New York Governor Cuomo Sends $12.3 Million to City of Niagara Falls, Squeezed by Seneca Casino Payment Drought
Posted on: September 27, 2018, 04:00h.
Last updated on: September 27, 2018, 09:32h.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has sent $12.3 million in financial relief to the cash-strapped City of Niagara Falls.
The city has been struggling with a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall ever since the Seneca tribe stopped sharing its slot machine profits with the state and the local communities that host its three casinos.
The Senecas were infuriated by New York’s decision to authorize four commercial casinos upstate in 2014, and the moment the tribe spied a loophole to avoid making revenue-share payments to the state, it seized the initiative.
The Senecas argue that there is no clause in their 2002 compact that requires them to continue making payments beyond 2016, when the compact rolled over.
Cuomo: Dispute Resolved Before End of Year
The state describes this as “beyond law and logic” and, last year, declared the tribe to be in breach of its compact. New York took the Senecas to arbitration, but the arbitration panel won’t hold its first hearing until mid-December.
In the meantime, Niagara Falls has bills to pay. The city’s scaled-down budget was $91.4 million this year, but it has only about $80 million in recurring revenues. There has been talk of police and firefighter layoffs?and the scaling back of projects such as road improvement.
“I want to caution people against believing that somehow now we don’t have to make difficult decisions. We do,” said Mayor Paul Dyster Wednesday.
The amount Niagara Falls used to get from the tribe fluctuated. In 2013, it received $14.2 million, but only $12.3 million in 2016. The tribe stopped making payments altogether mid-2017.
Senecas Defiant
“As you know there is a dispute, and the Senecas have refused to pay,” Cuomo said Wednesday in Buffalo. “That’s created a hardship for Niagara Falls.”
We believe the arbitration will be concluded toward the end of this year,” he added. “We’re now in that process. But in the meantime, Niagara Falls is suffering, and the state wants to do what it can do to be helpful.”
The $12.3 million is no handout. Cuomo described it as an advance against revenues that will be collected once the Seneca matter is resolved.
According to Cuomo, it’s “when,” not “if,” but Seneca Nation President Todd was defiant when contacted by The Buffalo News this week.
“If the governor wants to prop up the mayor’s failed financial leadership with the hundreds of millions of dollars in Seneca money which the state received and kept, that is a matter between their governments,” he said. “The compact is crystal clear on our 14-year payment obligations, and we believe that will be upheld through the compact’s binding arbitration.”
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Last Comments ( 4 )
N.Y. state authorized 4 casinos in upstate ny. So that gives ny state a total of 16 casinos. And gov kwomo still wants seneca casino money? The greed of this governor is ridiculous. His greed is disgusting. His greed is ludicrous. There is no end to his greed. Sickening. Let it be said, if N.Y. state has 16 casinos, they don't need any money from our casinos. That 14 year compact is over. Even the Federal government agrees the compact is over. The Seneca casinos should run freely, unencumbered, and unfettered by the evil machinations of governor Andy kwomo, and his evil henchmen. Why are all eyes always focused on Seneca casinos and the amount of money it makes. How much does N.Y. state casinos make. Al 16 of them. Where is the transparency on N.Y. state casinos? Let's guess they make 23 trillion dollars per year. With all that money They can take care of N.Y. state citizens. With all that money, they don't need Seneca money. For them to want Seneca money is just sheer greed. Ridiculous greed. Ludicrous greed. Disgusting. Nope. No more Seneca money. Seneca money is for Seneca people. Not to take care of N.Y. state citizens. The sovereign Seneca Nation said the 14 year compact is over. We don't get a thank you for that. Just a demand for more.The sovereign Seneca Nation has spoken. No more money. The deadbeat, derelict governor simply does not want to take responsibility for his own citizens. Get an impeachment process going. Kick this guy out of governors office. Don't let the door hit you on the butt on the way out. SLAM!!!
Let's say, for example, governor Andy kwomo was to make a demand on Canada, and tell them he wants Canada to give Niagara falls 15 million dollars because they need the money. And the governor Andy kwomo, all red faced, steam coming out of his nose and ears, says we want this money now, but yet we want it last week. How, for example, might Canada respond to this. They might say something like- this must be the part where we say what the hull are you talking about. Niagara falls are your ny state citizens, you take care of then you deadbeat governor Andy kwomo. Allowing the city to drift into harm's way and stand by watching them suffer. While your sitting on 15 casinos and have the means necessary to give them what they want and need and a whole lot more, simply refusing to help them is a dereliction of duties. The ny state citizens should start an impeachment process and kick you out of office to the curb on your backside. Don't let the door hit ya on the butt on the way out.You have 15 casinos, all that money just layin around. In your office. Help out your own ny state citizens you derelict deadbeat governor Andy kwomo. That's what Canada, for example, might say. Hey Andy. Have your deputy Barney Fife deliver a billion dollars to the Niagara falls in a large hope chest, in 100 dollar bills, to Niagara falls town hall c/o, in care of, mayor Paul Dystra. Help out your own ny state citizens you derelict deadbeat governor. SLAM! CLICk! Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Niagara falls was suffering because deadbeat governor doesn't want to accept responsibility for his own citizens. Use your 15 casino money to help your own citizens out you deadbeat governor.
The Seneca government is not responsible for Niagara falls ny state citizens. They are not Seneca citizens. The deadbeat ny state governor is trying to pass the responsibility over to the Seneca government. Completely inappropriate and irresponsible. The governor has 15 casinos. Take care of your own citizens with that money. The pictures they have of the governor here, he looks very angry. Lots of tension and anger here. He should relieve this anger by kicking a garbage can several times. Anger, hostility, threats, bullying. He is becoming a dictator. He is closely resembling Adolf Hitler. Stand by your sovereignty Seneca nation. Ny state is not sovereign. The governor can get angry, make threats, blow his top, jump up and down, holler around, bang on his desk,break his pencils, but he cannot impose his will on you. It may cause him a heart attack. Oh well. Yep, he's a dictator. Stand by your sovereignty Seneca nation.