Editorials
Rep. Tom Reed should represent the citizens of New York State rather than the Seneca Nation
By Daniel T. Warren
Aug 27, 2019, 17:42

Rep. Reed can put an end to the issues we are having with the Seneca Nation. First, he can put to bed the perennial fight over the Thruway. He can do this by introducing a bill and urging its passage together with all the other members of the House and Senate that represent New York citizens codifying the United States long held position that acts that created the right of the Thruway to cross the Seneca Nation land was proper and barring any claim in any court or other forum. If the United States felt that this was not the case it could have intervened in the many prior actions commenced by the Senecas against New York over the propriety of these acts most recently resulted in a decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 2004: https://www.leagle.com/decision/2004428383f3d451423

Right now the Seneca Nation is suing the State of New York over the title and ownership of this stretch of thruway, again. As it stands now, they lost, again, but appear to be willing to push this issue further by appealing, again. Here are the latest documents in this lawsuit:

Report and Recommendation: https://www.scribd.com/document/423295983/SNI-NYS-Report-Recommendation

Seneca Nation's Objections to the Report and Recommendation: https://www.scribd.com/document/423295984/SNI-NYS-Senecas-Objections

New York's response to the Objections: https://www.scribd.com/document/423295981/SNI-NYS-State-Response-to-Objections

Seneca Nation's Reply to New York's Response: https://www.scribd.com/document/423295978/SNI-NYS-Senecas-Reply

Does it make any sense for either party to put any money into this land until either an agreement on reimbursement can be reach prior to final judgment or a final judgment determining this issue is rendered? No.

Instead of doing his job and resolving this issue he would rather politicize it in favor of the Seneca Nation. Perhaps the voters in his district should determine who he represents and vote accordingly the next time he is up for re-election.

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