Jim Byers, owner of Hotel Mac, has voted no on N.I.C.E., he tells me this afternoon. According to an analysis broadcast by N.I.C.E. leader Paula Asmus to supporters this morning, that's the end of N.I.C.E.

"The cost is exhorbitant," says Jim. "I'd be paying over $6000 per year. I don't know what they'd be doing with it. They don't know themselves."

No other N.I.C.E. voter, he says, has as big a personal stake. Even Tom Butt shares ownership with "15 other guys," he says. "He can spread that over a lot other people. I would spread mine over one guy."