City of Buffalo demands Seneca Nation stop construction at Miami Street site

"This is not a good fit for this neighborhood, and it runs counter to the vision we have been building for this corridor for more than a decade. We have made a major public investment to transform Ohio Street from an industrial roadway into a waterfront corridor where people can live, walk, bike, and spend time. The private sector has followed that investment with new housing, businesses, and recreational destinations. We should be building on that momentum, not going in the opposite direction."

"Buffalo has spent years reshaping the Old First Ward into an area that can support people living, working, and spending time along the waterfront. We have seen significant investment, and residents and stakeholders in the neighborhood have every right to have a say in its future. My office has been hearing from neighbors who are deeply concerned about the proposed fuel depot, and I take those concerns seriously. A 28-bay fuel depot is simply inconsistent with the surrounding neighborhood and the direction this corridor has taken."

"I was disappointed to receive a hostile letter from Sean Ryan regarding the work we are doing on sovereign Seneca Nation land. It is especially disappointing, given the meetings we had less than three weeks ago with Sean Ryan, Mitch Nowakowski, one of the City’s Deputy Mayors and two members of the City’s legal department. Those meetings seemed to open a process for dialogue between our governments to talk through the City’s concerns. The City has clearly chosen a different path.

Let me be equally clear: the Seneca Nation will continue to develop our proposed Seneca One Stop project on our sovereign land. We believe our project will enhance the development that has taken place in the area in the years since our Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino provided a catalyst for the area’s rebirth. We have also been working with others in the neighborhood to create continuity between our project and the work they have done in recent years.

The Seneca Nation will fight against any aggressive acts by New York’s Executive Chamber and any local governments that oppose our sovereign nation’s ability to create economic development to benefit our people and create jobs for the local community. The Seneca Nation will always defend our sovereignty, our treaties, and our rights to create economic opportunity on our lands in the way we best see fit for the benefit of our people."