should have included the impacts of the $4B NYU Langone proposal at Nassau Community College,” an anti-casino group said.
Another reservation brought to light by residents is the fact that the casino will lead to a traffic jam all through the week.
“Operating hours for a casino are typically 24 hours, seven days a week, which would increase vehicle traffic by 35,000 to 40,000 vehicles per day. This project would also check the boxes for other environmental issues: light pollution and noise pollution,” Uniondale resident Pearl Jacobs said.
Why a fast-tracked review is essential for the casino project’s viability
A fast completion of the review is essential for two critical reasons. Firstly, LVS’s eligibility to bid on the downstate casino permits hinges on the review’s timely completion.
Secondly, identifying potential issues and vulnerabilities through the review enables the county and Sands (NYSE: LVS) to address them promptly, but only if they can finish quickly.
While we await the results, in a scathing rebuke, a local community group has denounced politicians backing the casino project.
“We find it ironic that the same politicians who claim to want to ‘Save Our Suburbs’ are among the loudest voices in favor of forcing the country’s second-largest casino and the boundless long-term negative environmental, economic, and social consequences into our community.
The brunt of the impact would be shouldered by the vulnerable minority communities that surround the HUB,” the group said.
