City Councilman Hopeful Belle Isle Lease Talks With The State Will Continue

DETROIT (WWJ) - Detroit City Councilman James Tate is a staunch supporter of the Belle Isle lease deal. He's waiting the official word from Lansing on the withdrawal reports but says he is disappointed that an effort to place the matter on Tuesday's City Council agenda failed.

"I've said vocally and I'm not ashamed of it, I think it was the best deal that we could have gotten at this point, and I am supportive of it," said Tate. "I helped renegotiate the terms ... there were some things that the state wanted that they didn't get, there were some things that we wanted as a city that we didn't necessarily get."

Tate says he felt the lease option with the state was in the best interest of the citizens of the city.

As for what happens next, Tate thinks it's too early to tell, but adds that there's still the potential for more conversations with the state and his council colleagues.