The Cayuga Nation has filed a lawsuit against the Town of Fayette and the operators of Auntie’s Grab ‘N Go, alleging the town’s failure to enforce local codes against an illegal retail operation. The lawsuit, filed on August 27, 2024, in Seneca County Supreme Court, seeks to halt the operation of an unlicensed tobacco and marijuana business at 3136 Seybolt Road.
According to the complaint, the property in question is zoned as an Agricultural/Rural Residential District, which has strict regulations regarding permitted uses. The Cayuga Nation asserts that a group falsely presenting itself as a Native American-owned business erected temporary structures on the property to sell tobacco and marijuana products, in direct violation of local zoning laws.
The Cayuga Nation, which owns substantial land near the disputed site, has repeatedly requested that the Town of Fayette enforce its zoning laws. These requests were met with inaction, prompting the Nation to pursue legal action. Clint Halftown, the Federally Recognized Representative of the Cayuga Nation, emphasized the Nation’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty and ensuring compliance with both tribal and local laws.
“The individuals involved in these illegal marijuana and cigarette sales are not authorized to conduct this commerce,” Halftown stated. “If rogue operations are allowed by local governments, anyone can open a business free from enforcement.”
This lawsuit echoes a previous legal battle over Grammas Sovereign Trade in Seneca Falls, where the Cayuga Nation successfully challenged a similar operation. The Nation expects this case to follow a similar trajectory, aiming to compel local compliance with zoning laws.
Halftown further remarked, “These businesses are stealing from the people of the Cayuga Nation and are not protected from enforcement of local zoning laws. If the towns won’t act to protect their citizens, the Nation will.”
The lawsuit underscores the ongoing tensions between the Cayuga Nation and local governments over land use and sovereignty issues, as the Nation continues to defend its rights and properties.
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