We talked late last week about the utter hypocrisy of the Potawatomi – who have spent millions to hurt the Menominee Tribe and its Kenosha project – being founding members of a group committed to increasing economic opportunities for poor tribes. That group, the Native American Trade Network, has its big kickoff in Washington today, and here’s the statement we released on the irony of it all.

FOREST COUNTY POTAWATOMI PUT HYPOCRISY ON FULL NATIONAL DISPLAY
IN WASHINGTON, D.C., PUBLICITY STUNT
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Multiyear, multimillion-dollar effort to stifle poor Wisconsin tribe’s economic development project is polar opposite of new claim

Evan N. Zeppos, spokesman for the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin’s proposed entertainment center and casino in Kenosha, Wis., today issued the following statement regarding the Forest County Potawatomi’s membership in the newly created Native American Trade Network. The Network, launched today at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C, bills itself as a partnership of some of the nation’s wealthiest tribes with the goal of increasing economic opportunities for disadvantaged tribes. The Potawatomi have been vocal opponents of the Kenosha project, which would compete with Potawatomi’s lucrative off-reservation casino in Milwaukee.

“It is reprehensible that the Forest County Potawatomi would stand up in our nation’s capital and claim to be in favor of spreading economic opportunity to disadvantaged tribes.

“Potawatomi’s D.C. appearance is a blatant and duplicitous publicity stunt that conveniently sidesteps the millions of dollars they’ve poured into ads, lobbyists and other political and legal chicanery to preserve the casino monopoly that has made them rich. To now declare they want to help less-fortunate tribes is laughable at best, shameful at worst and supreme hypocrisy any way you look at it.

“If Potawatomi’s leaders really cared about disadvantaged tribes, they’d take a walk across the Mall after their photo-op and ask the BIA to approve the Kenosha casino and its life-changing boost for an impoverished tribe. Unfortunately, with a record of shameful conduct that directly opposes the noble intentions of the Native American Trade Network, the Forest County Potawatomi seem to be content spreading something less admirable than economic opportunity.”

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Speak out against Potawatomi’s hypocrisy and in favor of fair casino competition in Southeast Wisconsin by signing the online petition.

What Potawatomi is spreading doesn’t smell like “economic opportunity”

We thought it had to be the latest headline from The Onion.

But we did some checking around after several Casino Competition for Wisconsin supporters e-mailed us this news flash today, and it’s apparently true.

That’s right. The same Forest County Potawatomi Community that has spent millions upon millions upon millions of dollars to kill the proposed Kenosha casino – a much-needed economic development project that will help lift a very poor, very large Wisconsin tribe out of extreme poverty – is now part of a national consortium dedicated to (emphasis ours) promoting economic development for ALL tribes.

Huh?

According to a press release issued by a Washington, D.C., PR firm, the Potawatomi will travel to Washington next week to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the richest tribes in the nation as they launch the “Native American Trade Network.” The media is invited – of course – and the group’s executive director says the network’s purpose is to “spread economic opportunity in Indian Country.”

Potawatomi’s spreading something, all right – but it’s not economic opportunity. After all, how many “economically advantaged” tribes that truly care about helping their struggling counterparts would:

• Organize front groups -- one, two, and possibly a third – to oppose an impoverished Tribe’s economic development plan.
• Spend more than $1 million on a massive, extremely negative campaign to defeat such a plan at the polls.
• Bus their own casino employees to a hearing to speak out against the other Tribe’s economic development efforts.
• Fund a flawed economic study falsely attacking the other Tribe’s project.
• Spend millions on lobbyists trying to hurt the other Tribe’s efforts in the State Capitol, the U.S. Capitol and even the Executive Office of the President of the United States.
• Drop big bucks on a glitzy TV ad campaign attacking another successful Tribe for helping a disadvantaged Tribe rise out of poverty.

What is Potawatomi doing? Are they really committed to helping disadvantaged tribes? If so, they’ll stop fighting competition. They’ll embrace the Kenosha project and all it would do for a fellow Wisconsin tribe and for Wisconsin as a whole.

But we’re not holding our breath.

Promote real support for disadvantaged Tribes by signing our online petition.

Mohegan commitment to Menominee, Kenosha and Wisconsin draws more praise

A few weeks ago, a great letter to the editor in the Kenosha News effectively shot down the silly criticisms the competition-fearing Potawatomi have been spouting about the Mohegan Tribe, which is helping Wisconsin’s Menominee Tribe get the Kenosha casino project up and running. Today, the letter writer, a Kenosha businessman, outlines his thoughts even further in a thoughtful commentary on Small Business Times’ Milwaukee Biz Blog.

It’s worth reading.

You’ll recall that as part of their multimillion-dollar scheme to fend off competition and hang on to their monopoly, the Potawatomi have taken every possible opportunity to blast the Mohegan Tribe because it is – brace yourself – from Connecticut.

The Potawatomi apparently don’t want outsiders playing in Wisconsin’s business market, making nuisances of themselves by helping:

• create 3,000 jobs for Wisconsin residents
• raise billions of dollars in revenue for state and local governments
• contribute millions to local schools
• purchase hundreds of millions of dollars in local goods and services every year; and more.

Perish the thought.

Fortunately, people like this letter writer and others are seeing through Potawatomi’s anti-competition tactics. They’re recognizing the value a solid corporate citizen like the Mohegan Tribe – and its support of a very large, very poor tribe like Wisconsin’s Menominee – will bring to our state.

Join the call for real casino competition in Wisconsin by signing our online petition.

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.

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.

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.

Competition means jobs and much-needed revenue for Wisconsin

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

• “Area economy slows, reports indicate”

• “New unemployment claims rising in Wisconsin”

• “Area employment down for 8th month”

• “Area construction activity declines”

• “Supreme Court Decision blows hole in Wisconsin budget”

• “Wisconsin may have to borrow from feds to pay jobless claims”

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

• Create thousands of new jobs for local residents
• Provide billions of dollars in new revenue to state and local governments – more than any other Wisconsin business or tribe
• Provide more money to Southeast Wisconsin schools, nonprofits and charitable organizations
• Create a competitive, healthy marketplace where two casinos can thrive, enhance tourism, strengthen the local and state economy and benefit two Wisconsin tribes

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.