Detroit Council panel rejects tunnel sale

DETROIT, June 20 (UPI) -- A Detroit City Council panel Friday rejected a proposal by Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick that would lay the groundwork to sell the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

City councilors said they have not received proof that the sale would in fact generate $65 million for the city, The Detroit News reported.

Under the deal, Detroit and Windsor would turn over their halves of the tunnel to separate authorities that would consist of appointees of the two city governments

Windsor would pay the city, but officials haven't yet been able to secure $75 million from the Ontario provincial government.

"It was, in my opinion, malfeasance to put the deal in a budget when you knew you didn't have it done," said Councilwoman Sheila Cockrel. She called the deal "reprehensible."

Officials in the mayor's office say the city have to lay off 1,300 workers after July 1 if the City Council doesn't sell the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel.

The full City Council is expected to vote Tuesday on the proposal.