Hofstra University is suing Nassau County over the Las Vegas Sands proposal to build a casino at the site of Nassau Coliseum, which is in Uniondale, across the street from the university’s Long Island campus.
The lawsuit alleges a “lack of transparency” surrounding the casino plan, noting that the county’s Planning Commission held discussions with Las Vegas Sands concerning the $4 billion integrated resort project in violation of New York state’ open meetings law.
The university contends the planning commission failed to provide the public with proper notice, and denied the public the right to attend its “work sessions” while scheduling meetings to benefit Las Vegas Sands.
“It’s serious because this is an enormous tract of public land that they are considering essentially transferring to a private multinational casino company,” said Hofstra President Susan Poser, according to ABC 7 New York. “That’s of huge interest to the public whether they are for it or against it.”
The lawsuit is the latest effort in Hofstra’s battle against the casino proposal. In March, the university’s Board of Trustees published an open letter opposing the project on the basis that 40,000 students ranging from preschool to graduate-level attend school in the area immediately surrounding the site of Nassau Coliseum.
County officials quickly dismissed the lawsuit. “Hofstra University would be better off spending their students’ tuition on education rather than frivolous lawsuits,” Nassau County said in a statement.
