INCORPORATING THE WEST HEMPSTEAD BEACON VOL. 76 No. 17
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April 23 - 29, 2026
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Residents speak against gambling
Community pushes board to develop Nassau Hub and for zoning reversal
By SAHANA SHASTRY Special to the Herald
Michael Rechter/Herald
Runners hit the trails at eisenhower Park on april 4 for the Building Homes for Heroes 5K Walks/Run.
Running for our veterans
Building Homes for Heroes 5K returns By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
Building Homes for Heroes 5K Walk/ Run returned to Eisenhower Park on April 4, drawing runners, families and community members together in support of injured veterans and first responders. The event combined fundraising with outreach, as organizers aimed to expand awareness of the nonprofit’s mission while building from momentum from last year’s race. Based in Island Park, Building Homes for Heroes was formed in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, when founder Andy Pujol volunteered in search and rescue efforts at Ground Zero. What began as an effort to gift a single home to a returning veteran has since grown into a national organization that has provided hundreds of mortgage-free homes. The nonprofit is now on track to complete its 500th home by the end of 2026. Beyond housing, the organization offers long-term support to veterans and
their families, including financial advisory services, emergency funding and programming focused on mental health, academic advancement and physical wellness. When homes are gifted, the celebrations often bring together local police and fire departments and community members for large, procession-style welcome events. The race itself is part of a renewed push to strengthen the nonprofit’s presence on Long Island. Last year marked the first time in roughly a decade that Building Homes for Heroes hosted a run locally, and organizers said the response exceeded expectations. About 195 runners participated in the 2025 event despite steady rain and cold conditions, demonstrating a strong level of community support. David Weingrad, the organization’s director of communications, said much of that success was due to Daniel Hernandez, a Marine veteran and staff member who helped bring the race back. COntinued On Page 3
Town of Hempstead residents urged town board members to repeal zoning in the Nassau Hub during a meeting last month. The zoning had previously been approved to build a casino. The hub is the area that centers immediately near the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale. The town board approved zoning changes last June to allow a hotel and casino at the coliseum site. Las Vegas Sands, a resort hotel developer, proposed the project in 2022. After years of leasing issues and delays since 2022, Sands withdrew its bid for a New York state gaming license in April 2025 and later exited its lease agreement. The company had said it would seek a third-party developer, but no replacement was secured before the state’s licensing deadline. The zoning changes remained in place. Monica Kiely, a member of the “Say No to the Casino” Civic Association, called on the town board to repeal the zoning, citing uncertainty around the site’s future. The Las Vegas Sands Corporation “was supposed to compete for one of the three New York State casino licenses. They withdrew from the competition. They were looking for somebody to take their place at the last minute. “Nobody did,” Kiely said. “So we don’t need zoning for gambling anym o r e. T h e r e ’s n o p r o j e c t o n t h e horizon.” The zoning proposal drew backlash from residents and nearby institutions when it was approved. Hofstra University issued an open letter opposing Sands’ proposal in 2023.
“The Nassau Hub is an entirely inappropriate location for a casino. It is surrounded by educational institutions from preschool through g raduate school, and a diversity of suburban communities that should not be exposed to the increased traffic congestion, crime, economic harm to local businesses, and other negative impacts that a casino development would likely bring,” Hofstra’s letter stated. Hofstra University and other educational institutions had opposed the zoning changes. The university sued Nassau County over the casino development, initially blocking the lease agreement before it was later approved with modifications. With Sands no longer involved, the future of the site remains unclear. Lynn Krug, of Garden City, expressed concern about the vacancy of the land and the potential negative impacts of gambling activity. “We don’t want gambling because of the crime it brings. It’s going to bring down our communities, and we don’t want it here,” Krug said. “It’s a dirty business. Look at Atlantic City — kaput. We don’t need the Sands.’” The site’s future is also affected by state legislation. Local leaders, including Hempstead Town Supervisor John Ferretti, have opposed the proposed REVIVE Act, which would allow for commercial properties and parking lots such as that found at the coliseum to be converted into residential and mixeduse developments, bypassing existing zoning laws. Ferretti called the act a “one-size-fitsall mandate that strips municipalities of their authority over local zoning” in COntinued On Page 4