Niagara Falls Mayor Threatening to Withhold Fire Services to Casino

September 14, 2012

The mayor of Niagara Falls, NY., says he may withhold fire and emergency services from the casino owned by the Seneca Nation of Indians if the tribe doesn’t pay the millions of dollars owed to the city.

During comments made at a Sept. 11 memorial ceremony Tuesday, Mayor Paul Dyster said he’s prepared to direct the city’s fire chief not to respond to emergency calls from the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.

The city is owed $60 million from the Senecas, who have refused to make gaming revenue payments to the state because of an ongoing dispute.

Seneca President Robert Odawi Porter suggested Wednesday that Dyster was just trying to ramp up pressure and expressed doubt that he’d let employees, tourists and others be at risk on casino property.

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