On Wednesday, the Senecas announced an “agreement in principle” with Hochul’s office on a new compact, but declined to give any specifics.
The Assembly wrapped up its session Saturday, but are expectd back in the coming weeks when the issue could be revisited. The Senecas have been pushing for a new compact because the current one expires at year’s end, and the sides would need a law to authorize the governor’s office to sign off on a new 20-year compact. It didn’t bid on an open parcel of land in the heart of the city in 2016. But its efforts never have come to fruition, and
The Senecas have long eyed Rochester and Monroe County as a way to expand in Western New York. The Hochul administration did not respond for comment.īronson said when he reached out to Hochul’s office about the prospect of a Rochester casino being part of the compact, he was told it couldn’t discuss it because of a non-disclosure agreement, which he called “extremely inappropriate.” “This is something that should be seriously discussed in an open and transparent way, and if the rumor is correct and they are considering potentially downtown Rochester or even in the surrounding area of Rochester, local folks should have a say in this.” I was extremely concerned about it,” Assemblymember Harry Bronson (D-Rochester) said in an interview Saturday with POLITICO.
