The Detroit Zoo was a gift to the City by the Detroit Zoological Society.
Since they cannot run it properly it should be given back.
When we lived in the area the Detroit Zoo was one of the only nice places there was to go with kids. Has it changed in the past 6 years?
In NYC, the city created a similar agreement with the New York Zoological Society (now known as the Wildlife Conservation Society...who own and have run the Bronx Zoo and Aquarium for almost 100 years) They are about 25 years into a 50 year agreement.
The result? The Central Park Zoo is the gem it should be (and the Queens and Prospect park zoos as well) and the animals are being cared for by the best in the field....win win...