The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Opponents speak out at meeting
Members of Upstate Citizens for Equality, Citizens Equal Rights Alliance and Oneida County Legislators discuss deal
SHERRILL >> Leaders of Upstate Citizens for Equality, Citizens Equal Rights Alliance and members of the Oneida County Legislature met Wednesday night to dis- cuss their opposition to the recent proposed agreement between New York state, the Oneida Indian Nation and Madison and Oneida counties. The panel asked the 100 in attendance to call their legislators and state representatives and urge them to postpone any agreement and open public hearings.
The speakers present at the panel were Oneida County Legislator Chad Davis, Minority Leader of the Oneida County Legislature Frank Tallarino, UCE President David Vickers, UCE Vice President Scott Peterman, and Judy Bachman of CERA. Each touched on different aspects of the agreement and why he or she disagreed with it.
The group challenged a recent agreement between leaders of the Oneida Indian Nation, the state of New York and Madison and Oneida counties that would see 25 percent of Turning Stone gaming machine revenues, estimated at $ 50 million per year at this point, to be paid to the state. The state would give 25 percent of this to Oneida County, and pay Madison County a one time payment of $ 11 million. Each would additionally receive between $ 2.5 million and $ 3.5 million annually from these revenues. The tribe would gain gaming exclusivity rights in Central New York, and would see a cap on the land it is allowed to place into trust at 25,000 acres. Currently, the Nation has about 17,000 ready to go into federal trust, but the move is under appeal in the courts. The agreement would end those court cases and allow the tribe to place annother 7,000 acres in Oneida County and 1,000 acres Madison County in trust with the U. S. Department of the Interior for the use and benefit of the tribe.
The Nation would also have to place sales taxes on cigarettes, gasoline and other products sold to nonIndians, and sell them at a price equal to or exceeding state minimums.
Davis started the discussion questioning the legality of gaming at Turning Stone. He mentioned various court cases outlining the land claim disputes and defended the actions municipalities and the counties have taken against the Oneida Indian Nation.
Bachman followed suit, mentioning court cases and various settlements in favor of localities over the United States.
“Why after winning so many decisions in the courts are we giving up to them?” Bachman asked the crowd. “I think we’ve worked too hard for all of this to be forgotten.”
Bachman and many other members of the panel questioned Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s motives in the agreement, saying that it doesn’t make sense to end all litigation with key decisions looming in coming months. She also said people have lost track of the numerous cases the Na- tion has brought against the surronding townships, counties and the state itself.
Vickers said that, while he agrees an agreement must take place, and that the Oneida Nation is due to pay taxes to the area, he doesn’t believe court cases currently in motion should be thrown out. He also questioned the right to deputize tribal police, a motion he believes infringes on New York state citizen’s rights.
“This is a bad deal because of the timing, this is a bad deal because of the content and this is a bad deal because of the process,” Vickers said. “I don’t think anyone can argue otherwise.”
Peterman followed Vickers, saying the checkerboarding land claims by the Oneida Indian Nation are predatory, and made for the sole purpose of closing in on businesses in the area.
“This isn’t a tribe we are dealing with, this is a business,” Peterman said.
All of the panel members took questions from the board; most were concerned with what the next step to take would be.
“There were 100 of you here that want to contact your legislators to get a public hearing or to get this tabled, but that is not enough,” said Mike Hennessy, former Oneida County Legislator. “Talk to your neighbors and friends, make it 500.”
The panel urged all the citizens present to call their representatives to open up the possibility of public hearings or at the least to leave the agreement open to discussions. Phone lists were handed out among the attendants.
Dr. James J. Brod of Oneida Castle said he doesn’t agree with the pact, saying he wants things to be thought out more thoroughly.
“I see the Oneidas failing to pay back half a billion dollars in back taxes, and finding an easy way out by pay- ing this small amount,” Brod said.
He can remember back to when he attended school in Oneida Castle just 40 years ago and the agony he watched Native American classmates endure at the hands of people his age. While he said he thinks the Oneida people deserve better than most for what they have endured, he believes that everyone should be treated equally, and hopes that the agreement will not be passed in its present form.
“If we sit on our butts, this thing is going to pass and we’re going to be screwed,” Brod said.
To read the full agreement, visit: http:// bit. ly/ 13TOTY6
To read Tallarino’s request for a postponement, visit: http:// bit. ly/ 16gWAPb
To read Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente’s argument for the agreement, visit: http:// bit. ly/ 18gvl7k
To read the state’s clarification of the agreement, visit: http:// bit. ly/ 10U199l