10.23.02
Detroit News". . . The Hawaii proposal
The Ilitch venture in Hawaii -- big news in the islands earlier this year but barely known publicly back home in Detroit -- hasn't been just idle chatter. Investments have been discussed, seasoned help recruited, economic impact studies commissioned, legislation crafted and a grassroots effort mounted.
"The Web site of Holomua Hawaii, the Ilitch-backed coalition of mainland and island interests lobbying for Hawaii casinos, even features a link to MotorCity Casino. "Check out the MotorCity Casino in Detroit!" urges the Holomua Hawaii Web site (holomuahawaii.com). [site parked currently]
"She has a tremendous amount of entertainment experience," said Tom Shields, a Lansing public relations executive who has been battletested representing MotorCity Casino and is handling Ilitch's Hawaii efforts.
"Other high-profile holdings by Ilitch, the wife of Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, include the Fox Theatre, one of Metro Detroit's splashiest venues.
"Hawaii is one of only three states with no legalized gambling. Two Ilitch-backed bills allowing two casinos in the cash-strapped Aloha State were shot down earlier this year in the Hawaii Legislature, whose session starts in January and runs through April.
"But gambling is a hearty perennial issue there.
"They made a real run for it in 2002 and came up short," said Galen Fox, a House Republican leader in the Hawaii Legislature who opposes casinos. "There's a tremendous resistance to gambling in Hawaii, but it will come up again."
"For their part, Ilitch and Mike Malik, another Metro Detroiter backing casinos in Hawaii, are waiting to see who gets into office after the November election there to see if they and their Hawaii partners will take up the issue again.
"The Holomua partners -- Ilitch, Malik and about a dozen investors from Hawaii and California -- last talked about a month ago.
"There's still interest," Shields said."But he concedes that a realistic shot for casinos in Hawaii is "probably a few years off." The two bills that Holomua helped draft advocated two casinos on the island of Oahu. They would create more than 3,400 jobs and generate $75 million annually in gaming and other taxes, Holomua estimates.
"Trying to position itself as a grass-roots group, Holomua has collected 25,000 signatures from Oahu residents who support gambling there, Shields said. In 2001, Shields' firm hired a Honolulu lobbyist whose clients also include Abbott Laboratories, Motion Picture Association of America and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., according to the Hawaii State Ethics Commission.
"Michigan Consultants, another Lansing firm, conducted economic impact studies for Holomua. . ."
News stories direct from the Islands:
- "Casino backers prepare big push at Legislature "
- "Two groups back local gambling"
- "Group insist gambling 'logical; choice for isles"
- "Reinforcements arrive for isle casino fight"
- "House panel stops 2 gambling bills"
- "Ko Olina casino plan before Legislature would aid students"
- Editorial: "Casino owners say Hawaii is a winner and they're determined to get in the game"
Those consultants who pushed the Ilitch gambling proposition:
- Jack Seigle (Hawaii; apparently retired; long-time HI political consultant)
- Tom Shields (Lansing, MI; Ilitchs' primary counselor on political/PR matters; Marketing Resource Group)
- John Radcliffe (Honolulu, HI; lobbyist, Radcliffe & Associates, Inc/Capitol Consultants of Hawaii; web reference as of counsel to Shields' firm on casino and gaming issues since 2001)
- Frederick Hirayama (Honolulu, HI; lobbyist, registered as with G.A. Morris, Inc.; former state legislator; no other bio found)
- Nick Medeiros (Sacramento, CA; lobbyist, C.W. "Nick" Medeiros, Inc.; also connected to Ilitch's proposal for two casinos in Barstow, CA)
A Pacific Business News story dated 12.19.03 indicates that Marketing Resource Group (Shields) paid Radcliffe, Hirayama and Medeiros $152,699 collectively for lobbying.
Note: Radcliffe and G.A. Morris, Inc. also operate under "Capitol Consultants of Hawaii."
No comments:
Post a Comment