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Pivotal Detroit Casino Vote Today2 August 2002DETROIT, Michigan – As reported by the Detroit News: "Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick expects the City Council to pass all three deals for permanent casinos today, aides say. "…`Since Kilpatrick announced Monday that the casinos had agreed to additional dollars for recreation in exchange for a 30-year deal to operate in Detroit, a majority of council members -- originally whom unified in opposition to the deals -- publicly shifted. While at least two of the nine members still oppose the historic deals, the five votes needed for approval appeared certain Thursday night. "Greektown and MotorCity casinos, which already submitted specific plans to the council, were expected to get approval. But MGM Grand Detroit just announced its permanent site Tuesday and still doesn't have detailed building plans. Still, the mayor's office and several council members consider it likely to be approved today. "… Passage of casino agreements covering the next three decades could bring to a close years of bombast and rancor that have plagued two previous mayors. Kilpatrick, who took office in January, became embroiled in a political slugfest with the council when he announced his initial deals with the casinos two months later. "…While substantial opposition to the deals has collapsed, Don Barden -- a Detroit millionaire who failed to get a casino license here from former Mayor Dennis Archer -- remains an unknown political factor as the casinos move forward. Barden has garnered support from several council members for getting a fourth casino license, a move that would require state legislative action…" |