Group seeks closure of Oneida Nation casino

Tuesday, January 9, 2007  

An anti-sovereignty and anti-treaty group in New York filed a lawsuit on Monday in hopes of shutting down the Oneida Nation's casino.

Upstate Citizens for Equality already won one court decision that said the tribe's gaming compact was illegal because it wasn't ratified by state lawmakers. The new lawsuit seeks the closure of the Turning Stone Resort Casino until a deal is reached.

The casino is operating on land that was not taken into trust under the land-into-trust process. But Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D) has not committed to seeking closure of the facility.

The tribe has applied to have the casino site, along with more than 17,000 acres, placed in trust. The Bureau of Indian Affairs is considering the request and has said that closure of the casino and other tribal businesses would destroy the tribal and local economy.

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UCE will seek closing of casino (The Syracuse Post-Standard 1/9)