"When it comes to pursuit of a casino to bolster economic development in the region, Greater Lansing can take a hint from an old British slogan: Keep calm and carry on.

Attorney General Bill Schuette’s lawsuit opposing efforts of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians to put a casino adjacent to the Lansing Center was expected. The city’s plan to proceed with arrangements toward a land sale for the casino is reasonable.

Lansing officials say they are proceeding with the reviews and paperwork needed to complete the land sale by Nov. 1; the tribe has plans to apply to the U.S. Department of the Interior to hold the land in trust for gaming.

Attorneys for the Sault Ste. Marie tribe believe a provision in the 1997 Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act allows them to make the purchase. The tribe and its lawyers have anticipated this challenge from the start; they believe they have a strong case — strong enough that they vigorously pursued their opportunity in Lansing."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Carry on with planning for Lansing casino (The Lansing State Journal 9/13)

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Editorial: Off-reservation gaming bids still in play in Michigan (9/12)