Editorial: Resolve Seneca Nation casino status

Friday, July 20, 2007  

"Recently, Citizens for a Better Buffalo and others opposed to the Seneca Nation’s Buffalo casino filed court papers asking U.S. District Court Judge William M. Skretny to expedite a decision. The sooner this issue is settled, the better for everyone concerned, and especially for Buffalo.

At present, the Senecas are proceeding full speed ahead into an uncertain future and casino opponents, despite setbacks, are trying to apply the brakes. But what’s really driving this issue is the court case that seeks a ruling on whether or not the downtown site now is sovereign land and thus usable immediately for casino development, and an injunction request that would block casino operations. The court should move with all deliberate speed to settle that.

Skretny, a good federal judge fully capable of determining how “deliberate” that speed must be, got this hot potato back when the National Indian Gaming Commission issued a decision, shortly before the Fourth of July, in favor of the Senecas, who quickly opened the doors to a temporary facility. Gamblers ratified that decision in droves."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Settle the legal issue (The Buffalo News 7/19)