By: Russ Spencer

Tensions boiled over in Hempstead on Tuesday night as hundreds of Nassau County residents turned out in force to oppose a controversial rezoning proposal that could pave the way for Long Island’s first casino resort—despite the absence of a developer to actually build it.

The marathon five-hour public hearing, held at the Hempstead Town Board’s chambers, drew more than 200 concerned residents and stakeholders, according to a report that appeared on Thursday in The New York Post. Nearly 100 speakers lined up across two hearing sessions, many denouncing what they called a rushed and opaque process aimed at fundamentally altering the character of their suburban communities.

“This is not about economic development. This is about protecting our neighborhoods,” declared Garden City Mayor Edward Finneran, whose municipality borders the Nassau Coliseum site at the center of the controversy. “I stand before you on behalf of the vast majority of residents who are viscerally against casino development at the coliseum grounds.”

As The New York Post reported, last month’s stunning exit of Las Vegas Sands, the casino giant that had pledged a $7 billion gambling resort at the 72-acre Nassau Hub site, did little to deter town officials from advancing the rezoning process. Sands still holds the lease to the property, but has yet to secure a replacement developer, leaving residents bewildered as to why the board is proceeding at all.

“Who is the applicant?” one frustrated resident asked bluntly. “We deserve to know who’s financially behind this project and what they plan to build. Anything less is a betrayal of public trust.”

Even representatives of Hofstra University, whose campus sits just across the street from the site, joined the growing chorus of opposition. Critics cited concerns ranging from increased traffic, crime, and gambling addiction to the impact on schools and property values.

According to the information provided in The New York Post report, Daniel Baker, an attorney for Sands, acknowledged at the hearing that time is rapidly running out to secure a new developer before the state’s June 27 licensing deadline. “These discussions are still ongoing and the company is hopeful that a deal can still be reached,” Baker said, adding that “it may not be possible” to finalize a developer or zoning changes in time.

That uncertainty only fueled public anger. Residents accused the board of trying to quietly ram through the rezoning before the community could mobilize against it — a suspicion reinforced by the town’s continued refusal to provide detailed documentation about the potential development or alternatives under consideration.

Critics reserved particular ire for Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, accusing him of hypocrisy for backing a project they say threatens suburban life while publicly claiming to protect it. “He says he wants to preserve our quality of life,” one speaker remarked, “but he’s backing a plan that does the exact opposite.”

Despite the firestorm, some attendees emphasized they were not opposed to redeveloping the Coliseum property entirely — just not into a casino. The New York Post reported that suggested alternatives included middle-income housing, a regional arts and culture center, expanded green space, or even a permanent stadium for the New York Jets.

Still, not all voices at the hearing were opposed. Several union leaders and representatives from local business organizations urged the board to move forward with the rezoning, arguing that even without a confirmed developer, the site’s readiness could attract new investors.

“This is about jobs, tax revenue, and economic revitalization,” one union representative said. “We’ve waited long enough for something to happen at that site.”

The New York Post report noted that the future of the rezoning remains uncertain. The public comment period will remain open through June 10, with a follow-up hearing scheduled for that morning. No official vote date has been announced by the town board.

With the state application deadline looming and no confirmed developer in sight, critics say time is running out — and transparency is still elusive.

“This process feels like it’s being driven by backroom deals and hidden agendas,” said one resident as the hearing closed. “We deserve clarity, not chaos.”

Pressure is mounting on Hempstead’s elected officials to either hit pause — or face a growing political backlash from the communities they were elected to serve.