Oklahoma Indians buying land in New York

AURELIUS, NEW YORK - The Oklahoma-based Seneca-Cayuga Indians, a group interested in developing casinos in New York, are acquiring 240 acres near the Finger Lakes, according to a published report. <br> <br> The Cayuga County land, just north of Cayuga Lake, was purchased for $738,544 by Caywil New York, a company hired by the tribe to acquire land, according to Larry Leventhal, an attorney working with the Seneca-Cayugas, the Post-Standard of Syracuse reported Thursday. <br> <br> The land purchased by Caywil, in the towns of Aurelius and Montezuma, was being developed into an 18-hole golf course by Todd Mirabito. It is near the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, and about 8 miles west of the Fingerlakes Mall. <br> <br> Gregory Greenfield, president of the Atlanta group that owns the Fingerlakes Mall, said he was in favor of a casino. <br> <br> ``It would seem a casino would be a logical choice,&#39;&#39; he said. ``The more activity and more reasons that people would have to drive long distance to this area the better.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Leventhal would not say what the Seneca-Cayuga&#39;s plans were for the property. <br> <br> ``The tribe is interested in keeping its options open as to what would best serve the tribal interests regarding the utilization of its lands,&#39;&#39; Leventhal said. <br> <br> The Seneca-Cayugas own and operate a high-stakes bingo hall, a gas station and a cigarette factory in Oklahoma. <br> <br> Clint Halftown, a spokesman for the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York, had no comment. <br> <br> Mirabito had purchased the property 10 years ago for $200,000, and had received town approval for the project this year. <br> <br> ``It got a little overwhelming to me, and I had to let go my share of the deal,&#39;&#39; Mirabito said. <br> <br> The Seneca-Cayuga Indians, based in Miami, Okla., and the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York sued the state in federal court for the return of 64,000 acres of ancestral homeland. They were awarded $247.9 million in damages, an award the state is appealing. Arguments are scheduled to be heard in January. <br> <br> Connie L. Talcott of the anti-land claim Seneca-Cayuga Chapter of Upstate Citizens for Equality, said her group will continue to oppose the land claims, the establishment of a reservation or sovereign land in the 64,027-acre claim area. <br> <br> Aurelius Town Supervisor Ed Ide said he has concerns if a casino goes up or if the tribe intends to claim the land as sovereign, tribal land. <br> <br> ``If they have purchased it and intend to make it tribal lands, I see that as a problem,&#39;&#39; Ide said. ``Obviously, it goes off the tax rolls. There are a lot of privileges that they have on the reservation that the rest of the people in the town will not have, both economically and the way they handle their affairs. You just set up two classes of people.&#39;&#39;