A Buffalo lawmaker has submitted a resolution that calls to halt construction of the Seneca Nation of Indians' multi-million dollar downtown casino and sever the city's agreement with the tribe.
Delaware District council member Michael LoCurto's resolution will be discussed at Tuesday's community development committee meeting. LoCurto says the Senecas have broken several promises to the city.
"They were supposed to make millions of dollars of infrastructure improvements around the casino. They were supposed to work with the Convention and Visitors Bureau to market the casino as a tourist destination to out-of-state residents. They were supposed to file reports with the city about employment and hold job fairs and present to the council every year. They haven't done any of that," LoCurto told WBFO News.
The Senecas recently broke ground on a $130 million casino that will replace the temporary facility that opened in 2007 near the city's Cobblestone District.
"My position is they never had any intention of making this a tourist destination casino. It was always going to be a casino for locals and I don't think the contract was drawn up in good faith, in that regard," LoCurto says. "If it's going to be a local casino that sits in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, why bother?"
Seneca president Robert Odawi Porter issued a statement saying the Nation is "operating its Buffalo Creek Casino in accordance with applicable federal and Nation laws." He questioned why LoCurto would seek to halt a project that Porter says will provide 500 new jobs.
“The Nation’s investment in downtown Buffalo, and its burgeoning Lake Erie and Buffalo River shorelines, also includes dozens of voluntary Seneca Gaming Corp.-funded projects that total more than $1 million. Has this legislator voted this year for anything similar in the Cobblestone, Perry Choice and Old First Ward neighborhoods?," responded Porter.
Porter noted the 9.5 acres of Buffalo Creek Territory is sovereign land and says it is the choice of the Senecas to develop what they want, when they want. He also stated the Nation has "excellent relationships" with city leaders, including Mayor Byron Brown.
