Seneca, Buffalo Mayor Strike Deal

BUFFALO, New York – As reported by the Business First of Buffalo: "After a summer of sometimes frosty relations, the Seneca Nation of Indians and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown have struck a deal that will enable the Senecas to build the casino it originally envisioned.

"Brown, along with Seneca Nation President Barry Snyder Sr., late Thursday afternoon, said they have reached a suitable agreement that clears the way for the Seneca Gaming Corp., the casino operation's arm of the Indian nation, to build a $125 million, 220,000-square-foot facility along a nine-acre parcel just off South Park Avenue that's been declared sovereign territory.

"Under the terms of the proposed deal, Seneca Gaming Corp. and the Seneca Nation of Indians will pay $631,000 for the portion of Fulton Street it needs. Also, Seneca Gaming will provide between $5 million and $7 million of infrastructure improvements, create 1,000 jobs with preferences given towards hiring women, minorities and Buffalo residents, spending $1.7 million to market the casino outside of the immediate Buffalo Niagara and New York state area and help with other developments around the city's inner harbor area.

"…The deal is considered essential for the Seneca Gaming Corp.'s quest to build what it considers a showplace casino…"