Nassau Hub Development: Pros & "Cons"
- Thomas Tittmann
- Jun 10
- 5 min read
Our Town and County political leaders continue to try to exercise their will instead of the will of the people they serve.
FIRST: Please review this post's comparison between the harms that will come from their support of a gambling casino at the Nassau Hub and the benefits that can develop from choosing to go with plans like that of Long Island's Sierra Club.
NEXT: Send each of our politicians an email with what YOU want to see done with this important piece of Long Island real estate.
Town of Hempstead Officials
Supervisor Don Clavin- donclavin@tohmail.org
Deputy Supervisor Dorothy Goosby- Dorogoo@hempsteadny.gov
Councilwoman Laura Ryder- lryder@hempsteadny.gov
Nassau County Officials
County Executive Bruce Blakeman: Use this form
--It will also help you determine your legislative district.
Say NO! to:
"No Slots at The Coliseum!”
“Slots & Students Don’t Mix!”
“Save Our Suburbs…from Gambling Addiction!”
Say YES! to:
LIVE
LEARN
PLAY
EARN
Let a casino grow in Brooklyn…Nassau is choosing to grow trees, degrees, & home keys…
"CONS"
Dear Say NO to the Casino Supporters:
FINAL REMINDER
The Town of Hempstead is still pushing to legalize gambling at the Coliseum property. This would make a "slots only" casino a reality here in Nassau County. Legalizing gambling at the Nassau Hub seals the fate of this valuable property, and will mean that any future development there will be dominated by gambling.
We need YOU to attend the public hearing TOMORROW - Tuesday, June 10th at 10:30 AM at Village Hall - 1 Washington Street in Hempstead. We will provide you with a sign to display and, if you are comfortable, please consider speaking at the hearing.
Some talking points:
Rezoning to Allow Gambling is Not Necessary to Revitalize the Hub - The Hub can become an entertainment center without having gambling. It is wrong to provide blanket approval for gambling.
Location - The location too close to schools including NCC, Hofstra and Kellenberg Catholic High School - tens of thousands of students.
Crime - In counties with casinos, 9% of the total crime is due to gambling according to the FBI - human trafficking, drug trafficking, DWIs, etc.
Air pollution - Several disadvantaged communities surrounding the Nassau Hub have been designated by the NYS DEC as already overburdened from the impacts of air pollution.
Traffic - Placing a casino in a densely populated community with no mass transit is unprecedented and dangerous. Our highways are already clogged with too much traffic.
Water - Long Island’s aquifers are already struggling to meet demand and our water bills are going up. Let’s not waste our precious resources on a massive casino operating 24/7 with thousands of visitors daily - this could lead to serious water shortages.
Addiction - We have a growing gambling addiction problem in our country due to existing casinos, lotteries and most recently, the explosion of online betting. Casinos are directly linked to an increase in problem gambling, which can lead to severe financial distress, mental health issues (including higher suicide rates), and breakdown of families.
Harm to Local Business - Casino will cannibalize local businesses (e.g. locally owned restaurants and downtown shops) as discretionary spending shifts to the massive casino. A significant portion of casino revenue can come from local residents, effectively siphoning money out of the community and into the pockets of the casino operator.
Nassau County Residents Don't Want a Casino - Nassau County has shown a consistent resistance to gambling, as evidenced by previous rejections at the Fortunoffs building and Belmont Racetrack. This sentiment remains strong today. The recent public hearing on May 27th revealed that 57% of speakers were opposed to the rezoning, as reported by the Long Island Press. Furthermore, the Newsday/Siena poll indicates that 51% of residents oppose the casino, compared to 44% in favor. These figures demonstrate a clear majority preference that should not be ignored.
Harm to Our Suburban Quality of Life - Politicians claim they want to Save Our Suburbs - allowing gambling at the Coliseum property directly contradicts this commitment. It risks exposing our community to increased crime, air pollution, worsening gambling addiction among our children, exacerbated traffic issues, added infrastructure and social costs, harm to local businesses and restaurants, and overall degradation of our environment and quality of life
PROS
Sierra Club offers positive uses for Nassau Hub
In place of the Las Vegas Sands proposal to erect a casino at the Nassau Hub, here are 7 outstanding alternative ideas suggested by Harvey Miller of the Long Island
“We shouldn't just be there to oppose bad ideas but, to work to eliminate other bad proposed ideas, this may be an opportunity to suggest, hopefully in detail, ideas that would benefit the area in ways that most people would totally support."
Some ideas:
1. Advanced Medical and Research Campus
Expand on the presence of the nearby cancer center and Hofstra’s medical program.
Attract partnerships with Northwell Health, NYU Langone, or Memorial Sloan Kettering for an advanced treatment and research hub.
Benefits:
High-skilled jobs
Raises tax base
Low traffic impact relative to peak venue use
Bolsters Hofstra collaboration
Enhances public perception and property values
2. Innovation & Education District
Create a “Nassau Innovation Village” anchored by:
A STEM-focused satellite campus (Hofstra, Cornell Tech, SUNY)
Tech incubators and biotech startups
Small business labs or co-working space
Benefits:
Clean economic growth
Partnership-ready
Attracts young talent
Politically attractive as future-focused
3. Mixed-Use Civic and Cultural Center
Repurpose part of the land into:
An outdoor performance space
Public parkland and green space
A community recreation center (ice rink, pools, youth spaces)
Benefits:
Enhances quality of life
Draws families and culture seekers
Low environmental impact
Minimal traffic stress
Works well with weekend events
4. Clean Tech and Green Energy Hub
Partner with NY State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) or federal climate initiatives to build:
A solar research and deployment center
Battery storage innovation space
EV research and charging infrastructure lab
Benefits:
Politically high-value (green jobs, climate funding)
Big state and federal grants available
Doesn’t burden local services
5. Sports and Health Wellness Complex
A high-end multi-sport training complex, combining:
Physical therapy
Performance science
Community fitness access
Could be marketed to both public and private athletic programs, plus Hofstra’s kinesiology department
Benefits:
Year-round use
Revenue from clinics, events, and research
Family-friendly, traffic-controlled
6. Digital Media and Film Production Studio
Given Long Island’s proximity to NYC but lack of large-scale studio space:
Convert the Coliseum into a sound stage and post-production campus
Incentivize production companies to move operations here
Benefits:
High-income, low-disruption industry
Adds to cultural prestige
Easily regulated in terms of traffic and land use
7. Senior Living + Workforce Housing Hybrid
Develop thoughtfully zoned housing for seniors and essential workers with walkable amenities and medical access
Could include community gardens, wellness centers, and green corridors to Hofstra
Benefits:
Politically appealing (addresses housing + aging population)
Predictable, non-peak traffic
Increases stable tax base”
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