State Senator Joe Griffo has written U.S. and Canadian officials, urging a resolution to the standoff that has closed the Seaway International Bridge for nearly three weeks.
"I'm not going to pretend that I'm familiar with all the issues that Canadian Customs officials have with the Akwesasne Mohawks leadership. But what I do know about is the negative economic and social effects that the closed border has caused," Griffo said.
His letter went out to U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. John McHugh, the President of Canadian Border Services and St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Chiefs.
"Reopening the bridge is vital to the commercial health of the North Country Communities I represent," Griffo wrote.
The bridge connecting Massena to Cornwall Island and Cornwall, Ontario has been closed since June 1st, when Canadian Border officers vacated their building on Cornwall Island and it was taken over by Akwesasne Mohawks.
