Chicago Casino Opposition Piles Up As More Local Officials Express Concern

The backlash continues to escalate as we approach a final decision on the Chicago casino license.

A specific meeting of the Chicago City Council was conducted on Monday where officials of various workers criticized the current procedure. There are still three bidders in the running, however, none of them have established a work agreement yet.

The president of the Chicago Federation of Labor, Bob Reiter, stated:

“We acknowledge the significance of the revenue our city receives from development tourism taxes. However, proceeding without a commitment to providing a living wage and upholding workers’ rights would be an affront to the entire Chicago labor movement.”

According to Leslie Hairston, fifth Alderman, a labor agreement is crucial for this to have any chance of success. The concerns are affecting at least some regional leaders.

Jennie Huang Bennett, the Chief Financial Officer of Chicago, has stated that the remaining applicants have been notified by the town that a work agreement could be pivotal to the final decision.

The three bidders are Bally’s Chicago, Hard Rock, and Rivers 78. Additionally, this is not the first time these businesses have faced issues related to labor.

Officials and locals speak out against Chicago casinos.

Earlier this month, the city conducted community meetings for each casino proposal. All three groups encountered challenging questions and one of the meetings even witnessed a protest outside.

We will promptly examine the primary issues and/or significant criticisms for each proposal.

Rivers 78

There are serious concerns that placing a casino closer to Chinatown could harm the local residents.

Pui Tak Center Executive Director, David Wu, commented on the Chinese community:

“As immigrants, they invest a lot of work into restaurants and other businesses, leading challenging lives. As you know, the appeal of gambling is strong. Despite working incredibly hard, I am making only slight progress. There is a chance, however, I could strike it rich.”

Concerns partly arise from cultural and language barriers because of the absence of problem gambling tools.

Grace Chan McKibben, the Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, participated in the protest outside the Rivers 78 meet. She made the following comment:

We are primarily concerned about the presence of a casino near Chinatown.

McKibben has also stated that gaming companies have “uniquely preyed upon” residents of Chinatown.

Meanwhile, Ald. Byron Sigcho Lopez (25th) is opposing the plan. He has even alleged that the selection process was unfairly skewed in favor of the Rivers & rsquo.

One Central Hard Rock

The main causes of criticism towards these proposals are the increase in sound, traffic, and crime, as well as the decrease in property values.

According to Alderman Pat Dowell III, she cannot assist with the plan of Hard Rock.

The potential relocation of The Hard Rock Casino at One Central to the South Loop, a flourishing, established community group in Chicago’s Prairie District, is a cause for concern. I am particularly worried about the complexities involved in the Hard Rock Casino’s plan as a result of this move.

Locals who attended the community meeting expressed concern about the growth of One Northern, the proposed site for the game development that is yet to materialize. However, executives from Hard Rock development asserted that despite the stagnation of the One Key project, the game project could still move forward.

Chicago’s Bally & rsquo, s

Numerous River North and River West residents voiced their opposition to the Bally & rsquo casino during the meeting, bringing up issues such as declining property values, heightened noise, increased traffic, and so on.

While some Chicagoans are in favor of a local casino, they would prefer it not to be built there.

Ald. Brendan Reilly of the 42nd district is included in that group. He stated:

Residents from River North, River West, and Fulton River District have their concerns taken as seriously as those from the 3rd and 25th wards. The city’s public safety pension systems rely on the efforts to establish a casino in Chicago and Madison.