The Citizen

The Cayuga County Legislature is expected to vote on rejecting a proposed settlement with the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York tonight.

"I think a majority will support it," Legislature Chairman George Fearon, R-Union Springs, said, basing his impression on legislator views in the past.

In essence, the resolution mirrors a statement made this month by the Seneca County Legislature, which unanimously agreed to reject the proposed settlement of 10,000 acres in both counties in exchange for a share revenues generated by a Catskills casino.

"Cayuga doesn't mind being with another county, but I'm sure if we felt differently, we would express it," said Fearon, who is sponsoring the resolution with temporary Native Affairs Committee Chairman Raymond Lockwood, R-Aurelius.

Under the proposal, the Cayugas would give up their right to continuously apply to the federal government to take their open market property purchases into trust; to run Class II, or bingo hall gaming, without getting county approval first; and claim to their 64,000-acre historic homeland surrounding northern Cayuga Lake that is based on a disputed 1700s-era treaty.

For more, read Tuesday's Citizen