After Las Vegas Sands introduced a $4 billion redevelopment of the in Nassau County, the on line casino and leisure company has been working to obtain one of many 4 obtainable licenses for a on line casino improvement in downstate New York. On the identical time, Sands’ competitor Exhausting Rock Worldwide has partnered with Steve Cohen, the proprietor of the enduring Mets, to suggest an $8 billion on line casino improvement across the Mets’ Citi Subject Stadium in Queens in an try to win a downstate on line casino license.
Sands On line casino Proposal Dealing with Opposition from Hofstra College:
The proposed developments compete for a single downstate license within the neighboring counties subsequently it’s extremely possible that one of many two license candidates can be thought of redundant by the state licensing authorities. As well as, the Sands, seeking to overhaul the previous residence of the New York Islanders hockey workforce in Uniondale on the Nassau Hub, have obtained assist from native establishments like Lengthy Island College and Nassau Group Faculties, however wrestle with opposition primarily coming from the Hofstra College.
As Herald experiences, Hofstra president Susan Poser argues that the Uniondale on line casino venture would improve crime charge, playing addictions, and visitors on the Nassau Hub. Then again, Poser reportedly fears that the venture would have an effect on the air high quality and the general high quality of life within the higher Uniondale group. In line with the supply, such an perspective has incited a battle between the Nassau County and Hofstra College officers.
Conspiracy Allegations:
The identical supply experiences that the battle appears to be heating up as County Government Bruce Blakeman is allegedly accusing Hofstra president Susan Poser of colluding with a competing on line casino to undermine Las Vegas Sands’ improvement of the Nassau Colliseum within the Hub. As reported by Herald, Blakeman used a press convention held on January 17, 2024 to point out the reporters an allegedly compromising e-mail for Susan Poser. As reported, Poser was allegedly among the many recipients of an e-mail despatched by Michael McKeon, who was reportedly described as a lobbyist for Exhausting Rock Cafe Worldwide.
Different recipients have been Sean Caffery, Exhausting Rock senior vice chairman, and Michael Sullivan, allegedly related with the Exhausting Rock Worldwide accomplice Steven Cohen, as Herald experiences. Blakeman reportedly alleges that McKeon despatched a hyperlink to a information story in his e-mail to Caffery and Sullivan allegedly explaining that it “speaks to Sands’ efforts to manage the location.” McKeon allegedly provides that he can be “checking with Hofstra to see if they may oppose this transfer,” as Herald experiences.
Nassau County Claiming Hofstra and Exhausting Rock’s Collaboration:
Herald additionally experiences: ”Blakeman believes that this e-mail is proof of Hofstra College and Exhausting Rock working collectively to hinder plans by Sands and the county for Uniondale, and as an alternative open the door to another on line casino as a part of a proposed $8 billion venture by Exhausting Rock and Cohen to construct a on line casino close to Citi Subject in Queens, the place the Mets play.” Blakeman reportedly commented: “I consider that is proof of improper habits, and I’m very troubled by this. If they’re towards all the issues they declare to be towards — and all the issues they’d — they definitely weren’t involved about college students in Queens.”
In line with the supply, the Nassau County Planning Fee authorised the land lease settlement with the Sands in April 2023. Hofstra, led by Poser, filed a lawsuit the identical month and a New York State Supreme Courtroom Decide dominated in November 2023 that the Nassau county violated state legal guidelines when closing the lease settlement. As reported, the county has filed a collection of appeals and the Nassau laws might possible should repeat the method.
A college spokeswoman informed the supply: “Hofstra will reply to the Nassau County Legislature’s subpoena in compliance with relevant legislation. Hofstra, as a member of this group since 1935, opposes the on line casino siting on the Nassau Hub for a number of causes which were made clear in our public statements and courtroom filings. This subpoena is simply one other spurious try to distract and impede a good and open course of relating to this switch of Nassau County land.”
Exhausting Rock Denies Involvement:
Commenting on the Blakeman’s allegations, Exhausting Rock Worldwide reportedly acknowledged: “Exhausting Rock has not had any communication by any means with Hofstra College or its president associated to Nassau. We’re dedicated to integrity, honesty and transparency within the (request for software) course of for a downstate license in New York, and won’t waver from that place. We made this clear to all of our distributors and companions, and won’t tolerate any habits that might counter that place.”
Poser is reportedly scheduled to seem earlier than county management on January 22, 2024.
