The Clarion-Ledger's Justin Vicory reported Jackson spends over $60,000 per month on its zoo:
The city's Department of Parks and Recreation will continue day-to-day operations, costing approximately $60,000 a month.
A key focus to the zoo's future revolves around the crucial issue of city and outside funding, and if Jackson can commit enough on its end to invest. Ison Harris, the director of Parks and Recreation, said he was encouraged by a recent visit to the Baton Rouge Zoo, saying it was a model for the city of Jackson. Both similarly-sized zoos are located in their respective state capitals.
"They were in the same position years ago," Harris said of Baton Rouge.
Like Jackson, there was talk of moving the zoo out of the neighborhood it now sits for similar concerns of dwindling attendance. However, its revitalization — while promising — comes on the heels of an estimated $60 million reinvestment, according to The Advocate.
Big, huge difference between the two zoos. The Advocate reports $60 million will be spent on the zoo to revitalize the zoo and expand its park. Jackson literally has no money to spend on the zoo other than to support a bare-bones operation.
The city of Baton Rouge does not operate the Baton Rouge Zoo. A separate government entity, BREC (Baton Rouge Parks & Recreation) has its own funding. The Mayor and City Council do not control BREC's budget. Thus funding is more stable and not subject to the whims (and budget cuts) of Baton Rouge's government. BREC has its own Board of Commissioners. In other words, it is competently funded and competently manged.
For all the Mayor's rhetoric about saving the Jackson Zoo, the zoo starves when it comes to budget time every year. One example of neglect occurred after the 2013 hailstorms. Several buildings suffered damage to their roofs. The insurance company paid $250,000 for repair of the roofs. The city didn't fix the roofs but instead pocketed the money. The city finally fixed the roofs four years later.
However, don't worry, as usual, hizzoner has a plan:
Mayor's office officials are optimistic about the zoo's future, even without an operator, and recently announced the attraction will extend its hours of operations from the weekends alone to Thursday and Friday.
"Momentum has not stopped on improvements and investment in the park," Lumumba said in a statement.
To many city officials, including Lumumba, the zoo is a symbol of the city’s economic struggles — particularly in disinvested areas of the city. For that reason, he has been firm on keeping the zoo in west Jackson despite the challenges.
"We don't want to create an island of wealth surrounding by a sea of poverty," Lumumba has said.
Damn straight. We're going to force people to go where it is dilapidated and dangerous. How many homicides have taken place near the zoo in the last two years? Don't worry, help is on the way.
During the coronavirus shutdown, the city and some community groups have worked to make needed improvements, both to the infrastructure within the park and to beautification efforts in the area surrounding the zoo property.
Since his announcement to keep the zoo in Livingston Park, Lumumba has prioritized road improvements to Capitol Street and Ellis Avenue. That work is now underway. The upgrades will extend to Interstate 220, a key gateway to zoo visitors. The city has also pushed to clean up the blighted property surrounding the zoo and demolished dozens of abandoned structures that have made the area an eyesore. Rest of article.
One little fact ignored by the Mayor and Lindsay's lapdogs. There is this little facility out on Holly Bush Road called McClain's. The Jackson Zoo has competition. Well, its competition when the competitors are in the same league. McClain's blows away the Jackson Zoo. It is a better experience for the kids. It has restaurants and a petting zoo. While Jackson Zoo tries to save itself, McClain's has an additional 1,000 acres for expansion - with plans to do so.
The Mayor can ignore reality all he wants but crime, tight budgets, and competition matter more than his rhetoric.
16 comments:
Agree with the McClain's statement. These animals, if moved, would do much better there. Kenny would call it racist and demand McClain's move to Jackson. What a mess they have with this zoo, and the poor animals will suffer for it.
Why dont you just go ahead and move your ass to Niknar with the rest of your people KKKingfish
Today Hattiesburg opened a new Africa exhibit with over 3,000 visitors attending. There are plans for more expansion as well. The expansion occurred after long time, ineffective, do-nothing mayor Johnny Dupree was defeated by Toby Barker four years ago. Take a lesson, Jackson.
They biggest problem, is they don't know they got a problem...
Comparing Baton Rouge to Jackson is laughable. Stopped reading right there. Apparently the articles author hasn’t been to Baton Rouge
I thought you were on the Zoo Board, K'Fish. Last year you claimed you were. If that's true, why are you getting the story from some cub reporter?
Pee Ess: The Jackson zoo ain't where you think it is!
@8:42
Kingfish was appointed to the Zoo Board by Mayor Tony Yarber who hasn’t been mayor in years. Now the Zoo Board is Lumumba’s cronies.
Are the Zoo employees still Independent Contractors?
And no benefits?
Was the Clarion Ledger a better newspaper in the Hederman days?
Does anyone know if the zoo's animals receive any kind of vet care? Doesn't seem like any of the Public Works employees at the zoo could be a vet - Is it possible for individuals or companies to "sponsor" any of the animals by paying for their food or care? How can we learn about the animals' health & which ones would benefit the most from sponsorships??
can someone go to the zoo and take pictures?
'fighting for improvements to the neighborhood like improving Capitol Street and Ellis Avenue'.
Another claim of fame by hizzonner wherein he crowns himself for things he had little to do with - and in this case, largely to blame. Improving Capitol Street has been on the agenda for several years; Supervisor Peggy Calhoun tried to provide funding for it back early in hizzonner's term, but he wouldn't sign the required agreements to allow the county to do work within the city. Finally after four years of pushing by others, Capitol Street is being fixed - and because it is during hizzonner's term, he of course is claiming credit while he should be apologizing for delaying the work since the beginning of his term.
10:22 - yes, someone can go to the zoo and take pictures. He/She is you. What a dumb question. Just go, buy a ticket and snap away. How tough is that?
"Kingfish was appointed to the Zoo Board by Mayor Tony Yarber who hasn’t been mayor in years. Now the Zoo Board is Lumumba’s cronies."
I love it when Cap'n Kangaroot speaks for the Kingfish as if he can't speak for himself. Who knew these board members rolled off with every election cycle?
I damn sure would not be proud of being appointed to anything by Yarber.
This is OUR zoo.
12:35 AM
And there's even less to be proud about being appointed to anything by Mayor Dipshit, but you didn't care about being correct. You just want to protect Mayor Kush's tattered reputation.
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