During his annual State of the City address, Mayor Paul Dyster acknowledged that lack of casino revenue payments are making it challenging. Dyster said loss of the money is affecting everything from pothole repairs to vacant building demolition.
However, the mayor is holding out hope that an arbitration concerning the issue will end with the Seneca Nation having to pay.
The Seneca Nation operates a casino in downtown Niagara Falls. Seneca officials previously announced that the nation had fulfilled its duty to make revenue payments under the compact with New York State, and no further payments would be made. Those payments went to New York State which in turn distributed the money to Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Salamanca.
Regardless of the casino payment issue, Mayor Dyster said the city will move forward with plans for improvements and redevelopment of the Cataract City.
7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly has more in his report.
