By Eileen Buckley
Niagara Falls, NY – The leader of the Seneca Nation of Indian says a casino will be built in Buffalo, with or without the city's help. But Seneca President Barry Snyder says he would like the cooperation of Buffalo leaders.
Snyder hosted a news conference outside the Seneca Niagara casino in Niagara Falls as an example of his nation's commitment to invest in the region. And he wants support from Buffalo leaders for a downtown casino.
But city officials are not pleased with the Seneca's filing with Securities and Exchange Commission. It stated the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino would draw casino business mainly from the city and suburbs. Buffalo wants it to be a tourist draw. Snyder says they all have to pitch in to promote the casino.
"I think we can help. We are not going to be the catalyst. We are not going to be that overall structure that is going to make Buffalo successful," Snyder said. "We are only going to be a portion of that. So the leadership in the city has to do something."
Snyder did tell reporters that the Seneca's are planning to revise their SEC filing. However, he would not elaborate on those possible changes. Snyder also stated that he has made repeated requests to talk with Mayor Byron Brown, and has not received a meeting date.
"Absolutely I would take his call," Brown said. "I have talked to him in the past and met with him"
Brown says he remains supportive of a downtown casino, but with certain conditions. He says the SEC filing has raised serious concerns.
"We expect the Seneca's to market their business, and they have said in numerous telephone conversations and meetings that we have had with them, that this is going got be a facility that will bring in people from outside the community," Brown said. "But their corporate filings say something different."
"Our first choice was Cheektowaga. Somebody in the city of Buffalo decided to sue, so the judge said we have to go come to downtown Buffalo," Snyder said. "Now we come downtown and all of sudden they don't want us in Buffalo. Make up your mind guys!"
The Seneca's say they would like the city to provide about $2 million for infrastructure changes. But the city says given its financial condition, it probably would not be able to provide that funding.