The criticism is intensifying as we near a final determination on the Chicago casino license.
During a recent Chicago City Council meeting held on Monday, officials from different labor groups voiced their criticisms of the current process. Despite there being three remaining bidders in contention for the project, none of them have finalized a work agreement yet.
Bob Reiter, the president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, declared:
We recognize the importance of the revenue generated from development tourism taxes in our city. Nevertheless, moving forward without a dedication to ensuring a living wage and protecting workers’ rights would disrespect the Chicago labor movement as a whole.
Leslie Hairston, the fifth Alderman, believes that a labor agreement is essential for the success of this project. The concerns raised have caught the attention of several regional leaders.
Jennie Huang Bennett, the Chief Financial Officer of Chicago, announced that the town has notified the remaining applicants that a work agreement could be crucial in determining the final decision.
Bally’s Chicago, Hard Rock, and Rivers 78 are the three bidders involved. It is worth noting that these businesses have previously encountered labor-related challenges.
Officials and locals speak out against Chicago casinos.
At the beginning of this month, the city held community meetings for every casino proposal. Each group faced difficult questions, and one of the meetings was disrupted by a protest outside.
We will quickly assess the main issues and/or major criticisms for each proposal.
Rivers 78
There are significant worries that the proximity of a casino to Chinatown may negatively impact the community’s residents.
David Wu, Executive Director of Pui Tak Center, shared his thoughts on the Chinese community.
Immigrants put in hard work to build restaurants and other businesses, facing many challenges. The temptation of gambling is strong, and despite my relentless efforts, progress is slow. Yet, there remains a possibility of striking it rich.
Concerns are partially driven by cultural and language barriers due to the lack of problem gambling resources.
During the protest outside the Rivers 78 meet, Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, shared the following statement.
Our main focus is on the proximity of a casino to Chinatown.
McKibben has also claimed that gaming companies have targeted residents of Chinatown in a predatory manner.
Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th) is currently opposing the plan, claiming that the selection process was unfairly biased in favor of Rivers & rsquo.
One Central Hard Rock
The primary reasons for criticism of these proposals include rising noise levels, increased traffic, and crime rates, along with declining property values.
Alderman Pat Dowell III stated that she is unable to help with the Hard Rock plan.
The possible move of The Hard Rock Casino at One Central to the South Loop, a thriving neighborhood in Chicago’s Prairie District, is raising concerns. I am particularly concerned about the challenges that may arise from the casino’s relocation plan.
Residents at the community meeting voiced worries about the expansion of One Northern, the planned location for the game development project that has not yet come to fruition. Nonetheless, representatives from Hard Rock development maintained that despite the delays in the One Key project, the game project has the potential to progress.
Chicago’s Bally & rsquo, s
During the meeting, many residents from River North and River West expressed their disapproval of the Bally’s casino, citing concerns about decreased property values, increased noise levels, and traffic congestion, among other issues.
Some Chicago residents support the idea of a local casino, but they would rather it be constructed elsewhere.
Alderman Brendan Reilly from the 42nd district is also part of that group. He mentioned:
The concerns of residents in River North, River West, and Fulton River District are given equal weight to those in the 3rd and 25th wards. The city’s public safety pension systems hinge on the success of efforts to bring a casino to Chicago and Madison.
