By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – The snag in negotiations over the proposed casino for downtown Buffalo could give new life to the lawsuit trying to halt the deal.
Talks are on hold for now between the city and the Seneca Nation over the Fulton Street purchase. The deal would have allowed the grand casino plan the Senecas originally envisioned.
There is a "plan B" smaller casino going forward and both parties say talks could resume. But at least one member of the coalition that is challenging any casino on the site sees the delay as very good news.
State Assemblyman Sam Hoyt was an early opponent and one of those suing to stop the casino. Hoyt said this gives the lawsuit some momentum.
But Hoyt stopped short of saying that Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown is one of those now ready to cry out against gambling downtown.
County Executive Joel Giambra is among those who eventually decided the casino was a bad idea. And Hoyt thinks even Governor George Pataki will look back one day a regret the part of his legacy that saw the biggest expansion of gambling in the state.
Hoyt is hoping the next Governor, likely Eliot Spitzer, will take a different approach.
For now, Attorney General Spitzer represents the state in the coalition's lawsuit that names the state as one of the defendants.