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Published: August 26, 2008 08:30 pm    print this story  

NIAGARA FALLS: Stirring debate on the Seneca casino issue

One Niagara owner seeks public input on Senecas, gaming and taxes

By Mark Scheer
E-mail Mark
Niagara Gazette

A Niagara Falls business owner will ask city residents to join him for a conversation next month on ways to contend with what he believes is a tax-free advantage enjoyed by the Seneca Nation of Indians.

Frank Parlato Jr., the owner of the former Occidental Chemical building now known as One Niagara, plans to host the meeting Sept. 15. The discussion, which he called “Equality with Seneca: How to Obtain It,” will allow taxpayers in the city and the surrounding area the chance to voice their opinions and perhaps vent their frustrations about living and working in a community where one of the largest employers is not required to pay property taxes or abide by all of the same local and state ordinances and rules.

“At this point, I want to discuss the problem and look at some of the ways we can get equality with Seneca,” he said.

Parlato created a stir several weeks ago when he announced plans to install slot machines in his own building as an act of defiance against the state’s casino gaming laws. Parlato contends New York’s gaming compact with the Senecas has created a have-versus-have-not situation downtown, allowing the nation to enjoy economic success at the detriment of its taxpaying neighbors. Parlato believes the situation will only get worse as the nation’s downtown gaming empire continues to grow.

Although the meeting will be open to the public, Parlato said he wants to reserve the floor for citizens and business owners as opposed to elected officials.

“Our view is that politicians have brought us here to this sorry state and we may even need a Boston Tea Party sort of approach to things,” he said.

As for his slot machines, Parlato said he has not ruled out their usage, however he is looking to gauge the public’s opinion on matters related to the Senecas before taking any further action on his own.

“To me, it is going to be a bell weather,” he said. “I want to see if anybody really cares. If they don’t, that will inform me.”

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