Senecas to Build Smaller Casino

The Seneca Nation of Indians Tribal Council announced that it will be pushing through with the building of a smaller casino across the controversial Fulton Street, an important patch of land for the casino which the Brown administration so far refused to put up for sale.

The Tribal Council also agreed to initially construct an even smaller structure of 5,000 square-feet on one corner of the casino site. It will only be housing 100 slot machines. The temporary casino will allow the tribe to honor one of the requirements in the state compact which states that they would have to have a casino operating by Dec. 9, 2007. The tribe's Gaming executives now doubt that they could meet the deadline after being faced with the setbacks.

"While I look forward to seeing the details of the Senecas' plans," Mayor Byron W. Brown said, "at this point I wish to make clear that the city of Buffalo looks forward to a long-term relationship of mutual respect with the Seneca Nation of Indians."

"Buffalo continues to be prepared to provide water, sewer and other basic services to the Seneca Nation on similar terms as such services are offered to companies in the city," he said.

Seneca Gaming Corp. spokesman Phil Pantano said that their casino will be just like any other business on the issue of utilities.

"We get the bills and we pay them," he said.