IRVING
Re-elected Seneca president sees casino moving ahead
IRVING — Despite financing problems and a federal court lawsuit, Barry E. Snyder Sr. is determined to move forward with the casino project in downtown Buffalo as he begins his fourth term as president of the Seneca Indian Nation.
The casino received strong support from two prominent government officials Tuesday as Snyder was sworn in at a ceremony in a Seneca bingo hall.
Rep. Brian Higgins and Erie County Executive Chris Collins both spoke in support of the stalled Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino project.
Collins said the casino is an important economic development project for Erie County, and he publicly accused backers of the federal court challenge of being “obstructionists.”
Collins also predicted that the Senecas will obtain a new gaming license “in the next few months” that will allow the project to move forward.
Higgins said he disagrees with calling anyone an obstructionist, but he said he hopes the casino will be built.
“There is a time to debate and a time to move forward,” said Higgins, whose congressional district includes the casino property off Michigan Avenue. “It’s under construction, and it should proceed. It’s a $300 million investment.”
Snyder, a 68-year-old Seneca businessman who began his fourth term as Seneca president Tuesday, is thankful for the support.
He said moving forward with a planned $333 million casino/hotel project is one of the major challenges facing the nation as he begins his latest two-year term.
Snyder said he feels “extra motivation” to get the casino built as soon as possible because he believes New York’s debt-ridden state government may take action to allow many more casinos to open within the next few years.
In his view, the new revenue that would pour in from new casinos would be difficult for state lawmakers to pass up, Snyder said.
The Senecas operate a small temporary casino. But in late August, they stopped construction of a much larger facility. Snyder said a lack of financing caused the construction halt, adding that the federal court lawsuit also has “hampered” the Senecas’ efforts.
Snyder was asked if the Senecas would ever resume construction of the Buffalo casino without waiting for the final decision in the court case before U. S. District Judge William M. Skretny.
He said the lawsuit alone would not prevent the Senecas from resuming construction.
Snyder said he hopes to make progress on the Buffalo casino and also on the Senecas’ battle to avoid state taxation on cigarette sales.
Gov. David A. Paterson — who sent a representative to Tuesday’s Seneca Nation ceremony — has been trying to decide whether he should push ahead with a long-delayed proposal to collect taxes on Indian tobacco sales.
Snyder said he hopes the governor will decide against collecting the taxes.
Snyder was one of 29 newly elected Seneca officials to be sworn in at Tuesday’s ceremony.
