UNKECHAUG SUING THE SUFFOLK POLICE

THE UNKECHAUG INDIAN NATION IS SUING THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE FORCE, SUFFOLK COUNTY EXECUTIVE STEVE LEVY, AND SUFFOLK DISTRICT ATTORNEY THOMAS SPOTA WITH DISCRIMINATION,

THE CASE, FILED IN FEDERAL COURT, ALLEGES THAT ON DECEMBER 6, 2008, THE SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE, PLACED CHECK POINTS ON THE THREE (3) ENTRANCES TO THE UNKECHAUG'S POOSPATUCK INDIAN RESERVATION, IN MASTIC, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK (SUFFOLK COUNTY).

THE LAWSUIT STATES: "THE VEHICLE STOPS BY THE POLICE WERE USED TO SEARCH AND INTIMIDATE RESIDENTS OF THE POOSPATUCK INDIAN RESERVATION IN ORDER TO THREATEN AND INTIMIDATE THE INDIVIDUAL INDIANS FROM FREELY MOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER."

JAMES SIMERMEYER, THE TRIBE'S LAWYER, FROM MANHATTAN (NEW YORK CITY), SAID THE POLICE SEARCHES COINCIDED SUSPICIOUSLY WITH THE SUFFOLK LEGISLATURE'S DECISION TO JOIN NEW YORK CITY'S LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SEVEN (7) SMOKE SHOPS ON THE RESERVATION FOR THE ESTIMATED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN UNCOLLECTED LOCAL SALES TAXES. JAMES SIMERMEYER SAID, "ONE WOULD THINK THERE COULD VERY STRONGLY BE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE TWO THINGS. POLICE JUST DON'T SHOW UP ON THEIR OWN. THEY HAVE TO BE DIRECTED BY SOMEBODY"

SUFFOLK COUNTY ATTORNEY CHRISTINE MALAFI SAID, "ONE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE OTHER." SHE STATED THAT STOPS WERE DONE ROUTINELY TO MAXIMIZE PUBLIC SAFETY. SHE SAID, " THEY'RE COMMON THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY AND THEY DO THEM ALL THE TIME."

THIS MONTH, NEW YORK GOVERNOR DAVID A. PATERSON SIGNED INTO LAW, A LAW THAT DESIGNED TO BLOCK SALES OF TAX-FREE CIGARETTES ON ALL NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATIONS IN NEW YORK. THE LAW, WHICH TAKES EFFECT IN MARCH , 2009, PUTS THE RESPONSIBILITY ON TOBACCO WHOLESALERS TO CERTIFY THAT CIGARETTES WON'T BE RESOLD TAX-FREE BY NEW YORK STATE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES.

A PACK OF CIGARETTES CURRENTLY ON THE RESERVATIONS SELLS FOR ABOUT $4.40 A PACK. OFF THE RESERVATION THE AVERAGE PRICE IS ABOUT $7.15 A PACK.

IT LOOKS TO ME LIKE SUFFOLK COUNTY BY PUTTING TRAFFIC CHECK POINTS ON THE RESERVATIONS THREE (3 ONLY) ENTRANCES COULD BE A FORM OF ISCRIMINATION.

IT IS AWFULLY STRANGE, THAT AFTER SUFFOLK COUNTY JOINTED NEW YORK CITY, THE STOPS JUST HAPPENED? COULD IT BE THE STATE, THE COUNTY, AND THE CITY NEED THE INCOME TO HELP WITH THEIR DEFICITS?

WHAT ABOUT THE NARRAGANSETTS? MAYBE THIS IS ANOTHER TIME, WE (THE MOHEGAN TRIBE) SHOULD BE STEPPING UP TO HELP OUR NATIVE BROTHERS. WHAT DO YOU THINK?