Waukegan once again is setting itself up for disappointment, The Hound predicts. After entering a cheapskate bid of $225 million for a gaming palace and hotel at an easily accessible 31-acre site at Fountain Square, the city and its casino partners got trumped by a $435 million bid from the village of Rosemont, which really, really wants that 10th and last Illinois gaming license.
Don't get The Hound wrong. By all rights, Waukegan should have the casino. The state's original gaming law envisioned helping communities like Waukegan. The then-riverboat law certainly helped Aurora, Elgin and Joliet. A Waukegan casino would help the city and neighboring communities, too.
The Waukegan site is the best site because it will bring new money to the table and not take away from the existing casinos. The other sites, including Rosemont, are too close to the venues in Aurora, Elgin and Joliet. Gamblers would just switch sites. Waukegan can draw new players from southeast Wisconsin. And, it could be up and running sooner than the other bids.
Logically, the Waukegan site is perfect. But logic doesn't dictate the way things operate in Illinois, as we've seen the past few years.
The Hound is barking for the Waukegan site, but there's bad juju surrounding this remaining license. The Hound hopes the hex isn't on, but don't say you weren't warned.
At least the city rolled the bones and took the gamble. As the lottery folks remind us: If you don't play, you can't win.
I must agree with the Hound, Waukegan should get the 10th license however we must plan our future as though we will not. I believe we can take the assets we have and begin to build a economic base here in Waukegan. I have a 21 point plan which helps address the cultivation of our natural resources. We must look at the changing economy and become creative in our approach we can no longer "roll the dice" on these high hopes of the prize at the end of the rainbow. We must roll up our sleeves and get to work on making Waukegan a true destination location. I look forward to publishing my entire plans soon after the presidential election.
THE HOUND SEZ: "Cultivation of our natural resources?" The Hound wasn't aware there were any old-growth forests left in Waukegan, nor oil fields or coal mines. Matter of fact, there aren't any cornfields to harvest, or much open land. This 21-point plan may have to be reduced.