Monticello, NY – Federal authorities plan this week to reject outright a proposed Indian casino in Bridgeville, the Times Herald-Record is reporting .
The Bureau of Indian Affairs earlier this week informed the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indian tribe that the compact — a revenue sharing and land title agreement signed in the dying days of the Gov. David Paterson administration — would be rejected, according to sources close to the tribe.
A letter could be sent as early as Thursday.
The bureau separately was reviewing the compact and had a 45-day window to take action that expires Friday. It was unclear if the bureau would allow the compact to become final.
Even if the compact had been deemed approved, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar had to agree to become a party to the land settlement and also take the land into trust for a casino.
Department of Interior and Justice officials Jan. 12 by conference call and Feb. 3 in meetings in Washington informed the tribe a proposed land settlement “is not viable” and would require the approval of Congress, effectively killing the project. The tribe was requesting a meeting with Salazar.
Thompson Supervisor Tony Cellini said he’s been notified a rejection letter is imminent.
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3 Responses
Baruch Hashem! So many times the Eibershter stepped in at the last minute to stop this atrocity!
Casinos are a plague. Good riddance to this plan.
It would be a very simple matter, if the state wanted to, to legalize a casino (though it might require a referendum to repeal the current prohibition). There is no logic in the state recruiting some out of state indians to move to New York, establish a reservation in a place their ancestors never lived, and open a casino. The state looks silly going to such extremes to evade its own laws.