Monday, August 25, 2008

Does Milwaukee know that Kenosha got a better deal?

A few days ago, the Forest County Potawatomi announced they’d paid the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County $5.06 million each as part of an agreement to annually share a portion of the Tribe’s Milwaukee casino proceeds.

Looking at the numbers, we wonder…could the tribe be working so hard to kill the proposed Kenosha casino because they’re worried someone will notice Wisconsin’s Menominee Tribe gave Kenosha a better deal than the Potawatomi gave Milwaukee?

Take a look:

  • For the first seven years of operations, the Menominee have agreed to pay 3% of the Kenosha casino’s net win to the City of Kenosha and Kenosha County. It’s the same percentage the Potawatomi pay in Milwaukee, but the similarity ends there. By Year 2, Menominee’s annual payment to Kenosha and Kenosha County is projected to be about $12.6 million – a cool $2 million more than Potawatomi’s latest Milwaukee payout.
  • After seven years, Menominee’s payment to the City of Kenosha and Kenosha County jumps to 4% of net win, which will mean even more revenue for the two local governments. Meanwhile, Potawatomi will continue to pay at the 3% level in Milwaukee.
  • On top of its yearly, multimillion-dollar payments to the City of Kenosha and Kenosha County, the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin has agreed to make a separate, $1.5 million annual gift to Kenosha County schools. Schools aren’t a part of the Potawatomi’s revenue-sharing agreement in Milwaukee at all.

One of the great things about tribal gaming in Wisconsin is the positive economic impact it has on local communities and the state as a whole. We’ve never understood why the Potawatomi have taken every opportunity to kill plans for another casino that would be a positive economic contributor in Kenosha, Southeast Wisconsin and statewide.

But now, we might. Could be they’re worried that Milwaukee – once they see the significant contributions Wisconsin’s Menominee will be making in Kenosha – might ask to go back to the bargaining table.

Cast your vote for casino competition by signing our online petition.



Friday, August 22, 2008

Abbott Labs workforce cuts heighten need for good jobs in SE Wisconsin

Disturbing news from Abbott Labs, the largest private employer of Kenosha County residents – they’re cutting 1,000 jobs over the next three years to streamline operations and reduce costs. That’s especially painful in Kenosha County, where the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development reported an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent in July – the highest since March of this year and well above the state average.

Now, more than ever, it seems Kenosha can use the 3,000 good-paying jobs, plus 1,000 family-sustaining union construction jobs, the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin’s casino project would provide.

Of course, if the Potawatomi had their way, Kenosha and Wisconsin wouldn’t get any of those new jobs. They’ve shown time and time again they’re willing to give up Wisconsin jobs in favor of keeping their Southeast Wisconsin gaming monopoly.

Sign our online petition and support new jobs for Wisconsin.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Competition-free Potawatomi expansion didn’t impress this visitor

There’s a new review of Potawatomi Bingo Casino’s $250 million expansion up on TripAdvisor, which bills itself as the Web’s best source of unbiased travel reviews.

Frankly, we didn’t think it could get any worse than this scathing review we shared last summer. We were wrong.

We urge you to read the latest report in full, but here are some highlights of what “Katie209” of Milwaukee has to say after detailing some negatives about the expanded casino’s design, service and payouts.

  • “Unfortunately, this is the only game in town but don’t take any money down there that you can’t afford to lose because chances are you will.”

She then goes on to say,

  • “Can’t wait for some competition.”

There’s that word again.

Fact is, competition creates better products and better consumer experiences. Eliminating Potawatomi’s monopoly will make it a better business, a more attractive tourism destination and a stronger community asset. With real competition, everyone wins.

Interestingly, Milwaukee’s convention and visitor’s bureau is actually an accomplice in Potawatomi’s anti-competition, pro-monopoly crusade. We wonder what they have to say about how Potawatomi’s monopoly-based complacency is coloring the way potential visitors view our region.

More than 23 million people from 190 countries visited TripAdvisor in the last week alone, the Web site reports. Is this how we really want them to see our area?

Sign the online petition to help create a thriving, competitive, tourism-friendly gaming marketplace in Southeast Wisconsin.



Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Competition means jobs and much-needed revenue for Wisconsin

A few local headlines caught our attention over the past several days:

Seems like as good a time as any to remind folks that casino competition in Southeast Wisconsin will:

Food for thought. Studies confirm that casino competition – rather than today’s current monopoly – would be a huge boon to Southeast Wisconsin’s economy.

Voice your support for casino competition – and a stronger local economy – by signing the online petition.