Dear Ray, Pay Up

The title is a quote from maverick State Senator David Vickers, explaining the meaning of yesterday's court ruling. While Sherrill only stands to raise a few thousand dollars, Oneida and Madison counties have a great deal of potentially taxable land. The key is probably the Turning Stone Casino that was bought outside the reservation.

Blogs like NYCO are taking the ruling pretty hard, since it takes away leverage from this proposed cleanup of Onandaga lake. However, this could potentially mean the lessening of property taxes on homeowners and a better chance for the area's future. The fact is that the land claim is still unsettled. The Oneidas could get a bigger land settlement, and the county will lose a tax base anyway. Maybe this time it will be by the rule of law and not Halbritter's martial law.