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How to become informed on the impact of casinos on communities
Kenoshan's might want to ask some questions as they consider whether a casino is a good thing for Kenosha. How do communities decide to host casinos? Who is approached? What strategies are used by the casino organizers to ensure buy-in by the town? What strategies are available to the hometown folk who'd like the opportunity to put this question before the whole community? What are the experiences of other cities? Are we getting the full story on benefits and costs? If a casino is not on taxable property how does a community make sure it obtains the promised 'contributions' and 'trickle-down' benefits?
Where does the money come from to start a casino? How does the money flow to elected officials and representatives, school boards and law enforcement, does it affect the media and newspapers?
Watch this page for links to information related to such questions and more. If you wish to add links, please feel free to contact us with your suggestions. VOICE's objective is to obtain full information on behalf of the citizens of Kenosha.
Links to information sources representative of a variety of opinions
- Milwaukee Journal July 16, 1998 'Referendum sought on Dairyland casino'
- The Milwaukee Journal article regarding VOICE.
- VOICE petition
- Our petition language
- National Coalition AGAINST Legalized Gambling
- A coalition providing information and resources to community members to help stop gambling.
- Wisconsin Policy Research Institute
- A non-profit institute which makes it's public-policy studies available in Adobe PDF format.
- The Wisconsin Legislature
- How to contact members, agenda, bills, budget, lobbyists, and more!
- Wisconsin Gaming Establishments
- A listing of gambling operations in Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin Gaming Contributions to the Legislature
- Mother Jones investigated contributions in 11 states related to gaming. A large set of related links start from this page.
- CasinoWire reports how much contributions have increased since 1991.
- The casino industry just wants to be left alone and is paying for that privelege heavily.
- Common Cause December 1997
- Summarizes trends of increased contributions and lobbying by gambling and casino interests.
- EyeOnTheWeb's presentation on gambling.
- Experience casino gambling by following links at this site. Hang on to your virtual money!
- Internet Casino Sports Gaming website wants to take your dollars through the Web via VISA or MasterCard.
- By the end of 1998, this site wants you to charge your stakes raw with your plastic, run your credit to the limit against electronic odds online!
- Las Vegas Life March 1998 'Indian Gambling'
- This article mentions Chief Apesanahkwat and the Menomonee.
- National Indian Gaming Commision
- American Indian Gambling and Casino Information Center, for owners' perspectives and links.
- The United States Gambling Research Institute
- For an alternative view point on all those statistics thought favorable to economics of Indian Gaming coming to town.
- Milwaukee Journal, March 7, 1998, '3 dream of Kenosha casino'
- Who are the players?
- Milwaukee Journal, July 9, 1998 'Casino board seat envisioned for Andrea'
- Senator Joe, say it isn't so!
- Milwaukee Journal July 19, 1998 'Chicago cash fuels plans for big casino '
- $40 Million! But I thought the Menomonee were supposed to be the primary...hmmmm. So it's a 10 year reunion for those beaten out before?
- Another place the name Apesanahkwat appears.
- An actor with Northern Exposure?
- To snail mail or call the chief
- Apesanahkwat, Chairman
Menominee Nation
P.O. Box 910
Keshena, WI 54135
Ph: 715-799-5113
FAX: 715-799-3373
- Mob plan to run casino uncovered.
- Indian gaming casino runs afoul of law with electronic gambling machines purchased from mob.
- Iowan's struggle with Gambling
- Iowan's have struggled with gambling's impact on their communities.
- Competative Enterprise's pro-gambling perspective
- Robert Detlefsen gives his presentation to the Gambling Impact Study Commission.
- US News and World Report 'The national bet'
- Be sure to visit the Get links and more in article.
- Indian: Politics drove casino nix
- USA Today 01/21/98 Story on Campaign Finance and gambling interests influence on legislature.
- CryptoLogic Reports on Proposed Legislation
- Newsedge report on passage of Kryl amendment affecting internet-based casinos in USA.
- § 2710. Tribal gaming ordinances
- Attn: Legal Beagles, Federal Law on Tribal Gaming
- U.S. Code regarding Indians and Criminal Code
- The criminal law applicable to Indians and citizens in Indian country.
- The Coalition to Repeal Proposal E: Petition Signature Campaign to Stop Casino Gambling in Detroit Before It Starts Completed Filing In Time for Nov. 3, 1998 Statewide Ballot
- Newsedge July 28, 1998 report on efforts by Detroit-based 'The Coalition to Repeal Proposal E' to resist gambling casinos in Detroit.
- Gambling money pours into Springfield, but casino bills still fail
- Evaluate how gambling-related contributions and favors influence top Illinois government. Check out the finance contributions link.
- Lakota protest conversion of community center into Buffalo Casino
- In Rapid City, South Dakota, BIA police were brought in to stop protesters from resisting construction crews trying convert community center into casino named after sacred animal. Elementary and High School are housed in this same building.
- Minneapolis Start charts the chronology of casino lobbying
- Minneapolis Start charts the chronology of casino lobbying in Wisconsin and Minnesota, how influence works.
- Midwest Today January 1995 'GAMBLING ON A NEW LIFE'
- NEAL LAWRENCE writes Indian gaming is not such a sure bet; despite its success, opposition abounds.
- Casino companies, tribes teaming upLas Vegas Review-Journal March 17, 1997 on the uneasy partnerships between tribes and resort interests.
- Babbitt testifies on Indian casino decision
- Appeared in USA Today, Copyright 1998 AP.
- Another chronology of gambling contributions in Wisconsin.
- Indian News chronology of DNC contributions 1995-1997.
- The Times-Picayne documents influence, money, and deal-making by governor of Louisiana.
- How money and power influenced gambling operations in Louisiana.
- ROLLING THE DICE - Reputation Management
- An overview of the controversy of gaming and public opinion.
- Gambling fever: what can Congress do about it? Questions for candidates.
- Alabaman's seek clarification from congressional candidates regarding positions on Indian Gaming
- The Gambling Connection: Willie Brown, Edward DeBartolo Jr., and the covert drive to bring legalized gambling to San Francisco
- California example of corruption induced by gaming interests, election fraud, $14 million in contributions.
- "GAMBLERS UNANIMOUS"
- Common Cause documents how 'Gambling Interests Tripled Their Soft Money Giving In 1996'
- Citizen Link article summarizing casino related news.
- This site is associated with Dr. Dobson, the page has links on effects on local busines, gambling industry contributions and referendums, and more.
- Economic impacts of Indian Gaming.
- A University of North Carolina graduate work on the issues are found here and more links.
- Indian Gaming News & Updates
- More links from tribe's perspectives.
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Other Learning Resources
Other places you can find information on gambling, casinos, personalities involved:
The Kenosha Public Library
Milwaukee Journal
U.S. News and World Report
CBS 60 Minutes -- has studied impact on native american communities.
Contact these Wisconsin communities who host, struggle with, or have opposed gambling organizations:
Appleton -- citizens oppose dog track and prevail
Brown County -- famous for big bucks embezzlement by county official
Turtle Lake -- has Ho-Chunk casino, now has a measurable murder rate.
Hudson -- referendum defeated, feds oppose, but city made contracts
anyway, lawsuits regarding commitments made by various parties
Kaukauna -- broke after 2 years operations...what happens when the gambling organization fails?
Follow the money trail. Ask for the financial records. Junk bonds are already issued to raise money to fund the casino in Kenosha...who sold them, who holds them? Menomonee invest $0. Recheck those local Kenosha investor lists...is that real money or 'credits' given to them by other parties?
The Milwaukee Journal has covered links with Morgan Murphy and Madrigano...do you know where do the links lead? To what organizations?
Will our local politicians and centers of influence stoop to pick up the river of funding from casino interests? School board? Sheriff? Local utilities? Charities?
Just how much should a community expect from the profits made by a casino? just a flat fee for fire and police services? 5%? 10%? 25%? How to pay for police, fire, court, and medical costs? How will Kenosha educate it's citizenry in the schools? If there's a new $$$ million dollar company in Kenosha, what's the fair share it should provide the community if it pays no taxes for city, state or federal needs, education, sanitation, required infrastructural improvements to city.
What are the auditing standards for casinos? How will it be held accountable to the community for it's 'take'?
The social costs of 'big losers', is it true a casino can increase rates of divorce and broken homes, lost homes, lost jobs, lost lives?
Are Casino jobs like 'regular' jobs? Why does DILHR - equal rights division, 1-608-266-6860, refuse to take complaints from employees (harassment, discrimination etc.) as they relate to Wisconsin's Fair Employment Law? Why do the Federal EEOC laws also afford no protection to employees in similar situations? The rights and/or protections now afforded to the employees at Dairyland Greyhound Track through the state and federal court systems would no longer apply on tribally owned land. If wages, benefits and days off are offered now, can the casino revoke or reduce them later at will? No unions? No organizing? Can they discriminate at will? Any minimum wage, age laws apply? What if nearly nude or nude employees are used to draw patrons when the allure of gambling fades? Once the land is tribal owned, what laws still apply anyway?
VOICE Contact
geobeliever@geocities.com
Tell Congress How You Feel
Senator Russell Feingold
senator@feingold.senate.gov
Senator Herb Kohl senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov
Representative Jay Johnson jay.johnson@mail.house.gov
Representative Mark Neumann mneumann@hr.house.gov
Represenative Scott Klug badger02@hr.house.gov
Representative F. James Sensenbrenner sensen09@hr.house.gov
Representative Tom Petri telltom@hr.house.gov
Other Wisconsin Contacts
Attorney General James Doyle
Room 114 East, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Ph: 608-266-1221 / FAX: 608-267-2779
Governor Tommy G. Thompson
Office of the Governor
Room 115 East, State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
Ph: 608-266-1212 FAX: 608-267-8983
Email: wisgov@mail.state.wi.us
You can call the Legislative hotline Toll-free, 1-800-362-9742, to learn the name, district, and address of your state representative.
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Kenosha VOICE
