Extreme Makeover: Turning Stone Edition

The Rome Sentinel has a story about the costs of Turning Stone's massive hotel project. The $300 million figure does not include the previous construction projects in the last 5 years. What this boils down to is a 'nation' of 1000 people with a casino/hotel complex worth $400 million refusing to pay a $2 million tax bill. This 0.5% tax would likely be for this year only. Verona believes that their share of the Oneida County sales tax hike would be increased so much by Turning Stone on the tax rolls that no one, including the nation would have to pay property tax in the town.

Halbritter and his business interests are just being stubborn now. They have been abusing the concept of sovereignty to buy up high tax farmland near the Thruway and created a tax free empire based on vice and greed. All you people who go to the casino should be ashamed of yourselves.

I've read a few people complain about the treatment of Native Americans and the Treaty on Canandaigua and stolen land and protected status and every other piece of liberal propaganda. I find it ironic that people who opposes taxes on the poor support gambling. I find it bizarre that the people who love taxing the rich want the biggest hotel complex in Central New York to continue raking in money tax free. I find it laughable that the people who extol the evils of Wal-Mart want this entertainment megastore to keep growing until it envelops half of Verona.

The fact is that there would have been no local business, water supply or town services in Verona had this "tribal land" remained tribal. A group of 1,000 people would not have been able to afford it. Had the land remained in the Oneidas' hands this whole time, the government would not have run 365 let alone the Thruway into protected land. The nation should be thanking New York state every day that we did something with their useless property and let them buy it back.


Tags: Oneida Nation, Turning Stone