Blakeman Tried to Ram Controversial Casino Development Down the Throats of Nassau County Residents.

The Lie:

County Executive Bruce Blakeman lied when he handed over the Coliseum site to Las Vegas Sands (LVS) and claimed the multi-billion dollar casino development would bring benefits to Nassau. 

Why You May Believe the Lie:

In April 2023, Blakeman announced his “historic agreement” with LVS to build the “number one entertainment facility in the U.S,” and promised to create 5,000 jobs. He then held numerous press conferences promising that LVS would “pump more than $100 million in revenues yearly into Nassau governments and school districts.” 

As the negative impacts of the proposed casino project surfaced and community opposition intensified, Blakeman doubled down on the casino, falsely accusing project opponents of colluding with the competition, while attempting to fast-track the project. 

The Truth:

Blakeman knew that a casino was controversial, but despite strong objections from the community, he refused to engage key stakeholders and the public in an authentic visioning process for Nassau’s most critical development site.

Instead, he entered into an irresponsible contract with LVS for a massive predatory casino in the heart of Nassau, near colleges, which would bring significant traffic, water and air impacts. 

• In doing so, he handed 72 acres over and importantly, the future decision-making of the coliseum site for 42 (yes, that’s 42) years to a third party from out of state that has now abandoned the project and has zero stake in the local community. 

On April 1, 2026, Legislator Scott Davis called for a ‘community first’ approach to replace the top down approach which has produced multiple failed proposals.

Action You Can Take:

• Share this post on your social media and email and discuss it with your friends.
• Contact Blakeman at nassaucountyny.gov/481/County-Executive, or call Blakeman at 516-571-6000 or 516-571-3131 – prompt 5, then “other”: 
  • Tell him to stop wasting taxpayer money on the illusion that a gaming license is still possible, and demand an inclusive visioning process that gains support from the communities most affected.  

Sources: 

• New York Post, “Roll the dice! Nassau leader Blakeman backs controversial Sands casino bid at Coliseum” By Carl Campanile, Published April 26, 2023
• Sands publication: Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Site on Long Island Company to Kick Off Community Collaboration Effort to Develop Bid, January 12, 2023  
• Press Release issued by the group, Say No To The Casino Civic Association, January 26, 2024, PRESS-RELEASE-Strong-casino-opposition-at-TOH-hearing
• LI Herald, columnist Scott Davis: Nassau Hub revival needs a community-first approach, by Legislator Scott Davis, published april 1, 2026