Today looms as an important date in the drama over the state's offer to lease and manage Belle Isle for 30-90 years — and the Detroit City Council's high mistrust of that offer.
Laura Berman of the Detroit News writes: The council's reluctance to sign off on the state's deal isn't unjustified: Members cooled their heels for more than a week to see all the details.
For whatever reason — Department of Natural Resources spokesman Ed Golder describes it as an "oversight" — council members weren't privy to parts of the lease agreement.
Given decades of mistrust and paranoia, the state might have been careful to clue in the council.
"I'm not a conspiracy theorist," says Councilwoman Saunteel Jenkins, "but when something like this happens I wonder: Are people trying to render us ineffective?"
