"The County Executive has made a grave mistake..."
Story Created:
May 8, 2009 at 3:46 PM EST
Story Updated:
May 8, 2009 at 4:19 PM EST
UTICA, N.Y. - After County Executive Anthony Picente's announcement Friday regarding an agreement between Oneida County and the Oneida Indian Nation, the democrats in the County Legislature held their own news conference.
They say this agreement - that does need approval by the legislature - is not a party issue, rather an issue of common sense.
Democratic minority leader, Michael Hennessy ran a news conference Friday afternoon, where five other democratic legislators joined him. They say bluntly this will be the worst decision ever made, in Oneida County history, if it is approved.
They were not upset so much that a deal has been reached, but rather they say they weren't part of the negotiations, and that the agreement is not acceptable because they feel $55 million, over 10 years, is not enough.
"The County Executive has made a grave mistake in bringing this forward," Hennessy said. "And that every option available and possible will be used to stop this in its tracks."
"But you don't have to give them everything else to sell out the farm, and sell out Central New York," said Chad Davis, another County Legislator. "And that is what Mr Picente's plan is doing - selling out Central New York."
"It's an absolute joke," said Larry Tanoury Jr., another Oneida County Legislator. "And anybody that votes for this ought to resign and bury their head in the sand."
Minority party leaders say that the $55 million, over 10 years, is only about 8% of the money they believe the Oneida Indian Nation owes in back taxes.
Another concern was that after 10 years, when the agreement runs out, there would be no more revenue coming from the Nation, unless certain stipulations were met.
In case you are wondering, there are 29 legislators, four of which represent Vernon, Verona and Sherrill. Of those, three are democrats.
The agreement needs a majority vote to pass, or else it is null and void, and the legislators can not amend it.
