logo
Weather page
GET THE APP
ePaper
google_play
app_store
  • Login
  • E-Edition
  • News
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • All Listings
    • Jobs
    • Place an Ad
  • SPECIAL SECTIONS
  • PHOTO GALLERY
  • CONTESTS
  • LIFESTYLE/ENTERTAINMENT
  • GAMES
  • CATTARAUGUS COUNTY SOURCE
    • NEWS
      • LOCAL
      • STATE
      • NATION
    • SPORTS
      • LOCAL
      • NATIONAL
    • OBITUARIES
    • OPINION
      • NEWS
        • LOCAL
        • STATE
        • NATION
      • SPORTS
        • LOCAL
        • NATIONAL
      • OBITUARIES
      • OPINION
    logo
    • Classifieds
      • Place an Ad
      • All Listings
      • Jobs
    • E-Edition
    • Subscribe
    • Login
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • All Listings
        • Jobs
      • E-Edition
      • Subscribe
      • Login
    Reported tornado causes damage in Great Valley
    Breaking News
    Reported tornado causes damage in Great Valley
    June 10, 2025
    GREAT VALLEY — Another wave of severe storms passed through the area Monday evening, with a reported tornado causing significant damage to homes and o...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    Home News
    Reed blasts Cuomo over casino revenue sharing funds promised Salamanca
    Salamanca Press file photo
    Cattco, Featured, Local News, News, Salamanca News, Seneca Nation News, State News
    RICK MILLER County Reporter  
    September 5, 2019

    Reed blasts Cuomo over casino revenue sharing funds promised Salamanca

    U.S. Rep. Tom Reed on Tuesday laid blame for the death of a Salamanca woman on a lack of fire department personnel brought about by the state’s failure to pay

    U.S. Rep. Tom Reed on Tuesday laid blame for the death of a Salamanca woman on a lack of fire department personnel brought about by the state’s failure to pay the city’s share of Seneca casino revenue sharing funds.

    That amounts to about $6 million a year for the city of Salamanca, which has a limited ability to raise property taxes because of the exemption of Seneca-owned property on the Allegany Territory.

    Reed told the Olean Times Herald that “because of staffing issues” only one firefighter was available when a call came last week in involving an apparent cardiac arrest of a 46-year-old city resident.

    The congressman did not identify the woman, who he said “died on the way to the hospital due to the delay” in response by emergency medical technicians on the fire department.

    Reed said he had met with Salamanca Mayor Michael “Smitty” Smith and fire officials over the issue of the state’s failure to follow through what were thought to be promises by the governor’s representatives that the city would get its casino revenue sharing funds just like Niagara Falls.

    The Common Council had recently tabled the hiring of two new firefighters over funding, Reed noted, indicating the department was short-staffed.

    “Because the EMTs were out on another call, only one firefighter was available” when the cardiac arrest call came in, Reed said.

    The Corning Republican said the fire department positions were unfilled because of the payment due to the local community under the Seneca/New York State gaming compact.

    The city is down to its last $800,000 in reserves, Reed said. With payroll of $70,000 to $80,000 a week, it won’t last long.

    The Senecas have withheld the 20 percent share of slot machine revenue they shared with New York State since early 2017. The Senecas maintained the pact did not mention continued Seneca payments past year 14 of the 21-year pact.

    An arbitration panel found in favor of the state and ordered the Senecas to pay $225 million to New York state and resume the revenue sharing payments.

    In recent weeks, Reed has been poking Gov. Andrew Cuomo over the need for the state to repair roads on Seneca territories including Salamanca-area roads and the New York State Thruway. Last week, Reed called on the federal government to investigate the Thruway matter.

    A spokesman for the governor, senior adviser Rich Azzopardi, said last week Reed “should stop with the cheap stunts” regarding the Thruway issue. The Times Herald could not reach a Cuomo administration spokesperson Tuesday for comment on the Salamanca city funds issue.

    Reed said, “The money that is due Salamanca has clearly been appropriated in the state budget. The state has a responsibility to pay even if it doesn’t get the Seneca payment. The governor reneged on the $6 million payment.”

    Reed said, “The governor made the decision to pay a host payment to Niagara Falls and not Salamanca. That is extremely appalling.”

    Reed suggested the governor’s actions were a reaction to Niagara Falls voting in support of his re-election bid and Cattaraugus County and Salamanca casting more votes for his opponent.

    The political question, Reed said, is why Cuomo close not pay Salamanca while at the same time making a payment to Niagara Falls.

    Reed said, “That’s my problem with this governor. A lady died due to limits on staffing for the ambulance. This is not getting better. It is a public safety threat in Salamanca. The payments should be made. It doesn’t make sense to pick one and not the other.”

    Despite Reed’s harsh words for Cuomo recently, he said as a friend of the Senecas, he stands ready to mediate not only the issues over local roads on Seneca territory including the Thruway, but the compact issues as well.

    “Don’t mix the two together,” Reed advised the governor of the roads and the compact. Take care of all the communities. These are people we represent and care about.”

    (Contact reporter Rick Miller at rmiller@oleantimesherald.com. Follow him on Twitter, @RMillerOTH)

    Tags:

    andrew cuomo economics firefighter funds ministries payment politics salamanca senecas tom reed work
    {"website":"Website"}

    Salamanca Press

    Local & Social
    Latest news for you
    Old Times Remembered for June 19–25
    Featured, Local News, News, ...
    Old Times Remembered for June 19–25
    Kellen Quigley 
    June 19, 2025
    100 Years June 19, 1925: (SALAMANCA —) The old stone house on the Parker Farm, about three miles south of the city in Allegany State Park and located ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    Cattaraugus County Source 06-19-2025
    Cattaraugus County Source, Special Sections
    Cattaraugus County Source 06-19-2025
    mkeim@oleantimesherald.com 
    June 19, 2025
    Read More...
    {"website":"Website"}
    Opinion
    Kellen’s Pressing Issue
    June 19, 2025
    150 Years Ago If you happened to take a look at the Old Times Remembered section this week, you may have noticed that the 150 years ago portion is mis...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    Opinion
    Deb’s Pressing Issue
    June 19, 2025
    Battling chipmunks Chipmunks… cute, furry little critters and big menaces. You love ‘em and you hate ‘em. I’ve been battling them for years and still ...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    WVDP helps save $8 million for the Department of Energy
    Cattco, Featured, Local News, ...
    WVDP helps save $8 million for the Department of Energy
    June 18, 2025
    WEST VALLEY — Working together, CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley (CHBWV) and other prime contractor sites are eliminating inefficiencies, improving operatio...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    West Valley chamber provides scholarships to WVCS grads
    Cattco, Featured, News, ...
    West Valley chamber provides scholarships to WVCS grads
    June 18, 2025
    WEST VALLEY — The West Valley Chamber of Commerce recently presented two awards at the West Valley Central School’s Academic Awards & Scholarship Banq...
    Read More...
    {"to-print":"To Print", "website":"Website"}
    Cattaraugus County Source
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Cattaraugus County Source 06-19-2025
    Cattaraugus County Source, Special Sections
    Cattaraugus County Source 06-19-2025
    mkeim@oleantimesherald.com 
    June 19, 2025
    Read More...
    {"website":"Website"}
    This Week's Ads
    Current e-Edition
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Already a subscriber? Click the image to view the latest e-edition.
    Don't have a subscription? Click here to see our subscription options.
    Mobile App

    Download Now

    The Salamanca Press mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the Salamanca Press on your mobile device just as it appears in print.

    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store

    Help Our Community

    Please help local businesses by taking an online survey to help us navigate through these unprecedented times. None of the responses will be shared or used for any other purpose except to better serve our community. The survey is at: www.pulsepoll.com $1,000 is being awarded. Everyone completing the survey will be able to enter a contest to Win as our way of saying, "Thank You" for your time. Thank You!

    Get in touch with The Salamanca Press

    Submit Content
    Submit News Send a Letter to the Editor Place Wedding Announcement
    Advertise
    Place Birth Announcement Place Anniversary Announcement Place Obituary
    Subscribe
    Start a Subscription e-Edition Contact Us
    Illinois Hancock Journal-Pilot Iroquois Times-Republic Journal-Republican The News-Gazette
    Indiana Fountain Co. Neighbor Herald Journal KV Post News Newton Co. Enterprise Rensselaer Republican Review-Republican
    Iowa Atlantic News Telegraph Audubon Advocate-Journal Barr's Post Card News Burlington Hawk Eye Collector's Journal Fayette County Union Ft. Madison Daily Democrat Independence Bulletin-Journal Keokuk Daily Gate City Oelwein Daily Register Vinton Newspapers Waverly Newspapers
    Michigan Iosco County News-Herald Ludington Daily News Oceana's Herald-Journal Oscoda Press White Lake Beacon New York Finger Lakes Times Olean Times Herald Salamanca Press
    Pennsylvania Bradford Era Clearfield Progress Courier Express Free Press Courier Jeffersonian Democrat Leader Vindicator Potter Leader-Enterprise The Wellsboro Gazette
    © Copyright 2025 The Salamanca Press 639 Norton Drive, Olean, NY 14760  | Terms of Use  | Privacy Policy
    Powered by TECNAVIA