Stockbridge-Munsee Band defends Catskills off-reservation casino

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin continues to face opposition to its off-reservation casino in New York.

But President Kimberly Vele said the tribe doesn't plan on renegotiating a Class III gaming compact and a land claim settlement that it reached late last year. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) is facing pressure to kill the deals.

"Our Tribe has worked diligently, honorably and fairly for the past ten years to reach a satisfactory settlement of all pending disputed claims that the Tribe has with the State of New York," Vele said at a hearing yesterday, The Middletown Times-Herald reported. "We negotiated in good faith over the course of many months, indeed, years, and worked cooperatively with many different competing interests, including county and local interests, before reaching terms that all could live wit

Other tribes say the Stockbridge Munsee Band shouldn't be allowed to cross state lines to open a casino. Non-Indian gaming operators say a tribal casino in the Catskills, a region close to New York City, will hurt their revenues.

The tribe's compact has been submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A decision is due by February 19.

Get the Story:
Assembly committee hears pros and cons of Sullivan Indian casino (The Mid-Hudson News Network 2/3)
Hearing aims to pressure Cuomo to rescind casino deal (The Middletown Times Herald-Record 2/3)
Opposition Grows To Catskills Casino Plan (Politics on the Hudson 2/2)
Capitol Confidential: Casino hearing draws tribal testimony (The Albany Times-Union 2/2)
NY Lawmaker Criticizes Indian Casino Compact (Bloodhorse.Com 2/2)