KENOSHA, Wis. — A pair of recent reports are shining a spotlight on the proposed Hard Rock casino in Kenosha, arguing that the project’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) hiring goals could hurt local workers and contractors rather than help them.
The MacIver Institute, a Wisconsin-based policy think tank, published a detailed analysis describing the DEI language in the city’s casino agreement as “failed policy.” The report says the deal, signed between the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and the City of Kenosha, sets a goal of 25 percent minority employment for the project and urges contractors to award 15 percent of contracts to certified minority-owned businesses and 10 percent to those owned by women or Native Americans.
MacIver argued those provisions amount to racial and gender-based quotas that could limit opportunities for Kenosha residents who don’t fall within those classifications. The group also raised concerns that many jobs might go to out-of-state workers affiliated with Hard Rock’s parent organization, the Seminole Tribe of Florida, rather than to locals.
The analysis was later highlighted in a Casino.org article, which echoed MacIver’s claims and reported that the think tank has asked federal officials to reject the Kenosha casino proposal because of its “discriminatory hiring goals.”
Under the current plan, the Menominee Tribe and Hard Rock International hope to build a $360 million casino and resort complex just west of Interstate 94 near 60th Street. The project includes a hotel, entertainment venue, and gaming floor with more than 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games. It still requires final approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the state of Wisconsin.
As a secondary issue, the MacIver Institute also noted that an ethics complaint has been filed against Alderman Anthony Kennedy, who supported the casino. The complaint, first reported by Kenosha County Eye, alleged Kennedy might have a conflict of interest because of his work with other gaming ventures. Kennedy has publicly denied any wrongdoing and maintains he has “no conflict.”
The DEI debate — not the ethics issue — remains at the center of the controversy, with supporters emphasizing potential job growth and opponents warning that the agreement’s equity provisions could create new inequalities instead of addressing old ones.
If approved, the Hard Rock project would bring an estimated 1,000 permanent jobs and millions in new revenue to the region, making it one of the largest economic developments in Kenosha’s history.
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10 Responses
A DEI hub of degeneracy and drugs. What could go wrong?
Hey, you know what’s wrong with today’s society? Not nearly enough gambling!!
Give me a break.
DEI = Didn’t Earn It
I’m not a fan of the casino proposal for many reasons BUT the real DEI consideration ought to be that as a tribal project tribal members should obviously have preference in employment.
Then let it be on actual tribal land, then they can hire as many “native Americans” as they want
This whole project is fucked up. Why pave over more farmland, when they could build this shit on the site
of the other stupid idea, the former Dog Racing Track? It’s shit like this, that is attracting all the scumbags West of 94
and ruining the quality of life for those of us that live there.
I don’t want a casino in Kenosha! The citizens have voted no before! Look at Illinois and the dump it has become because of casinos!
Potterville.
Me not want to work anyway.Want to get drunk and smokem peace pipe
He who fails to heed the lessons of history is condemned to repeat them. The dog tracks were sold to us as geese that would lay golden eggs. They laid eggs but not golden ones and every dog track failed. The gambling market in this area is already oversaturated.
I can’t believe that only 9 people commented on this story. People comment 100 times on stupid shit!
There has to be way more than 9 people on Hwy K, that are going to be directly impacted by this….