Nassau Casino Deal Gets Thumbs Up From County's Rules Committee

MINEOLA, NY — A proposed hotel and casino at the Nassau Coliseum moved past the county legislature's Rules Committee on Monday night.

The Las Vegas Sands lease agreement goes on to the full body of the legislature. They are expected to vote on May 22.

Four Republicans on the seven-member Rules Committee approved the 99-year lease, Newsday reported.

Two Democrats abstained, wanting to gather more information, while Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (D-Freeport) recused himself citing a conflict tied to a family member's employment, according to Newsday.

The meeting featured testimony from Sands executives, along with opponents of the proposed $4 billion casino, led by grassroots group "Say No to the Casino.