COUNTY OF ONEIDA |
RALPH J. EANNACE, JR. | ||
Office of the County Executive |
County Executive | ||
ONEIDA COUNTY OFFICE BUILDING |
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800 PARK AVENUE, UTICA, NEW YORK 13501 |
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| (315) 798-5800 | FAX (315) 798-2390 | ||
| February 2, 1999 | |||
| The Honorable George Pataki Executive Chamber State Capital Albany, New York 12224 |
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| Dear Governor Pataki: | |||
| Thank you for agreeing to meet today to discuss
the most serious recent developments in the Oneida Indian Land Claim. Your personal
attention and cooperation in this matter, and especially that of your staff since the
December 8, 1998 filing of the proposed amended complaint by the three Oneida plaintiffs
and the U.S. Department of Justice, are most appreciated. The seriousness of this matter cannot be overstated. Over 100,000 people in Oneida and Madison Counties have been told by the Oneidas and the Federal Government that the possession of their homes and businesses is in dispute. Thousands of people have attended special meetings or contacted our offices with questions, fears, and with anger. Three special advocacy groups have sprung up to claim the need to "defend themselves", with one group organizing a motorcade protest this past weekend, with hundreds of cars circling the New York Oneidas’ casino. Our offices are currently verifying and compiling complaints of lost sales of homes, withdrawn building permits, denied mortgages, and opportunists seeking money for land claim information, title insurance, or even sales at greatly reduced prices. Clearly we need to act together now, to bring progress and peace on this issue. We need the help of New York State in the following areas:
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| 1. | At the request of our State appointed Attorney G. Robert Witmer, the Counties of Madison and Oneida are assembling a Litigation Support Task Force. This group will include experts in the fields relevant to the Settlement Master negotiations and all areas of the litigation. This group will also include public information efforts so that we can deal with the public and political environment that is rapidly heating up. Under State Law, Section 10, these costs should be reimbursable, and we need to have your office work closely with us to make sure we can cover any necessary costs of this matter. The Plaintiffs are bringing enormous legal, technical support and public relations resources to bear on their side, and we must be ready and able to fully respond. We need to reassure people now that we are doing everything necessary to protect them. |
| 2. | Oneida and Madison Counties along with its schools and local governments, are losing substantial real property revenues from the increasing purchases of the New York Oneidas. In the absence of a resolution of the land claim, they are refusing to pay taxes on the land, and are leaving us in a position that is very difficult to prosecute against them or defend to the neighboring taxpayers. Some, but not all, localities are receiving voluntary contributions that repay some of the losses from the New York Oneidas, but recent changes in the lawsuit threaten even this partial, and unsecured remedy. We need to have the State pay for these lost taxes and hold the localities harmless while this matter is being resolved. |
| 3. | MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE NEED THE STATE OF NEW YORK TO DO EVERYTHING IN ITS POWER TO HELP EXPEDITE THE SETTLEMENT MASTER PROCESS AND GET THIS MATTER RESOLVED IN AS FAIR A WAY AND AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. This means agreeing on a settlement master, coming to the table with a substantial offer in relation to the issues in question, and assuring this matter is resolved as quickly as possible while absolutely preserving the complete property rights the people in our region have earned and have a right to rely upon. Your counsel’s office has a copy of our "Statement of Principles" for resolution. Failure to follow these fair guidelines will surely lead to an unstable resolution and an uncertain peace. Failure to resolve this matter expeditiously, and to make regular and visible progress beginning now will lead to greater unrest, civil disobedience, or even violence. In light of the gathering wealth, in money and in New York land of the Oneidas, delay cannot work to our advantage. On the other hand, we still believe a proper resolution can become a great opportunity for everyone’s future in Central New York. |
There are other matters and strategies that we may wish to explore together as this work continues. We want to work as a team with the State of New York. We need to reassure the people of all of Central New York that they are safe in their homes, and that our communities have a future to rely on and invest in. These statements are not over-dramatic. We urgently need your help. Thank you again for your attention. Sincerely,
Ralph J. Eannace, Jr.
Larry
Carpenter |
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