Jul 28, 2007 11:30 pm US/Eastern
Middleboro Voters Approve Casino Deal
MIDDLEBORO (WBZ) ―
Voters in Middleboro have approved a casino deal with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe that could bring casino gambling to Massachusetts -- and millions of dollars to the town.
The votes were cast during a massive town meeting held at Middleboro High School on Saturday.
About five thousand residents turned out for the meeting, which began at 11 a.m. They brought their lawn chairs and snacks, anticipating a long day.
The meeting started with comments from people on both sides of the issue, followed by the paper ballot vote. The ballots were counted immediately, and by 3:30 p.m., a decision was reached.
"This is it… it's over… it's time now to work with people who wanted this and to try and convince the people who voted against it as well," Glenn Marshall of the Wampanoag Tribal Council told WBZ's Jim Smith.
Resdients votes 2,387-1,335 in favor of allowing the Wampanoag tribe to build a $1 billion casino. An agreement reached with the town calls for the tribe to pay Middleboro $11 million annually -- although only $7 million is guaranteed -- along with $250 million in infrastructure improvements.
(Read Wampanoag-Middleboro Agreement)Discussions between Middleboro officials and the tribe began in May after the Wampanoags received federal recognition.
The Mashpee Wampanoags have purchased 125 acres of town land, have an option to buy another 200 contiguous acres and have approached another land owner about a 200-acre abutting tract. The proposed casino site would be bounded by Route 44 on the south, Precinct Street on the north, Plymouth Street on the east and Thompson Street on the west.
(View Map Of Project Site),
(View Highway Design Proposal)Some say nearby Carver will get all of the headaches, and none of the benefits of the casino.
"NIMBY… not in my backyard," said one Carver resident. "Just would rather not have a casino here."
Over in Lakefield, the locals are watching too.
"I'm hoping that it doesn't affect us too much. Our quality of life here is great, so I'm hoping the traffic doesn't affect us too much… we'll have to see it," a resident told Smith.
Despite the vote, casino gambling is far from a done deal in Massachusetts. There are still several important hurdles that need to be cleared. First and foremost, Gov. Deval Patrick has to make a decision on whether he will support expanded gaming in the state. He is expected to announce his decision by Labor Day.
Lawmakers also need to sign off on it as well.
The federal government needs to put the tribe's Middleboro land into a trust before a casino can be built on it.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Read Wampanoag-Middleboro Agreement
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