Sunday, June 25, 2006

As reported by the Auburn Citizen: "One by one, speakers in the Auburn City
Council's public comment period praised Mayor Tim Lattimore for his
passionate pursuit of economic development. "But the majority of the
speakers - 12 of the 16 - said Thursday night they don't want economic
development to take the form of a Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma casino and
convention center. Lattimore invited Paul Spicer, the chief of the Miami,
Okla. tribe, to present about situating a gambling and entertainment resort
in the city.

"And yet, despite the public comments, the council voted 3-2 to pass a
resolution that the city would be the 'host community' for the gambling
pursuit depending upon a compact with the state, federal approvals and
submission of studies satisfying questions of the socioeconomic, traffic and
environmental impacts of the proposed facility.

".The Seneca-Cayugas say they would pay $4 million to the city in the first
five years of the complex's operation, pay $8 million for six to 15 years,
and then begin paying property taxes on the company's assessed value. They
also promise to pay state sales taxes, give 25 percent of the slot drop to
the state and establish a $10 million venture capital fund to finance new
business ventures in Cayuga County."