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6:15	O-D - Welcome to the first Observer-Dispatch live coverage during which you can directly participate.

6:15	O-D - Reporter Elizabeth Cooper will bring you a firsthand perspective as she observes the public meeting to discuss the tax deal between the Oneida Indian Nation and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente.

6:18	O-D - Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente believes $55 million is a good price to ask for the county to stop fighting the Oneida Indian Nation’s land-into-trust plans. The Oneidas think so too. Take our poll below and tell us what you think.

6:22	O-D - Use the fields below to submit your question or comment to Elizabeth Cooper.

6:48

Elizabeth Cooper - Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente and Oneida Indian Nation Representative and CEO Ray Halbritter are speaking to about 250 people gathered at the auditorium at VVS.

Some members of the audience are very vocal. Picente was greeted by both applause and hoots of derision. He had to stop speaking at one point to ask for the audience's respect.

He spoke of "30 years of discourse and disconnect" that his agreement would end.

Halbritter thant ook to podium, teling the audience that the agreement was not a "sweetheart deal."

A man shouted "Lies," and Pay your taxes" as Halbritter spoke in measured tones.

6:58

Elizabeth Cooper - Jason Merrill of Sherrill is now speaking. He says the Oneida Nation has lived up to its agreement with the City of Sherrill, "but this agreement is quite different."

"Mr. Picente, the residents of the City of Sherrill are not telling you that you are wrong, we are just asking you to go back to the table," he said to cheers and applause from the audience

7:01

Elizabeth Cooper - A Turning Stone employee is now speaking.

He is praising the plan, saying a partnership between the Nation police and the county Sheriff is a positive move and that th enation has long promoted economic development in the area.

Again some in the audience are cheering and others are booing.

7:04	Elizabeth Cooper - A woman calling herself "an Oneida County resident" is now speaking. She praised Picente for working together with the Oniedas. "I have to give Mr. Picente a lot of credit for having the courage - I'd like to say another word - to come forward and negotiate with the Nation.

7:15

Elizabeth Cooper - At past public hearings, busloads of Nation employees have attended. This time, the busses came again, though slightly fewer Nation employees are here. They are wearing white T-shirts that read "It's time....to end the legal battles together."

When speakers who support the agreement finish speaking, they cheer and in some cases give brief standing ovations.

The man shouting "lies" has stopped beign as vocal.

7:20

Elizabeth Cooper - Ralph Williams stepped to to the mic to denounce the agreement.

"We all put our pants on the same way, let's cut the crap," he said. "We could all be highly sucessful if we didnt have to pay taxes!"

Some in the audience cheered and clapped.

"It's time we get tough and stop this bull bob!!" he said, stepping down shortly after to more appluase from certain members in thecrowd.

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