Casino plan under fire

Thursday, March 28, 2002 | 11:14 a.m.

DETROIT -- A permanent casino plan announced by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is facing opposition by angry city council members who say they were left in the dark about the agreement.

Council members said Wednesday that Kilpatrick did not consult them on the plan, as he had promised to do, and did not disclose many details during a closed-door meeting between the council, the mayor and city lawyers.

On Tuesday Kilpatrick announced an agreement calling for each of the city's three casinos to build a 400-room hotel, give the city $34 million apiece and forgive a $150 million debt.

Council members also criticized Kilpatrick for dropping a $63.5 million neighborhood development and minority business loan program without their consent, the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News reported today.

MGM MIRAGE of Las Vegas holds one of the Detroit casino licenses, Mandalay Resort Group of Las Vegas is a partner in another.

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