Traffic stops for sales tax protest
SENECA COUNTY, N.Y. -- A group of more than 500 made a traffic-stopping protest on the New York State Thruway.
The Upstate Citizens for Equality and Indian Affairs Citizens Advisory Committee want Governor David Paterson to enforce sales tax upon Native American owned businesses.
Most Americans dread the pump. Saturday, in Seneca County, many lined up for it.
"I grabbed the coupon and I come out here every week," Seneca County resident Lenny Ramsey said.
The Cayuga Nation owns Lakeside Trading. The Native American tribe offered a $10.00 coupon for gas in the Finger Lake Times.
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On the other side of town, a group lined up on its way to the same place for a different reason.
"Hopefully, it will not cause any problems other than to cause some delays and hopefully that will send a message that we are serious," Seneca Falls Town Supervisor Peter Same said.
Same says Native American owned companies that don't pay federal taxes ruin businesses nearby.
Protestors sent that message to Governor Paterson during a 500 car motorcade.
"It's unfair to the people that are trying to run their own businesses they can't compete," Same said.
"We're talking potentially a billion dollars of revenue for the state of New York. So this is not just a local issue," Indian Affairs Citizens Advisory Committee Member David Dresser said.
"They don't have that right to say it, it's imbedded in federal laws that we have treaties we were the first people here. We have that right to be native and to be tax exempt," Cayuga Nation Spokesperson Clint Halftown said.
Others say the Cayuga Nation owned gas station is cheap, and that's all that matters.
"Let them protest, it's cheap, I'm coming," Ramsey said.
"We should support them besides supporting ourselves because they were here first, I'm very sorry," Seneca County resident Mable Ninestine said.
The Native American tribes protested back.
"We want to see New York State recognize us, that we have the right to sell tax exempt products to our customers," Halftown said.
A line that was clearly drawn down both sides of the road Saturday in Seneca County.