Milwaukee’s Mayor Cavalier Johnson has voiced his opposition to the proposed Menominee casino in Kenosha, standing alongside the Forest County Potawatomi Community against it.
“In southeast Wisconsin, the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino already caters to this region,” he expressed in a discussion with Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We don’t require an additional casino.”
Johnson highlighted the economic impact of the Potawatomi tribe, noting it creates thousands of jobs in the Milwaukee area and has a solid history of community engagement.
These statements emerge as the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) opens a public comment period on a draft environmental assessment regarding the Kenosha casino proposal. The 30-day comment period will end on April 12, after which the BIA will evaluate the feedback and will consult with tribal, state, and local entities before arriving at a final decision.
Officials from the Menominee tribe have expressed approval of the draft assessment, which found no significant environmental repercussions. The report also includes a socioeconomic appendix indicating the casino could create approximately 1,075 permanent positions and 975 temporary construction jobs over an 18-month timeframe. It further anticipates nearly $332 million in annual economic output for Kenosha County and an additional $132 million for the broader state of Wisconsin.
Kenosha Mayor David Bogdala has shown support for the initiative, branding it a crucial opportunity for regional advancement. “This project has been a long time coming for Kenosha, and it’s thrilling to see it inch closer to actualization,” he affirmed.
“The Hard Rock development introduces new growth to Kenosha – fostering job creation, drawing in investments, and enhancing our community – and we are prepared for it,” he stated. “This initiative is advantageous for Kenosha, beneficial for the region, and favorable for the state of Wisconsin.”
Nonetheless, critics argue that the assessment lacks thoroughness. Lorri Pickens from Citizens Against Gambling asserts that the report does not sufficiently examine possible consequences like increased traffic, crime, gambling addiction, and economic detriment. “The BIA is reviewing a draft environmental assessment prepared by the tribe’s own private consultant, rather than by an independent agency, which does not meet the scrutiny warranted for a project of this magnitude.”
BIA spokesperson Joshua Barnett defended the procedure, asserting that the assessment was performed under the agency’s oversight and adheres to the established standards.
Opposition towards the project has remained steady from the Forest County Potawatomi Community, which contends that the Kenosha casino would siphon revenue away from its Milwaukee establishments.
Tribal representatives also argue that the earnings could leave the state, as the Menominee Nation’s development partner, Hard Rock Casino, is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The Ho-Chunk Nation has previously opposed the initiative. The tribe currently runs six casinos in Wisconsin, located in Wittenberg, Nekoosa, Black River Falls, Tomah, Wisconsin Dells, and Madison, with plans for a seventh in Beloit this fall.
In contrast, the Oneida Nation and the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation have lent their support, emphasizing the potential for the casino to alleviate the economic challenges faced by the Menominee Reservation, which include poverty, unemployment, and limited access to healthcare and education.