Hofstra president Susan Poser exposes Sands casino as a bad bet and urges local lawmakers to abolish it

The president of Hofstra University is urging Long Island lawmakers to call off the plan. Las Vegas Sands CorporationPlace a casino in . Nassau Coliseum Near its campus — claiming it’s going to be more trouble than it’s worth.

Hofstra leader Susan Poser said in a draft testimony obtained by The Washington Post, “The casino proposed by Las Vegas Sands runs directly against the interests of local residents and creates danger, not profit. right.

In a scathing 13-page testimony to be presented to Nassau County lawmakers who will vote on the plan on Monday, Poser said the Hempstead Turnpike casino in Uniondale’s Nassau hub took business away from local merchants, He said it would create unmanageable problems while hurting disadvantaged minority communities.

She also questioned the integrity of Las Vegas Sands as it seeks to shift its focus overseas to Asia and revive its presence in the United States.

Opened in 1935, Hofstra is Long Island’s premier private university.

“The Nassau hub is not the right location for a casino development for many reasons,” she said. “I urge Congress to vote against the proposed grant of this lease to Las Vegas Sands because it poses serious dangers and hazards to our community, including gambling addiction, crime, traffic congestion and pollution.” she said.

She also accused Las Vegas Sands of being “motivated by short-term profit” for shareholders, not Long Islander’s.

“For Las Vegas Sands, we are just another bet placed on the gambling table,” Poser said. Most of them are Nassau County repeaters.”

Poser called for Sands to exit the U.S. market and even sell its Las Vegas casino to focus on its Asian assets.

“Studies have shown that students are particularly prone to gambling addiction, as the area surrounding the Nassau hub has a dense student population,” she said. “We’re talking more than 32,000 students at Hofstra University, Nassau Community College, and Kellenberg Memorial High School, all literally across the street from the Nassau hub. added, and eventually there are about 60,000 students within a six-mile radius.”

Poser continued, “Nassau County should not have gambling centers in places that are particularly teeming with young people prone to such risky behavior. , consider the risks to young people posed by locating casinos near many other schools with preschool through high school students.”

She also pointed out that, if approved by state regulators, the proposed casino would be located near Uniondale, Hempstead and Roosevelt.

Citing research, Poser said casinos attract crime and illegal drugs, and also noted a spike in illegal activity outside Jakes’ 58-slot parlor in Islandia, Suffolk County.

However, no analysis has been done of how the casino will affect traffic and water supply on the already congested Hempstead Turnpike, she argued, adding that the long-term economic benefits for the casino will also be affected. questioned.

Poser said other uses would be desirable, such as a technology and life sciences hub that could partner with Hofstra and Nassau Community College.

“When it comes to casinos, the evidence from the experience of others suggests that there may be short-term financial gains, but long-term opportunities for casinos to shift revenue away from the existing businesses they serve us. Areas like the Islands have shown that the benefits outweigh the long-term communities,” Poser said.

She also claimed that most gamblers who headed there would be from nearby Long Island communities.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Last month, we approved the Sands plan for the Nassau Coliseum site. The county owns the land around the Nassau Coliseum and he has announced his 99-year lease with the Sands.

On Sunday, he hit back at Poser’s criticism.

“Hofstra certainly has a say, but it’s not true to say crime is an issue,” he said in a statement to the Post. We’re going to hire over 200 private security guards.This is not a 1970s casino on the Strip, it’s a luxury entertainment site.”

Sands says it has its own list of organizations that help Nassau casinos.

Asked about Hofstra’s criticism, Sands responded Sunday in its own list of organizations that back Nassau casinos.

“As this process progresses, we have received tremendous support from surrounding communities and Long Island-wide organizations such as Nassau Community College, Long Island University, the NAACP New York State Conference, organized workers leaders, and local and regional chambers. Chambers of Commerce included the Uniondale Chamber of Commerce, the Long Island African American and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and numerous nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and others. It includes numerous chambers of commerce,” said a Sands spokesperson.

Sans’ plan is just a dice roll with no objections.

State regulators would have to give Las Vegas Sands a license to operate.

The state is expected to approve three casino licenses, with most of the revenue coming from license fees, as well as revenue to support the funding of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

But opposition has been built against casinos elsewhere.Brooklyn’s Community Commission 13 recently approved a non-binding resolution Against the establishment of casinos Along the boardwalk on Coney Island. Many Manhattanites don’t want a casino in or around their neighborhood.

Other gaming operators are vying for one of three downstate casino licenses.

Game giant Bally’s bet on the bronx — Proposing a casino at the Trump Organization’s public golf course at Ferry Point.

the owner of Existing slot parlor Ozone Park’s Aqueduct Racecourse, Queens and Yonkers Racecourse — Genting/Resorts World and MGM’s Empire City — will submit bids to expand their offerings to include table games.

in the meantime, Mets owner Cohen We are eyeing a casino near the team’s stadium in Flushing, which we may partner with. seminole hard rockA 25,000-seat professional football stadium is also planned nearby.

Other companies planning to bid to operate the casino include the Steve Ross Affiliates/Wynn Resorts partnership for Hudson YardsLandlord SL Green / Caesars Entertainment Team in Times Square.