New York Politicians Against Seneca Indian Nation Casino

Michael LoCurto, a councilman in Buffalo, New York is calling for support to cancel a casino building contract with the Seneca Indian Nation tribe. According to LoCurto, the tribe breached a 2006 contract it signed with the city.

LoCurto claims that the City and western New York state Indian Nation tribe initially agreed to build a $330 million casino, complemented by a hotel complex. American gambling news estimated that the new establishments would have created over 1,000 new employment opportunities for local citizens.

LoCurto is angry about casino project being scaled down to $130 million. The politician complains that this new casino resort will not secure as many jobs as the Native American tribe had initially promised.

LoCurto raged: “It was sold as this big economic development engine. It was going to create a thousand jobs and bring people in from all over the Northeast.”

With casino project being scaled down, LoCurto is looking to gain enough support to have Seneca Tribe’s deal annulled with the city.

Seneca Tribe President Robert Odawi Porter responded with releasing a statement. The Native American leader defended the casino’s new proposal and the resulting 500 jobs it promises to generate.

Porter reasoned: “Why would this legislator suggest that the answer to not enough jobs on a project is to halt it altogether?”

Porter also added that the site of the planned Buffalo Creek Casino is sovereign territory, citing American gambling laws that allow Indian Tribes the operation of gambling venues under certain condition.

Porter added: “What we do on that land and when is the choice of the Seneca Nation, its council and Seneca Gaming Corporation.” Porter also mentioned the possibility of operating American internet casino websites if their land venue project is cancelled.

LoCurto’s proposal was soon supported by those who had been against putting up a casino before the scale-down. Common Council President Richard Fontana emphasized that the dispute should be settled through negotiations. The City Council will hear out LoCurto’s resolution at a later date not confirmed yet.