The Nassau Community College teachers union filed an ethical complaint against the institution after it allegedly paid $120,000 to a lobbying company supporting the construction of a Sands casino at Nassau Coliseum, according to The New York Post.
The NCC Federation of Teachers said in its lawsuit that the college paid lobbying firm Shenker, Russo & Clark to advocate for financing for education while simultaneously advocating on behalf of “casinos.” These activities, the complaint contends, demonstrate a “substantial conflict” and jeopardize the NCC’s “non-profit” status.
Shenker, Russo & Clark pushed for school funding and on behalf of “gaming-casinos,” according to a recent report using lobbying records filed between November and January. However, the term “casinos” was later deleted from the services that the corporation gets paid for by NCC in a modification to the documents filed on May 14.
The Nassau Community College is situated in Uniondale near to the Coliseum, and the Republican-led county legislature and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman have both officially endorsed the idea.
John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, is a trustee on the NCC board and is a strong supporter of the Sands Casino project. Vice president of NCC Jerry Korthbluth also described the casino idea as a “win-win for Nassau Community College.”
NCC’s backing for the Sands casino starkly contrasts with Hofstra University, a nearby private institution that has led opposition to the project and launched litigation that have temporarily stalled development.
