Seneca gaming talks 'paused' as new Albany session nears

ALBANY — Six months ago, as the state’s legislative session was ending, Gov. Kathy Hochul said her team was “very engaged” in negotiations with the Seneca Nation of Indians on a new gaming compact.

But as the next legislative session looms in January, the two sides appear no closer to an accord after negotiations “paused” − in part because some of the key players have changed. The Seneca Nation has a new president, J.C. Seneca, elected on Nov. 5. The governor has a new counsel, Brian Mahanna, who started in September.

For now, the two sides cannot even agree on how the negotiations were stopped. In a statement on Friday, Seneca said “it was mutually agreed negotiations for a new compact between the Seneca Nation and New York State were paused due to the nation’s recent election, and changes in the governor’s office.” A Hochul spokesperson said the pause was “at the Seneca Nation’s request.”

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