Photo from Politico
MAY
31
Seneca Nation Pushes For New Gaming Compact
The Seneca Nation of Indians continued its push Tuesday to land a new gaming compact with the state, urging the Legislature to pass a bill before session ends to allow the Hochul administration to negotiate a new agreement.
The Western New York tribe, which owns three casinos, delivered 1,500 petition signatures to Hochul’s office at the state Capitol in a bid to get the bill passed before the session ends on June 8.
The compact is set to expire at year’s end. The tribe’s relationship with the state has long been contentious — whether it is about a stretch of the state Thruway that the tribe owns or its five-year fight over paying casino revenue to the state. The casino dispute ended with the Senecas agreeing to pay the state $566 million — which is now being used to pay for the new Buffalo Bills stadium.
Members of the tribe spoke at the Capitol and urged Hochul to negotiate in good faith, saying the bill allows the tribe to keep its exclusivity agreement for casinos west of Route 14.
"This legislation, the compact, will mirror a reflecting of what New York actually values,” said Tina Abrams, a member of the Seneca Nation Tribal Council. "It will be a clear indication of where you stand for the future. For the future of our people, we hope that you stand with Seneca. Our compact cannot be ignored.”
Neither of the bill’s Democratic sponsors, Sen. Tim Kennedy and Assemblymember Gary Pretlow, attended the press conference at the Million Dollar Staircase.
Instead, Republican lawmakers were there, urging the Democratic-led Legislature to pass the bill and Hochul to stay clear of the negotiations, which she has vowed to do because her husband is an executive at Delaware North.
The Western New York tribe, which owns three casinos, delivered 1,500 petition signatures to Hochul’s office at the state Capitol in a bid to get the bill passed before the session ends on June 8.
The compact is set to expire at year’s end. The tribe’s relationship with the state has long been contentious — whether it is about a stretch of the state Thruway that the tribe owns or its five-year fight over paying casino revenue to the state. The casino dispute ended with the Senecas agreeing to pay the state $566 million — which is now being used to pay for the new Buffalo Bills stadium.
Members of the tribe spoke at the Capitol and urged Hochul to negotiate in good faith, saying the bill allows the tribe to keep its exclusivity agreement for casinos west of Route 14.
"This legislation, the compact, will mirror a reflecting of what New York actually values,” said Tina Abrams, a member of the Seneca Nation Tribal Council. "It will be a clear indication of where you stand for the future. For the future of our people, we hope that you stand with Seneca. Our compact cannot be ignored.”
Neither of the bill’s Democratic sponsors, Sen. Tim Kennedy and Assemblymember Gary Pretlow, attended the press conference at the Million Dollar Staircase.
Instead, Republican lawmakers were there, urging the Democratic-led Legislature to pass the bill and Hochul to stay clear of the negotiations, which she has vowed to do because her husband is an executive at Delaware North.