Middleborough votes yes and no on casino

They voted against the casino in a non-binding hand vote, but yes in a binding ballot-box vote. The matter now moves to the state legislature.

Sabutai reports from the Middleborough town meeting:

... One major note in this meeting was the "Orange Shirts". Money came from somewhere to emblazon stickers, hats, and t-shirts with the slogan "vote YES for Middleboro's future" adorning several dozen attendees. An IBEW bus dispatched about a dozen such people right as my bus was letting off, all with matching chairs and carrying spring water. We entered the registration area together in front of my bus. They did not register or receive a ballot, but sat with Middleoboro residents and participated in voice and hand votes. I'm not sure whether these non-residents were organized by unions or corporations. ...

He also notes how the selectmen chairman moved to cut off debate before any non-elected local residents could speak.

Dan Kennedy analyzes the votes, says they show voters pretty clearly don't want a casino in their town:

... That is a clear message that though the voters believed the proposed deal was the best they could get, their preference is no casino at all. Over and over, the townspeople have been told that if they rejected the deal, the casino would be built anyway, and the town would get far less than it would by signing the agreement. Thus the "yes" vote on the agreement was entirely predictable. ...