They were outmanned, outspent and the media coverage grossly lopsided, yet they got their message out.
Pity Mohegan Sun couldn't behave like adults in the face of their unexpected loss.
FROM EMMALADD SHEPHERD:
There's no way that I can list all the people who
worked so hard to defeat Mohegan Sun. If I started listing them, I know I'd
forget some!!
For all of you, thank you so very much for all your hard work.
As we found out last night, it paid off. And our little David did defeat
Goliath!!!
Emy
Casino
November 6, 2013
Our
hard work paid off – our little grassroots organization defeated the huge casino
giant and their millions of dollars.
A
couple, who own lots of buildings in downtown Palmer, in September, offered us
the use of a storefront for our headquarters. Several people volunteered to
staff it so that it could be open to the public about 20+ hours per week. We
were able to hand out lawn signs (which got stolen, but that’s another story),
assign people to standouts, sign up people to do door-to-door canvassing and
generally give people a place to visit.
I am
convinced that this was the turning point of opposition. As time went on, we
discovered that many, many people were opposed, but were afraid to come out. The
Mohegan people were intimidating.
I
took part in a couple of standouts, but then I got trashed on the “yes” facebook
page. “EmmaLadd Shepherd should to back to Monson where she belongs and mind her
own business,” was the mildest one. So I decided that I was hurting the campaign
by being so out there. I staffed the headquarters so that Palmer people could go
out publicly.
Yesterday, during the election, I stayed in the office so that the Palmer
people could stand outside the polls.
Nelson
and Beverly Pease, the landlord, brought in a TV and food for our post-election
party. Which was, of course a victory party!
Pandemonium broke out, 5 minutes after the polls closed and the final
vote was announced on Ch 22. Shouting, crying, hugging, jumping up and down,
Champagne was broken out! The voter turnout was unprecedented – 66%
I’m
still in a daze.
When
I left our headquarters last night, I swung around where the Mohegan had their
headquarters. They’d basically folded their tents and left. The storefront was
dark.
Of
course they’re going to ask for a recount. The vote was close – only 93 votes –
but I don’t believe they can find that many votes.
Anyway, I’m still in a daze. Ch.22 was at our headquarters when the vote
was announced. The reporter tried to interview me – I think I just babbled at
her.
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