SALAMANCA, NY – Following the conclusion of the New York State Assembly’s session without passage of legislation authorizing Governor Hochul to enter into a new gaming compact, Seneca Nation President Rickey Armstrong, Sr. issued the following statement:
“The Seneca Nation negotiated with the state’s negotiating team over the last several days to come to an agreement on new compact terms while the Assembly was still in session. If the Assembly was willing to take up the legislation, the Nation was willing to make significant concessions from our previous agreement in principle. Unfortunately, we were not able to arrive at a revised agreement that met the needs of the Seneca people while also addressing the concerns of the Assembly and the Executive Office.
It is disappointing that this important work was not completed before the Legislature adjourned. However, Assembly leadership has indicated a willingness to return to Albany once the Nation and the state are able to finalize fair terms for a new compact. That remains our goal.
An agreement is vital to the economies of the Seneca Nation and Western New York, and can ensure local communities continue to receive important funding.
Continuing under the terms of our outdated current compact beyond its expiration on December 9 is neither a reasonable nor acceptable solution, and we will continue to fight for economic justice for our Seneca people.
We now intend to work until we have final terms that reflect the realities of today’s gaming market, meet the requirements of federal law, and adequately and appropriately defend our economy, our sovereign rights, and our economic future, as well as the substantial economic benefits we have delivered to Western New York over the past two decades.”
