Nassau County looks to spend $3M more in legal fights over casino bid

Nassau County could spend an additional $3 million in taxpayer money on defending itself against two lawsuits opposing a casino resort proposal at the Coliseum. 

In a 4-3 party line vote on Monday, Republican legislators on the county's Rules Committee approved a request from County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, to amend a legal contract with Sullivan & Cromwell of Mineola increasing the contract cost from $2 million to $5 million. 

In Nassau, certain contracts do not require the approval of the full, 19-member legislature and are reviewed and approved in the Rules Committee, according to the county charter. Republicans hold a 12-7 majority on the Nassau Legislature. 

The request would, however, require the approval of the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the county's fiscal oversight board, which is already  conducting an audit of outsourced legal work to private law firms.

The lawsuits — one filed by Hofstra University and another by the Village of Garden City — seek to block Las Vegas Sands from building a $6 billion casino-resort on the 72-acre county-owned site in Uniondale.

Minority Leader Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D-Glen Cove) voted against the resolution,  calling the spending "reckless." 

"Much of the legal work is already finished, yet they're handing over millions to Sullivan and Cromwell — an elite, high-priced law firm that spares no expense," DeRiggi-Whitton said in a statement after the vote. "Why aren't we using one of the more than 70 county attorneys already on the payroll?" 

According to the amendment, the county hired Sullivan & Cromwell for the firm's "special expertise and availability."

In a statement issued through spokesman Chris Boyle via  text message, Blakeman said: "We will continue to vigorously defend against those who would jeopardize job creation, economic development and prosperity."  

Presiding Officer Howard Kopel (R-Lawrence) did not immediately answer Newsday's questions on why legislators voted to approve the amendment to the contract. 

A Newsday story in June 2024 found contracts to outside attorneys during a six-month period allowed work to begin before lawmakers voted to approve them. Last month, Newsday reported spending on contracts to private law firms tripled under Blakeman's term in office, which began in 2022. 

"Taxpayer money isn't Monopoly Money, but you wouldn't know it the way the County throws millions of dollars at outside lawyers while already paying millions of dollars for dozens of lawyers in the County Attorney [sic] office to do the same job representing the County's legal interests," NIFA vice chairman Rory Lancman said in a texted statement Monday. Lancman initiated the control board's review of outsourced legal work.

Hofstra University, located in Hempstead, filed suit in May 2023 alleging the county's administration, the planning commission and legislators in spring 2023 evaded public scrutiny when entering a lease agreement with Sands in exchange for $54 million. A Nassau judge upheld their claims, voiding the agreement and ordering a full environmental analysis under state law. The county appealed and the state's Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department sent the case back down to the Nassau courts asking for more information. 

Meanwhile, the planning commission and county legislature conducted new meetings, restarting the process in August 2024, issuing Sands a 42-year operating lease while approvals for a 99-year development lease and the environmental review, which would allow for the construction of the resort, are pending. A decision on who will receive a state-issued license is expected at the end of the year.

The Village of Garden City in December 2024 filed suit against the Blakeman administration, legislature and Sands in Nassau County Supreme Court. Similar to the Hofstra allegations, Garden City's suit contends the 42-year operating lease, which gave Sands control of the Coliseum property, failed to consider the full impact of the casino development.

With Scott Eidler and Bahar Ostadan

By Candice Ferrette

candice.ferrette@newsday.comcandiceferrette

Candice Ferrette covers Nassau County government and politics on Long Island. She has been a reporter at Newsday since 2011.