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.

The Mohegan Tribe: ‘A Great Model’ for Wisconsin project

One of Potawatomi’s big messages in its multimillion-dollar campaign to kill competition and preserve its monopoly is that it’s somehow bad for an out-of-state Tribe to be involved in the Kenosha casino effort. The Potawatomi have spent a lot of money to blast the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut’s work on a project that will meet the significant unmet needs of one of Wisconsin’s largest and poorest tribes and bring 3,000 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars to Wisconsin.

Potawatomi’s argument really doesn’t make a lot of sense – most people agree that having out-of-state businesses invest in Wisconsin is a good thing. And the Mohegan Tribe is among the best in the business – just take a look at this letter to the editor from Saturday’s Kenosha News. The writer, a local businessman, experienced Mohegan’s expertise first-hand.

Mohegan Tribe knows the casino business

Kenosha has heard a lot about the Mohegan Tribe over the past four years. The Mohegan, experts in developing and running a successful resort, will partner with Wisconsin’s Menominee Tribe to develop the Kenosha entertainment center and casino and manage its operations for the first seven years.

I’ve met some of the Mohegan leaders on their visits to town and have been impressed by their dedication to the Menominee, their support for Kenosha and their business philosophy. But when I and other local business leaders visited the Mohegan Sun resort in Connecticut, I was blown away.

The Sun, including its $1 billion expansion opening in 2010, is an example of the many positives the Menominee project will bring to Kenosha. The Sun’s 9,000-plus employees earn above-average pay and excellent benefits, just as the Menominee project will create 3,000 top-paying jobs here.

The Mohegan have strong relationships with local municipalities — even providing reciprocal police, fire and paramedics services to neighboring communities. The Menominee have developed solid relationships in Kenosha and will forge even stronger connections as this project develops.

And just as the Menominee have pledged to work with local vendors in Kenosha, a “buy local” commitment is evident at the Mohegan Sun. The resort spends millions with local companies every year, and the expansion site is full of Connecticut contractors and laborers proud to work on the high-profile project.

I also learned more about Mohegan’s commitment to renewable energy and recycling; its partnerships with schools and charities; the list goes on. The Mohegan Tribe is clearly doing something very right and is a great model for the Menominee project.

Dave Gallo

We’ve always thought it a little hypocritical for the Potawatomi to criticize the Mohegan for helping a fellow tribe – especially after the Potawatomi refused repeated requests by the Menominee to work together in Kenosha. The fact is, the Mohegan are a class act.

PS: A quick note about competition. Guess what’s just 7 short miles away from the Mohegan Sun, one of the largest and most successful Indian casino resorts in the United States? The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe’s Foxwoods, also one of the largest and most successful Indian casino resorts in the country. Not only do the Mohegan have a healthy respect for competition, they’re pretty good at it.

Meanwhile, the Potawtomi would rather avoid competition altogether – even if it means lost jobs and economic opportunity for Wisconsin, and continued poverty for a fellow Wisconsin Tribe.

Speak out for healthy competition and business investment in Wisconsin by signing the online petition.

Competition will be worth the wait!

There’s another outstanding letter to the editor in this morning’s Kenosha News – check it out:

The casino will be worth the wait

A recent letter that suggested replacing the proposed casino with a “family resort,” retractable-roof arena and monster truck shows makes some points that must be countered with facts.

Let’s start with a blatant inaccuracy. The writer asserts that the two Kenosha casino referendums passed by only a small percentage. Not true. In 1998, voters endorsed the casino by a 14 percent margin; in 2004, the margin was 12 percent. Those familiar with politics will tell you that a margin of victory of 10 percent or higher is considered a landslide.

The writer also demands to know how much the casino’s nearly 3,000 jobs would pay. The Menominee Tribe has answered that question for years. According to the project Web site, the average entertainment center employee would earn $47,234, including benefits like health care, a 401(k) plan and dental and vision insurance. These are the kind of good-paying jobs with benefits we want in Kenosha.

Finally, the writer takes a shot at “out-of-state” funding for the project. The Mohegan Tribe, which has been part of the effort since its inception, should be applauded for its willingness to help Wisconsin’s Menominee Tribe and its commitment to Kenosha. To criticize Mohegan’s involvement would be like protesting Abbott Labs, Uline, Affiliated Foods and other non-Wisconsin businesses looking to build here. It’s desirable to have out-of-state companies invest in our community’s growth and success.

It’s clear the writer is unhappy with Kenosha. That’s unfortunate, because there are so many good things happening here. The casino will be another good thing — one that’s definitely worth the wait.

Tony Witkauskis
Kenosha

It’s great to see that citizen support for the Menominee project remains so strong – great, but not surprising.

After all, competition will bring thousands of good jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in other economic benefits to Wisconsin. And, as PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2005 study showed, the expanded Potawatomi Bingo Casino in Milwaukee would still see a $200 million-plus bump in revenue, even with competition from a new Kenosha entertainment center.

That’s good news for Southeast Wisconsin and the entire state – because everyone will benefit from a healthy, competitive marketplace.

Say “yes” to real casino competition in Southeast Wisconsin by signing our online petition.

Petition Signers Call for Competition

Our online petition continues to collect signatures and great comments from people who want to see the jobs, economic opportunity and other benefits the Kenosha casino and real competition in Southeast Wisconsin’s gaming market would bring to our state.

Here are just a few samples of comments that readers have posted in the past couple weeks:

• Look at Tunica, Miss., and see all that the casinos and gaming has done for that area!! It is surely a big plus. From a very poor town to a very prosperous community. Casinos are here to stay and if we are smart - we would stop all this nonsense and bickering and start building in Kenosha!! It is time Wisconsin cashed in on some of the profits and the people get a chance at numerous jobs. Wisconsin people don't have to always being giving their money (so to speak) to other states. (Mary G.)

• The children of the Menominee Nation's future is at stake. (Corey S.)

• Yes to Kenosha gaming. (Robert S.)

• Let's get going with the building of the casino. (Rollan C.)

• I hate monopolies! Competition is not only healthy but good for the economy. (Michelle J.)

• Build it now! (Craig C.)

• Let’s be fair to all the tribes! (Jeff M.)

From the looks of it, more people are catching on to the real reason behind the Potawatomi’s multimillion-dollar campaign against the Kenosha casino – it’s a matter of controlling the market, limiting competition and preserving Potawatomi’s monopoly.

Join hundreds of signers in adding your own call for competition to our online petition.