Niagara mulls action against Seneca

Upstate city mulls legal action against NY tribe
ASSOCIATED PRESS

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) – Niagara Falls officials are considering legal action to get millions of dollars owed to the city by the Seneca Nation of Indians’ Seneca Niagara Casino.

The Niagara Gazette reports that city lawmakers Monday took steps to start exploring legal options for obtaining the city’s share of casino gaming revenue from 2009 through 2011. The casino’s last payment to the city, in March 2010, covered part of the money owed for slot machine revenues in 2008.

The Senecas stopped payments on $330 million owed to the state and three western New York cities where they operate casinos because of a gaming exclusivity dispute with the state.

Niagara Falls officials say they’ve spent all the casino cash on hand. The funds are typically used for infrastructure projects such as street paving.

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Information from: Niagara Gazette.