New York sues to end Seneca Nation land sovereignty

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has moved to strip the Seneca Nation of its sovereign control over land in Buffalo and Grand Island, the New York Post reported. State officials filed legal action on Friday against the United States Department of the Interior to remove the special federal status of the land. The target of the action is the Seneca One Stop project, where the tribe is constructing a gas station and cannabis store. [1]

The New York Post reported that the twin lawsuits claim the property was never legally eligible for sovereign protections under the Seneca Nation Settlement Act of 1990. State officials are attempting to stop the site from operating outside municipal building codes, local zoning laws, and state property taxes. If New York state wins the legal challenge, it will gain the authority to collect local property and sales taxes, as well as determine how the land is zoned. [1]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, Kathy Hochul serves as the 57th governor of New York. [6]