The casino measure turned out 57 percent of the town’s 17,400 registered voters, less than the 73 percent of voters who turned out during the presidential election in 2012.
“We respect the choice Milford voters made today,” said Scott Butera, Foxwoods president and CEO. “Throughout this process we’ve gotten to know Milford and thousands of its residents. While we worked hard to offer a resort casino we believe would benefit the area, the town made a decision similar to many other communities across the state.”
The vote was a critical step to keep alive a development plan that was one of three in Greater Boston competing for a resort casino license. After Tuesday’s vote, the only proposals left standing in Greater Boston are in Revere and Everett.
Mohegan Sun’s proposal for a casino in Palmer, Mass., competing for a casino license in Western Massachusetts, was rejected by voters on Nov. 5, leaving only MGM’s Springfield proposal in play in the western part of the state.
Members of Casino-Free Milford, who organized opposition to Foxwoods’ plan, celebrated Tuesday night at PiNZ Entertainment, a bowling alley and bar.
Co-chairs John Seaver and Steve Trettel said their strategy was effective because they were the hometown team. Each says he is a fourth generation Milford resident. They took their position to friends and people they’ve known for decades.
“When we go house to house, everybody knows us,” Seaver said.
Trettel added: “Not only do we know them, we know their genealogy.”
Casino-Free Milford has been working steadily since February in opposition to Foxwoods’ plan. One of the organizers, Geri Eddins, said her calendar has “sleep in” written on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
“I’m so wired, I don’t know if I’ll be able to,” she said.
During the day Tuesday, supporters and opponents of the proposal exchanged verbal jabs as they waved at cars passing the Milford Senior Center, one of three places where people were casting votes.
Joe Pandozzi, a retired member of the local labor union, held a sign supporting the casino.
He cited the jobs it promised to bring and the estimated $35 million the casino would have given to Milford every year. “$35 million a year, you can’t beat that,” Pandozzi said.
Just down the sidewalk, Laura Scirocco said she didn’t think the casino would be good for a relatively small town, population 25,500. “We’re not against the casino, that’s just not the right spot for it,” Scirocco said.