ALBANY – New York State’s Thruway Authority is responding to claims by Representative Tom Reed that Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Thruway Authority are purposely not maintain parts of the I-90 that run through the Seneca Nation.
Last month, Reed called on the Department of Justice to investigate Governor Cuomo’s reasonings for not reaping the motor way. Reed claims that Cuomo is withholding road work because of a dispute between the State and Seneca Nation.
The letter from the Thruway Authority’s Executive Director said for years his department has been seeking permission from the Seneca Nation to undertake critically important milling and road restoration project. Once the nation grants them permission work will be scheduled.
“Our position is simple: the moment you grant us permission, we will make the necessary repairs — in fact, we are eager to complete this project and are ready to begin work as soon as tomorrow,” said New York State’s Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll.
Furthermore, the Thruway Authority says they have been frustrated that multiple attempts to secure permission, going back to written requests in May 2014 and September 2017, and an attempt to raise this project again in a meeting this past January, were either met with silence or rejection by Nation leadership.
The Seneca Nation maintains that they have not prevented the state from working on the roads but rather the state seems uninterested in working with them.
There’s a huge debt owed to the SNI, as we are using their sovereign land as an easement. Pay the money owed TO THEM-and I’m kinda sorta certain that will move things along “smoothly” . It’s about the millionth time theyve had trust,n yall mess it up…… The states greed is ruining my car,and their world. Stop being mongers and pay up.
For the love of all that is holy. Quit the blame game and come together to fix the damn road.