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Liquor Authority investigation stalls alcohol sales at Turning Stone
By
EMMA WRIGHT
Story Created:
May 24, 2010 at 10:50 PM EDT
Story Updated:
May 24, 2010 at 11:10 PM EDT
VERNON, NY (WKTV) - If you plan on heading over to Turning Stone for an after work drink Tuesday, make other plans. Alcohol won't be flowing on the gaming room floor until Thursday.
The set-back comes after an investigation from the state Liquor Authority.
It was an e-mail from the Oneida Nation's Senior Vice-President, Peter Carmen, to business partners that prompted the investigation. It was sent a few days before the May 6th meeting with the Liquor Authority. The same meeting that gave the casino the go-ahead to serve alcohol, provided by CD Food and Beverage, on the gaming room floor.
In the e-mail, Carmen pressured business partners to testify in support of the Turning Stone at the meeting writing, "we should make clear that we will significantly consider these partners support (or lack thereof) when our current relationships with them come due."
The Oneida Nation also gave pre-written talking points for people testifying at the hearing.
Ex. 1. "I am a small business owner from {insert town/city}.
2. "I hear some people claim the Oneida Indian Nation somehow hurts the local business community. This is untrue, and they do not speak for the many businesses, including my own business, who have benefited from Turning Stone. {Explain Turning Stone's financial impact on your business.}"
The leaked e-mail isn't sitting well with some lawmakers. Assemblyman David Townsend and local attorney Claudia Tenney wrote to the Liquor Authority and FBI asking for an investigation and to stop the sale of alcohol until it was completed.
"I don't think vendors should have to live under that kind of pressure," Townsend says.
Townsend says the Liquor Authority did investigate and it didn't take long. He says they will give Turning Stone its liquor license Tuesday morning. They'll begin serving alcoholic beverages on Thursday.
Oneida Indian Nation spokesperson, Mark Emery, says the Nation did nothing wrong.
"Attacking Turning Stone for doing what happens in the business world everyday, everywhere is a double standard," Emery said.
Calls to the state Liquor Authority were not returned.
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