The debate for a Casino in Kenosha is back on and blazing away. I've heard the commercial and listened to both sides, and very well both sides have got some mudslinging to do. I've chosen to grab one point from the pro side, and a couple from the con side and shed a little light on them. So the record is straight, I am in support of the Kenosha Casino, and they why will be touched on in one of my points
"Just vote yes for the Kenosha Casino, Governor Walker": Well, see, the thing is, if it was that simple, we would have done this 9 years ago when it passed the general election the first time. The problem that we are having is that the State of Wisconsin has a contract with the Potowatomi Tribe that only they can build a casino in the southeast region of Wisconsin, and they don't want to build another one so close to their Milwaukee location. The Menomonie tribe is the tribe that wants to build the Kenosha Casino. Now, I know that between the income and the jobs and the taxes, a Kenosha Casino will move Wisconsin forward, but it will be a gigantic step backwards from our balanced budget if we get sued by the Potowatomis
"The project has a history of corruption. One key developer even had ties to the mob": News flash, anyone who has lived in Kenosha for more than a year already knew that. Anyone who's lived in Racine for more than two years already knew that. Anyone who's lived in Lake County for more than two years already knew that. Kenosha has a very strong mob presence and everyone knows that. It's also not a big secret that the family that was tied with that project also has its fingers in Potowatomi, so just relax.
"The Kenosha Casino will take over 3000 jobs away from Milwaukee. How is that moving Wisconsin forward??": This one really pissed me off when I heard it, so forgive my rant. What all of you Milwaukee people need to understand, which you don't understand, is that Wisconsin is more than Milwaukee. The Metro of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Mequon, and Racine and it's surrounding smaller communities makes up less than 10% of the real estate that is the State of Wisconsin, and even all of those cities combined, even being the largest metro in the state, are just over a third of the state's population. There is much more to Wisconsin than that. Now, I understand that some of your business from the south is going to go away. But you still have the rest of the Milwaukee Metro to serve, and tourism from the North and West. 3000 jobs are not just going to go away, and the people who live south that work for Potowatomi will most likely try to get into Kenosha, freeing up jobs for other Milwaukee Citizens. I also understand that many people from Lake County and Cook County will probably try and get jobs there, and that's not the downside that you think. Having worked out of state, I know that your income taxes are still paid to the state you work in. Yes, your income goes out of state, and frivolous spending will go back to these counties, but also keep in mind that gas is cheaper up here, so any Illinois Citizen working in Kenosha will gladly fill up here before going back across the state line, and that is more taxation in Wisconsin's pocket. Our tax rate on groceries is also lower, so they will also gladly stop at Woodman's (on the way back to Illinois from the proposed site) and get an armload of groceries at 5.5% tax or no tax, depending on the item. The final key here is Milwaukee Traffic. Many outside visitors from Burlington, Walworth, Lake Geneva, and more importantly, Illinois, don't like driving in Milwaukee. The lower traffic and more remote location will be more than enough invitation to make an impulse trip to the casino to burn 50 bucks than planning a trip to National Ave to try and get into Potowatomi.
One small idea I had when I started thinking about this was rather than the Menomonies violating contract, why not have the Potowatomi tribe build a small extension on the proposed site. While I like the glamorous casino with stages, waterparks, and restaurants that the Menomonie tribe has proposed, a small extension, like Ho-Chunk has outside of Stoughton, would be a welcome compromise and would still utilize all the benefits I noted in my last point. Some food for thought. This is an idea that will truly bring Wisconsin forward
