Landowners and lawmakers respond to land trust ruling
By
By PAT BAILEY
Story Created:
May 20, 2008 at 11:19 PM EDT
Story Updated:
May 21, 2008 at 12:11 AM EDT
Three months ago, the Bureau of Indian Affairs recommended 13,000 acres of land be put into trust. The Department of the Interior has approved 99% of that recommendation.
What do the Turning Stone Hotel Tower, and an empty piece of land on Route 31 in Verona have in common? Both are now part of 13,000 other acres of land, throughout Madison and Oneida counties, that are tax exempt.
Doug Ready and Tony Burnett are part of the Upstate Citizens for Equality. They say they aren't surprised by the interiors ruling. And instead of venting they are preparing, for a lawsuit, their group has already started to file. Their whole fight is based on the constitution.
Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente agrees and says the county will also pursue a lawsuit.
As you can imagine, Oneida Indian Nation officials are thrilled with this report. Despite the good news, believe it or not they say they are still open to future negotiations.
Nation CEO Ray Halbritter says, "We are willing to negotiate a limit on the amount, and locations, of future trust land acquisitions, none of which is required by law. The state and counties must offer good-faith compromises as well, rather than insist upon retaining the same positions they have held for more than a decade, if we expect to reach an understanding.”
Both Madison and Oneida counties, and the U.C.E group, now have 30 days to appeal this decision.
Congressman Michael Arcuri voiced his displeasure with the decision, saying, “County Executive Picente, Congressman McHugh, Governor Paterson and I have spent months of intensive efforts trying to convince the B.I.A and other parties of the advantage of a negotiated settlement to prevent costly litigation...unfortunately for the people of Oneida and Madison counties, the logic and good sense of these arguments fell upon deaf ears at the B.I.A."
Other local elected officials have also weighed in on this hot button issue, you can read their reactions on our website, wktv.com.
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