NY Senator
Wants Stop to Casino Negotiations
As reported by the Suffolk Life:
"In light of a recent ruling by Federal
Court Judge Thomas C. Platt, in which he called
the Shinnecock Indian Nation a tribe, US Senator
Charles Schumer (D-NY) sent a letter to the
governor, Senate majority leader and speaker
of the Assembly last Friday, asking that the
state Legislature refrain from all negotiations
with the Shinnecock regarding the construction
of a casino.
"'I
write to urge you to jointly declare that New
York State and the New York State Legislature
will not negotiate, nor pass, a compact with
the Shinnecock Indian Nation to build a gaming
facility on the East End of Long Island,' Schumer
wrote.
"
…'Jointly declaring now that, regardless
of the outcome of other legal and regulatory
processes, no compact will be negotiated with
the Shinnecock Nation for a casino on Long Island
will slam the door shut once and for all on
this matter,' Schumer wrote. 'That action would
provide much-needed peace of mind to Suffolk
County residents and the many thousands of visitors
who enjoy the multiple beauties of this part
of our state.'
"…In
light of the confusion that resulted from Platt's
ruling regarding whether or not the Shinnecocks
were federally recognized, Schumer addressed
a letter to the Bureau of Indian Affairs a few
days prior to issuing his letter to state officials.
In his letter, addressed to BIA Secretary Gail
Norton, Schumer requested that the BIA 'complete
the adjudication of the Shinnecock Indian Nation's
application for federal tribal recognition.'…"
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