It’s no secret business and labor don’t always see eye to eye. But on Long Island, we’ve built something different — strong, collaborative relationships that transcend traditional divides when the stakes are high, and Long Island’s future demands it. The Las Vegas Sands casino resort project at the Nassau Hub exemplifies this spirit of partnership. From the outset, this proposal earned the powerful support of both business and labor, cutting across industries and geography, uniting communities in Nassau and Suffolk counties alike.
The recent announcement that Sands is pursuing a third party to assume the team and submit the bid for a downstate gaming license understandably raised questions and concerns about the future of the site. But we view this critical inflection point as the next stage of the mission, which is still very much alive.
That mission has always been bigger than any one company. It’s about creating thousands of jobs, bringing in millions in revenue, and jump-starting smart, sustainable growth on Long Island. It’s about transforming an underutilized sea of asphalt into a thriving destination that creates opportunity for the people who live and work here. And it’s about harnessing the momentum generated by a coalition that supports this vision — labor and business, civic leaders and elected officials, residents and small business owners — united in enthusiastic and steadfast alignment.
Despite Sands’ announcement, our collective support for the promise and potential to create a true Long Island destination has not broken — in fact, it is stronger than ever.
This project remains a critical undertaking, one that meets urgent needs across our region. We need these jobs. We need this revenue. We need smart growth that supports our communities and ensures Long Island continues to be a place where people can build a life — not just today, but for generations to come.
The announcement must serve as a call to action. We cannot accept the history of decades of failed ventures at this 72-acre site to be business as usual. We owe it to our small businesses, our young people, the surrounding communities, and the region in general to seize this moment to create transformational growth. This is one of the only economic development opportunities on Long Island that will offer this magnitude of impact on jobs, revenue, and our cultural and economic vibrancy.
Las Vegas Sands deserves credit for investing in this vision, for bringing it this far, and for continuing to see its potential even in the face of challenges. The baton may be passed, but the race is not over. It’s on all of us — the local community and stakeholders across Long Island — to keep pushing.
The time is now. We will continue to support a destination resort and hotel, exciting new retail and dining venues, an entertainment space, and a winning bid for a gaming license for Long Island. We need to deliver for the families, workers, and small businesses who are counting on us. Let’s not look back years from now and ask, “What if?” Let’s look back with pride at what we accomplished together.
This guest essay reflects the views of John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, and Matt Cohen, president and chief executive of the Long Island Association.
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