We, the undersigned, strongly urge County Executive Mangano to scrap his proposal to build a casino on the 77 acre county-owned land surrounding the Nassau Coliseum.

To avoid urban sprawl, we request that the county executive consider Nassau's future and reconsider “smart growth” development that includes walkable, bicycle-friendly land use, including complete streets, and mixed-use development with a range of housing choices. The project should keep its sports theme, attracting youth and helping Long Island’s home team stay here in Nassau. Its goal should be to achieve a unique sense of community; expand the range of transportation, employment, and housing choices; equitably distribute the costs and benefits of development; preserve and enhance natural and cultural resources; and promote public health.

We, the undersigned, beleive that a casino would not reach those objectives. Any development project should look to provide incentives to keep our kids home and offer opportunities for young couples to raise their families. Even if affordable housing were built, young families would not want to move to a home next to a casino.

Our children grow up on Long Island with little exposure to gambling. Families worry about what effect an ostentatious casino with its lights flashing onto the Meadowbrook Parkway would have on an eight year old riding in his parents’ car. We are concerned for our college kids attending Nassau Community and Hofstra who would be within walking distance of a casino. We are concerned about the increase in traffic and the influx of busloads of people coming to Long Island to gamble. Nassau County would need to hire more police to tackle the increase in crime, prostitution and drugs. Parents have enough trouble struggling to raise their children to be drug-free with the recent increase in heroin in our communities. Do we want to now add gambling to our worries?

We, the undersigned, strongly urge County Executive Mangano to consider smart development and strongly oppose any proposal to build a casino on the 77 county-owned acres surrounding the Nassau Coliseum.

After signing this petition, please email County Executive Mangano your feelings on this proposed project at webmangano@nassaucountyny.gov

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