Don't think for a minute I'm not going after the Zoo article in the Daily Times yesterday, because I am!
The USDA came into the Zoo, (Jim Rapp no longer there) and tore them a new one! I tip my hat to the Daily Time for doing that article and exposing many of the things reported.
The most interesting part I find is that the Salisbury City Council has NOT been made aware of the Inspection, they have NOT seen the Report and quite frankly, with Gary Comegys on the Zoo Commission and NEVER actually making a meeting, he has proven his service to that Commission is absolutely USELESS!
Look, everyone knows Gary and I do not see eye to eye but let me say this. I tip my hat to Comegys as well. Public service sucks and brings very little rewards, unless you're in it like a former Council President was.
That being said, you're in over your head Gary and the purpose for your being on the Zoo Commission is to report back to the Council and keep everyone up to speed. You have truly failed in that department and the Zoo is critical at this stage.
There is a new Zoo Director and Lord knows he's got his hands full right now. However, he's not stupid. The man did a walk through at the Zoo just like every other candidate did and he saw how bad things were.
Now it's a matter of getting obviously lady people fired and a new supportive group in there willing to do what it takes to convince this community the Zoo is worthy of investing into. Start at the top. Comegy's needs to be replaced with someone like Terry Cohen. She loves animals and she's got a good stern head on her shoulders. Then you need to get rid of Alessi. The man should be man enough to step down and let some new blood in there but he's a self centered you know what and he'll run with this till the day he dies, if they'll allow.
The Staff has obviously slacked off since Rapp left, proving Gary Muir didn't do his job either. If you want your Zoo back to the way it used to be, you need to get rid of the Staff and hire professionals to do it right. Of course this is all my own personal opinion but to those who want to criticize me, how's it working for you now? Enough said, I'll be back on this issue later.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
11 comments:
That article in the Daily Times was clearly damage control by Barrie Tilghman, who dispatched James Caldwell to do the job. How did you like his statement that there "may" be some deficiencies noted in the inspection, and later that those possible matters were "minor"? That guy is looking like a bigger flunky that the one he replaced (Jacobs).
The City has a report from its flood control consultant that the entire City Park and Zoo is at risk -- "Unfortunately the Salisbury Zoo is in a very precarious position" -- that will be discussed at the City Council work session on April 21.
Lifted form an earlier post:
Campbell and Cohen posted the budget in pdf files on their website. Unbelieveable the information those 2 make readily available to us. They even broke it down so you don't have to download the entire thing all at once. www.onyoursidesby.blogspot.com It just amazes me how much these 2 accomplish when working with complete idiots.
GO C&C you 2 are da bomb.
9:36 PM
The headline, "Zoo asked to correct..."should have said,TOLD and the first sentence,instead of REQUESTED said TOLD.
I wonder if the USDA has seen the TIMES unbiased report of the inspection.
I agree that Terry Cohen would have been the better choice for the Zoo Commission, although I wouldn't call it a stern head on her shoulders. More like plain old common sense. And business background.
She's also got kids and takes them to the zoo, so she sees it from the patron's side.
But Louise Smith and her buds sure weren't going to appoint Cohen or Campbell to any of the important boards.
I can't understand why the administration doesn't keep the council up to date when things like this happen to the zoo. That's just not right. Animals need clean food, too! That's just disgusting.
Joe:
Thanks for keeping on -- leaving soon for pork in the park at Winterplace & hope to see you there.
Vox Populi
Terry is also very keen with parliamentary procedures, Louise has to be able to see that.
Well, this bad report is certainly no surprise to me. That commission, run by Alessi is as useless as, you know what. Terry would be a super member of such a council and would surely ask embarrasing questions too. These commission meetings are open to the public, but Alessi refuses to answer any questions by the public, unless they are written and turned in to him when the meeting ends. Then he takes his sweetr old time answering in a letter that useually says things that are not really answering the question. I know pwersonally on this - I've been down that road too many times. That's no way at all, to run a ship! Sure hope the new director realizes he is schackled with a useless Commission and asks the Mayor to appoint some real members for immprovements in the Zoo. I also still think the zoo should be moved out of that flood plain before the next heavy rains ruins what is left of this "Gem" of Salisbury.
A. Goetz
The zoo is truly a terrible place, so much so that only an estimated 5,000 people went though today during the Earth Day celebration. But wait, that the most people ever! What are these poor people thinking?
If what I read was correct, we are 80 years into the 100 year flood zone. That would be par for this administration, spend $36 million on the zoo just in time for it to be washed out down river.
I think the county should start a ten year plan to work with the city and move the zoo up to the Civic Center. There is enough room there also for a museum of natural history, dinosaur skeletons, Indian artifacts so rich in this area. Also some aquariums would be nice, in an area full of the history of watermen. Then once and for all it would be out of the flood zone. Seek state and federal aid, there is nothing like that here on this side of the bridge. The federal government could help by just donating things from the Smithsonian, many museums have so much stuff a lot of it deteriorates or rots and is never on display, and will never be on display. Same thing with NY's museum of natural history.
I think in addition to the zoo it would be a good attraction for an area that is ever growing, and would be very close to the Ward Museum.
Also in the 10 year plan, a new Civic Center out near Perdue Stadium. I know many will say that will create too much traffic. You would only be one block off of RT 50 and a short hop to the bypass.
In Philly that's the way it works, at what used to be the Spectrum and Veterans stadium right side by side, you're only a short ride to I-95 and zoom, zoom, zoom. The same with Camden Yards and Raven's stadium, I know they try not to have conflicting schedules but stuff happens. Again just a few blocks to be in traffic for exit I-95 and once again zoom, zoom, zoom.
A better man than I once said, "Some men see things as they are, and say why? I dream of things that never were and say, why not?" -Robert Kennedy
Post a Comment