Posted February 20, 200619 yr I know this has nothing to do with Ohio (Sorry), but I heard Detroit is closing their zoo due to budgetary shortfalls. Is this true? Also, do you think this will be a trend across the US now that one large city has done it as a way to save money.
February 20, 200619 yr I think in Cincinnati it's supportd by the county and city. Why didn't Wayne county come to the rescue?
February 20, 200619 yr I think in Cincinnati it's supportd by the county and city. Why didn't Wayne county come to the rescue? I believe the same goes for the Cleveland Zoo as being part of the metroparks organization. I really do not understand this. How can a kid grow up in a big city without a zoo. There had to have been other cuts possible before this happened. Good luck to Detroit simply because it is one of my favorite places outside of Cleveland. I hate to say it because it's a very contraversial topic but hear goes...Thank heavens for those casino's.
February 20, 200619 yr I think in Cincinnati it's supportd by the county and city. Why didn't Wayne county come to the rescue? The Detroit Zoo is located in Oakland County.
February 20, 200619 yr Oh I thought Detroit was located in Wayne county. So the city of Detriot spread into Oakland county?
February 20, 200619 yr The Detroit Zoo is located in Royal Oak, Mi. It is two miles north of the Wayne co. and Oakland co. border.
February 20, 200619 yr The Detroit Zoo is owned by the City of Detroit but is actually located on the border of Royal Oak and Huntington Woods in Southern Oakland County. The city also owns several golf courses in the burbs along with the zoo itself. Geographically speaking, the zoo is located right off of I-696 on Woodward Ave, just west of I-75. No counties or cities (besides Detroit) are involved with supporting the zoo besides some state funding. The city is out of money and the Zoological Society wanted to take over all of the operations. The city council voted no since they still would have been paying up to $1 million for insurance, security and some other factors. This has been an issue for several years and it goes back to when the city closed the zoo on Belle Isle. The Society tried to take over then but were voted down then as well.
February 20, 200619 yr Wow the status of Detroit would be the biggest major city without a zoo and mass transit???
February 20, 200619 yr I do not believe that the zoo will close. I am angry that city council voted the way they did. But I am sure a deal should come about in a day or two. What angers me the most is that a couple years ago there was a ballot proposal in SE michigan that would have created a regional arts tax to help pay for the zoo, the DSO, the DIA, Cranbrook, and other cultural institutions and voters shot it down. Now everyone (suburbanites) want to complain that the city is to blame for cultural icons closing. Well this is what happens when your city is broke. But again my gut feeling is that zoo will not close and council needs to this deal done.
February 20, 200619 yr Hi fellow wayne stater...I did my graduate work there. The Detroit Zoo is nothing special (especially when you compare to Toledo and Cincinnati Zoos). Still, its a special place (as was Belle Isle Aquarium) to most metro Detroiters. I think the City Council in Detroit made a huge mistake in voting not to transfer operations. I think most people voted no on the tax because they didn't trust the city/county to manage the funds.
February 20, 200619 yr Another interesting note...The DIA is in a similar situation. No city funding and an outside group wanting to take control of operations...we shall see how that also plays out.
February 20, 200619 yr Just got done watching the Detroit news station. I cant believe that city council is basically giving up on thier zoo. Apparently the layoff notices went out today. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/NEWS11/60220012 On the bright side this is great for Ohio b/c the Toledo Zoo is about to get an expansion pending if the levies pass. Although I feel sorry for Detroit because the zoo is a great educational tool for childern and great for families. Detroit is starting to lose alot of family entertainment with thier concententration on casinos, adult clubs and all.
February 21, 200619 yr Calm down I can assure you even though I am pissed about the way it is going down. I honestly dont believe that the zoo is closing and it will take 2 weeks for the layoff notices to go out. The city council president Kenneth Conkrel said earlier on the radio that there is still time and city council is going to look at other options. And even the governor the lovely Jennifer Granhlom (so much better than bob taft) said that there are still options left so im really not that worried about the situation. Oh and by the way the DIA some years ago went through this transition and they are now privately funded while the city still owns it. And they are doing very well even going through a massive expansion which should be done this summer.
February 21, 200619 yr God, I love Detroit: "This is not a plantation," Collins said. "We are not owned by everybody else. Black folks aren't owned by white folks any more." http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060220/UPDATE/602200399 "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 21, 200619 yr ^yeah, and your ghetto cosi in an old shopping mall is no seriously. I was just thinking of the city of detroits holdings in the suburbs. I mean how much is the land that rackham golf course is on? (literally next door). Back in the day it used to be quite the course, but its been in shambles for years.
February 22, 200619 yr OMG .... Comments like this are too often familar from the leadership of the Motor City.... The Future of the Detroit Zoo By Kimberly Craig & Dave LewAllen Web produced by Sarah Morgan February 20, 2006 Detroit’s financial mess has put the Detroit Zoo on the endangered list. City council members said their vote was not to close the zoo, but some felt they were being bullied by a state deadline and lawmakers who look down on Detroit. Council member Barbara-Rose Collins said the state’s deadline for the city to sign over zoo operations to the Zoological society boiled down to disrespect. Many council members felt they were being bullied into handing over zoo operations without an agreement they were comfortable with. Some city council members said they were largely opposed to giving $10 million in capital improvement funds to the society and paying almost $1 million a year for insurance and security without getting any of the revenue. City council members said they also wanted to have a say in who would be hired as the director. Council member Martha Reeves said, "Whoever runs the zoo should have an understanding with the city council. And it was not clear what the actual agreement was, it was never completed." Collins said, "The symbolism is that Detroit is a black city and that we’re unable to govern ourselves. So we need an overseer, the state legislature, or what have you, to step in and tell us what we must do and how to do it." She said she will not sign off on an operating agreement until it protects Detroit’s interests and the state should not try to force them with a funding deadline. "That is a racist attitude. I resent it very much. I’m trying not to let it color my judgments, but we’re not a plantation, blacks aren’t owned by white folks anymore," said Collins. The Kilpatrick administration and the Zoological society proposed an agreement that council rejected on Monday. A spokesperson for the mayor said the process of closing the zoo has begun. But, she added, the door is still open to discussions with council members should they come up with an alternate plan. City Council members said they will work with the mayor to raise funds to keep the zoo open. "I don’t believe that the zoo will close, I believe that the zoological society and the city council will come to an agreement," said Collins. Governor Jennifer Granholm said, "We asked the legislature to approve $4 million to allow the Detroit Zoo to continue. Obviously it’s a cultural gem and I hope that the Detroit City Council does what it needs to do to make sure that gem continues." Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. council members will hold a press conference at the city county building to address questions about the zoo’s future. 3,000 animals call the Detroit Zoo home. 130 workers are employed there and 25 are employed by the Detroit Zoological Society. All would be impacted by the zoo’s closing. Senior Zoo Keeper Bestsie Davis said, "They’ve become like a second family to me. I take care of them every day. I look forward to coming to the zoo every day. I love this job, even on the coldest day of the year I here and I’m ready to go. I hope these animals recognize me and that my commitment to them is extreme." According to Zoo Director Ron Kagan, if the zoo closed the animals would be sent to other accredited zoos or sanctuaries across the country. "It would be very tragic," he said. About 1 million people visit the zoo annually. 7 Action News has launched "Growl For Action," a campaign to raise funds for the zoo.
February 22, 200619 yr Again when you cut through the city/suburb BS like I have you would know that this zoo is not going to close. If anything it brought people out that would have never came out and said they will support the zoo even more. I actually kind of like this I think if we bring out a cultural arts tax again we might be able to get it passed. Its kind of sad/funny how much has to happen for regional support to occur. But thats just my opnion sometimes I have to question my love for Detroit.
February 22, 200619 yr "This is not a plantation," Collins said. "We are not owned by everybody else. Black folks aren't owned by white folks any more." wtf! :-D This collins women is trippin. :laugh:
February 22, 200619 yr It's funny isn't it how the region rallies around the Super Bowl but refuses to rally around a zoo or any arts or culture attraction for that matter. What does that tell you about SE Michigan? It's nice to see Metro Detroit is back to its old ways 360 hours after the "big game's" kickoff and after the leaders claimed they were going to work together after seeing how cooperation really does make the region a better place. The events surrounding the Super Bowl proved this. Evidently football is more important than arts, culture, education and recreation.
February 23, 200619 yr I really wish well on the motor city....but they just dont seem to come through where it counts. People can work cooperatively on a major deal like the SB, but it really shows dedication when you can come through on the smaller ones (the zoo). I envy Detroit for their architecture and previous size. I wish it could return to its former glory it once had. Until then....to the people of Detroit...."keep on truckin"
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