By Eileen Buckley
Niagara Falls, NY – The leader of the Seneca Nation of Indians and the mayors of Buffalo and Niagara Falls held a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss casino gaming. The Seneca Nation Tribal Council approved a compact with the state over the weekend. On May 14th about 4,000 Seneca Nation members will vote on the compact.
Seneca Nation president Cyrus Schindler says he "feels good" about passage of the casino deal. He says operating the casinos would benefit his nation with needed revenue. Schindler says the Nation would be able to improve life for the Seneca's and become "self sufficient." But Schindler says he has not set a per capita pay out for nation members.
"We're taking this step by step. I don't want to go out and tell people how much they are going to have in a per capita payment," he said. "I don't want people to vote for it just because of that, but because it is good for the nation."
But the Senecas Against Casinos is not pleased with the state compact. They believe it would compromise Seneca sovereignty. Schindler says that's not the case. He says the state compact actually "respects" sovereignty.
Schindler says ideally he would like the Buffalo and Niagara Falls casinos to open at the same time. Buffalo Mayor Anthony Masiello says the city has been planning for a downtown casino for two years. One proposed temporary site is Statler Building.
"For us to maximize casino gaming in the city Buffalo, it has to create the kinds of spin-offs we want for the theatre district, Chippewa, and hotels and restaurants we already have in the core of our downtown community," Masiello said.
Niagara Falls Mayor Irene Elia says a casino at the Niagara Falls Convention Center would revitalize the area and create needed jobs. Buffalo and Niagara Falls would receive 6.25 percent of the state's percentage under the 14-year agreement. In the first four years the state would receive 18 percent, and up to 25 percent in the last seven years.
If the referendum passes May 14th, the casino compact then heads to Washington for final approval by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. If that occurs, leaders expect to see at least one casino created this year.