Detroit City Council will once again take up a plan today that calls for making Belle Isle a state park.
Last week, Michigan Radio's Sarah Cwiek reported council members called the plan "ridiculous" and "terrible."
James Tate was the Council’s leading voice for some kind of state partnership on Belle Isle. But Tate said the proposal, as it stands, is “very flawed” and “rife with a lack of detail.” “I think it’s ridiculous for us to be asked to vote, or even consider, a document that’s so incomplete,” Tate said. “At this moment, I’m an absolute no. What we have in front of us is way beyond disrespect. It’s stupid.” Council member Saunteel Jenkins agreed.
The state has promised more details and is confident a deal can be reached. From today's Detroit Free Press:
Councilman James Tate, during an online chat Monday about Belle Isle on freep.com, said the city's financial crisis has forced Detroit to focus on core services such as police, firefighting, lighting and trash pickup. "Belle Isle is an asset, but it is not a core service of ours," Tate wrote. "I have been and remain open to any and all suggestions (and assistance) on how we can improve the park." DNR spokesman Ed Golder said the DNR and Snyder's staff are "optimistic that we can work through details and get the council the details they're looking for and give them some comfort that this will be a good thing for the city."
