Community Corner

Lakeville Joins Freetown in Rejecting Casino

Lakeville voters came out strong against the planned Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) casino

Voters in Lakeville definitely do not want a casino in their town. Just a few days after voters in Freetown rejected the casino question 954 to 308, Lakeville voters followed with a 1,735 to 172 vote against the proposed plan from Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to build a $167 million resort casino on land that borders the two towns.

According to the Cape Cod Times, “An overwhelming majority of those questioned as they left the polls said they opposed the proposal because they feared it would irreparably change their community.”

However, this does not mean that the plan is off the table. Both votes were non-binding and according to tribal Chairwoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, a matter of protocol required by the state. To date, Governor Patrick has refused negotiations with the tribe on any of their efforts to develop a casino claiming the tribe gave away its gaming rights in a 1987 land deal.

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