Simone bid voted down

The referendum on March 20th for the bid of Simone Development to buy the Number Six School in Woodmere was soundly defeated in an almost two to one ratio of votes.

The Community Coalition of the Five Towns reported that the final number estimate was 3923 No votes to 1972 Yes votes. In an email sent out after midnight Wednesday, the CC5T thanked the voters and the community activists who helped defeat “a referendum that would have forever altered our community for the worse.”

At 9:50 PM Wednesday night, just before the polls closed, the lines snaked across the gym by the polling booths at Lawrence High School, voters waiting calmly for the two remaining booths. Two booths were already filled with 995 votes each. Poll watchers said that it was an “unprecedented turnout,” exceeding a standard political election. Members of the CC5T have hopes to harness the political clout they activated to continue to address and better the needs of the community.

The attorney for Simone Development was unavailable at press time.