Activists Accuse Nassau Casino Project of “Environmental Racism”

Las Vegas Sands’ plans for a downstate New York casino resort continue to attract animosity from locals amid a variety of concerns. Some have gone as far as accusing the casino and hospitality company of what they called “environmental racism.”

LVS Wants to Develop the Nassau Coliseum Site

LVS, for context, plans to develop the famous Nassau Coliseum into a multi-billion-dollar flagship hospitality, entertainment and casino project if the company secures one of the three downstate NY licenses. The resort is expected to offer cutting-edge gaming, a 5-star hotel, premium dining and relaxing entertainment options.

However, not everyone has been on board with the company’s casino project. Some were skeptical of the casino from the start and accused LVS and the local government of making agreements behind the scenes and not maintaining sufficient transparency. The New York State Supreme Court eventually agreed that the county and the operator had committed open meeting laws violations.

Say No To The Casino: Erecting the Property Would Be “Environmental Racism”

Since the beginning, Say No To The Casino, a civic group, has also spared no effort opposing the casino project. The organization is, among other things, concerned about the potentially disastrous effect the Nassau County casino project could have on the environment.

One of the primary concerns is the ongoing drinking water supply shortage, which could be dramatically worsened by the construction of a huge hotel.

In addition to that, Say No To The Casino is also concerned about the property’s location, implying that it could hurt local minority groups. The organization implied that a new casino would have not only environmental but also economic and social consequences that would be shouldered by the vulnerable minority communities.

According to Say No To The Casino, proceeding with the new property would be nothing less than “environmental racism.”

An Environmental Review Would Gauge the Casino’s Impact

The casino project is currently undergoing a review that would determine whether the resort would violate the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The ongoing review will temporarily block LVS from finalizing its acquisition of the Nassau Coliseum.

 This temporary block could potentially jeopardize LVS’s bid for a casino license, adding to the pressure faced by the company.

To top it all off, the results of the review could potentially expose issues that LVS would be forced to address if it hopes to be chosen for one of the licenses.

Luckily for LVS, the awarding of the licenses continues to be delayed, providing the casino company with ample time to address the issues.