The County Planning Commission’s Friday approval of a 42-year lease with Las Vegas Sands to operate the Coliseum was not without its critics—as is the case with almost any development in Nassau.

The Say No To The Casino Civic Association correctly said the lease to operate the Coliseum was the next step to the county’s approval of a 99-year agreement with Las Vegas Sands to build a $4 billion entertainment center intended to include a Las Vegas-style casino.

The project took another step forward Monday when the Nassau County Legislature’s Rules Committee unanimously approved the lease to operate the Coliseum lease and agreed to be the lead agency on an environmental review.

The civic association and Hofstra University, which sits across the street from the 72-acre site that would house the casino, have said the project would generate “traffic congestion, crime, economic harm to local businesses and the school community.

These are legitimate concerns that the county should address. But the county has not done a good job of easing the critics’ concerns so far.

The state Supreme Court last November voided a 99-year lease signed by Nassau County that would have permitted Las Vegas Sands to develop the site.

The reason?

The County Planning Commission—yes, that County Planning Commission—violated various laws when it held a meeting in June 2023 to discuss the fate of the proposed event center and casino.

The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed by Hofstra, which said the commission did not properly notify the public and provide materials about the lease transfer of the Coliseum, violated executive session rules by improperly meeting, prematurely voted to close public comment and held a meeting before the lease negotiations were completed.

The Planning Commission, the opponents said, also skirted its responsibility to conduct a thorough environmental review.

State Supreme Court Justice Sarika Kapoor ordered Nassau to redo the lease transfer process and conduct an environmental review before considering a new lease.

A state judge then ruled in February that the Las Vegas Sands not only lacked a valid lease to develop the Coliseum site but it was not entitled to operate it.

Hence, the vote by the Planning Commission on Friday and Monday by the rules committee.

The county’s original 99-year lease agreement announced by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman in April 2023 called for the Las Vegas Sands to provide Nassau County with $54 million – whether or not the casino is eventually built.

Notwithstanding Las Vegas Sands’s deep pockets, the approval is no layup. The gaming company is competing with various downstate competitors for a license from the state Gaming Commission.

Nassau is guaranteed $25 million in revenue if the casino is approved and opens. With escalation costs, that figure increases to $50 million a year once the operation has been running for three years.

If Sands does not obtain the gaming license, it would still have to pay Nassau County $54 million and construct other aspects of the proposal besides the casino.

In addition to the $54 million payment to the county, the Sands would also pay $5 million in recurring rent until the gaming license is obtained, at which time the recurring rent would increase to $10 million annually.

The project would also generate sales tax revenue for the county, hundreds of construction jobs at the outset and hundreds more hospitality jobs.

Should there be legitimate concerns about Las Vegas Sands’s ability to run a casino and make its payment? Sure.

Former President Donald Trump, the 2024 Republican nominee for president, initially ran for office based on a reputation as a smart businessman, even though casinos he operated in Atlantic City went bankrupt. Four times.

Hofstra and the Say No To The Casino Civic Association also have legitimate concerns about traffic congestion, crime and economic harm.

One would think that, given the benefits the Las Vegas Sands project offers, the county would be completely transparent in the approval process and listen to the critics’ legitimate concerns.

So far? Not so much.

Blakeman made things worse in late 2023 when he called for Hofstra University President Susan Poser to resign, falsely claiming she did not respond sufficiently following Hamas’ savage attack against Israel.

Unlike other college presidents, Poser responded strongly to the attack as well as the aftermath and Hofstra did not experience the kind of antisemitism and protests seen elsewhere.

Did Blakeman think Hofstra would be more willing to back off its casino opposition by attacking Poser? If so, he was wrong. Hofstra remains a strong and powerful critic of the Las Vegas Sands project.

We suggest a different,  more friendly approach – address the legitimate concerns of Hofstra and the Say No To The Casino Civic Association.

We would start with congestion.

Yes, if the project is successful, it will increase traffic to the area and more people could mean more crime.

One answer is more police – something already planned by the county

But we think the casino project – and the economic boost it would provide the county – offers an even greater opportunity to Nassau. The Las Vegas Sands proposal offers a chance to address the congestion problems across the county, especially when heading north to south.

This includes existing mass transit in the form of buses as well as innovative ideas like light rail that would carry travelers to the Coliseum, Roosevelt Field, and even the beaches on the South Shore.

Yes, this would be a major undertaking with a large price tag, construction hurdles and the inevitable resident opposition in some places.

But it is not without precedent.

The LIRR recently completed a third track eight miles long, stretching from Floral Park to Hicksville, which improves services along the line. Then Gov. Andrew Cuomo wisely made the project more palatable to critics by eliminating above-ground crossings and parking garages.

This occurred around the time the MTA provided East Side Access with a LIRR stop at Grand Central Terminal.

A LIRR stop was also added in Elmont to address parking concerns with the UBS arena.

In Queens, light rail was built, linking JFK Airport and downtown Jamaica.

The money generated by a Las Vegas Sands casino allows the county to study, if not contribute to, a light rail project linking Nassau County from north to south.

Further funding could be provided by the MTA, perhaps in exchange for congestion pricing in New York City – another program that would help ease congestion in Nassau County.

And depending on the outcome of the 2024 presidential election, federal transportation money could also be available.

Such forward thinking by the county might even help the Las Vegas Sands’ application with the state.

But we suggest the county start with baby steps by being transparent in reviewing the project casino project and responsive to critics’ legitimate concerns.