By Joyce Kryszak
Niagara Falls, NY – Governor George Pataki was in Niagara Falls Wednesday for a guarded celebration of a casino victory for the struggling city.
The Governor offered congratulations with a list of caveats. He says the Seneca's approval of the compact on Tuesday was indeed cause for celebration. But, practically in the same breath, Pataki acknowledged there are still more hurdles to cross. Top among them is the contentious isssue of labor agreements for the pending casinos.
"As we speak right now, our team, and the Seneca team are looking at those issues to see how it can be resolved," said Pataki. "And we need the approval of the federal government. But, I think those are both hurdles that we can overcome, relatively easy, if we continue to work together, and then it's move forward."
Niagara Falls Mayor Irene Elia credited Pataki with moving the project as far forward as it is now. She says Pataki has been keenly aware of the city's plight on many levels. And she says he's been helping the city develop a brighter future,with or without casinos.
"The casinos are wonderful, and it's another milestone for us, but it's only part of the puzzle," said Elia. "We know that, the governor knows that but it's an important part of the puzzle - and we had to have that."
Under the the agreement with the Senecas, Niagara Falls and Buffalo would get roughly six percent of revenues from some of the casino operations. And Pataki says he expects a temporary facility could go up in the Niagara Falls Convention Center as soon as the end of thew year.
He discounted efforts to block it, including a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the casino deal.