Reader comments
Voters OK funds for Hogle Zoo, Tracy Aviary

THANK YOU to everyone who voted yes for both the aviary and Hogle Zoo!! I'm so very glad that voters stuck to their voting history on these issues and both passed! :)

Now if only the Republican members of the county council hadn't been sticks in the mud and created the loopholes for the Zoo and caused the cutting down of the money request (Hogle originally was seeking $65 million instead of 33 or 35). I suspect the bond still would've passed even with this larger figure.

I'm so glad the plan of these Republican council members to shoot down the Zoo's efforts failed misserably on all counts, even this loophole of theirs didn't stop the Zoo from getting the money (some of it anyhow) they/the animals so desperately need.

Thanks Steve and all those who voted for the Zoo this time for taking even more of my hard to keep money and sending it to the Zoo which has pilfered the monies I allowed it to use last time. Not only did it mismanage my funds by building a new GIFT SHOP instead of a new Big Cats facility, it just spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to push for my vote...which it didn't get. THANK HEAVENS for the Republicans who put a break on the outrageous amount Hogle Zoo wanted. Not to mention they plan on making a new Artic Edition priority over a new Big Cat facility as I read recently. Get a clue Steve, the Federal Govt. just passed a bill that my Great Great Grandchildren will still be paying for, Obama is going to tax this nation to death and the Zoo wants MORE MONEY after I gave them some just a few years ago. NO NO NO!! But to late...now that Salt Lake is mostly a blue County with even more economically ignorant voters, I get to give MORE of my money away and retire at age 90!!!

But . . . the zoo already built a new Big Cat facility. It opened a few years ago and was paid for by their last bond.

When exactly? Last time I went, maybe three or four years ago with a grade school field trip, the cats were still in the same cement block building. How did I miss the new facility? I've purposely stayed away from the zoo for a while and I guess it shows. My apologies than to the Zoo if they indeed have improved the Big Cat facility. Mostly I'm just mad that so much more of my money is going in every direction while I try to vote to keep my money everyone wants more of it and I have a mortgage, kids to feed, clothe, college funds that still haven't amounted to anything, medical bills etc. etc. When is it going to stop? Till we are like other countries where more than half of their income goes to taxes? This is America and I don't want to become a socialized country. I would just like you and everyone else who supports more taxes to really think about how you are affecting the family.

To Anonymous at 302pm, who rants that the zoo expansion will apparently ruin his life:

1. Your ignorance is showing. The big cat exhibit which you seem to be so torked about, was built a few years ago - it is the "Asian Highlands" exhibit mentioned in the article. Since you seem to be so worked up about the big cats, maybe you should go see it - you'll probably like it.

2. Who can take you seriously when you whine about retiring at age 90? The average homeowner will see a property tax increase of $4.68 annually. If $5 a year is screwing up your retirement, i shudder to think about your financial planning.

3. Glad you didn't miss the chance to throw in some whining over partisanship. Never mind the exit polls which showed over 50% of self-declared Republicans voting for the zoo bond. Who needs facts when you're trying so hard to look victimized, right?

And whatr is it i kept being told when I was upset over the Republican stranglehold in Utah? "If you don't like it, move!" There ya go. If you can't handle the one liberal area of Utah, move away.

Gee, I have to thank Steve and Dave and all you other wack-jobs for one more pork...excuse me..polar bear-ell project.

The Zoo can operate without these new bonds, yet every time they ask, they promise that with "one more project" the zoo will be a big enough attraction to become self sufficient. And as with the Main gate, Elephant habitate, and Asian highlands exhibits; we are once more lied to about the viability of a self-sufficient zoo at the current location.

It will never be. The zoo people admitted it and went looking for new turf in West Valley. That "brilliant" Idea never got off the ground(thank Heaven), and so now we are back to tossing good money at useless projects.

On the other hand Steve and Dave, if you have nothing better to do with you hard earned money, consider a private donation to the zoo. They really like it; and I don't have to pay for it.
You get what you want, the zoo gets what they want, and I can put that extra cash into my gas tank.

New taxes for all, and at such a great time! Because our county would fall apart without more govt-sponsored animal exhibits.

(My family has a family zoo pass - it is a nice place! But at a time of economic struggles, SLCo voters are idiots to pass this IMO.)

In case you were confused, having a fancy bird and animal exhibit is NOT a human right.

I'm sorry for my ignorance on the changes at the Zoo. It took millions of tax dollars to finally do what should have been done over 20 years ago...give the Big Cats a better home. In my second comment I made to this forum I was apologetic and trying not to whine, for which I apologize that I did in the first place. However, my concerns for fiscal responsibility by voters still stands. I am NOT irresponsible with my money. My husband and I both have perfect credit scores and we keep it that way by living in our means which have become increasingly less available this year due to the rising cost of fuel which in turn has raised the cost of everything else. For the Federal Gov't to make me pay for their mistake, which both Democrats and Republicans are to blame, is an outrage! As I write this my children need new winter boots, supplies for school, and food for our table on our tight budget. I cry knowing that I spend twice as much on everything this year and now I am being forced to spend more. I'm sorry but with money... family first.

Thank you Calvary for standing up for the truth despite my whining tone. Though I admit age 90 is an exaggeration I hope never becomes a reality.

Sell the zoo to private investors or kill the cats and other dangerous animals, let the harmless ones run away, and refund the taxpayers.

"The zoo poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into their effort to win", why didn't they use their own money to fix up the zoo? I can't even afford to paint my house and they continue to want more and more. Thank you Republicans for trying to save us a little more money!

The Zoo isn't struggling to survive, they're doing just fine. They aren't asking for extra money to keep the place afloat (to be "self-sufficient" or viable)... the extra money is to improve the habitats for all the animals (a very pricey endeavor... thus the need for help).

Yes, several years ago there was a debate about moving Hogle Zoo to a new and larger location in the valley (again not because of money problems in the current location, but for larger and better habitats). Many locations were considered including the 100+ acre site in West Valley (the current location has only about 41 acres with only about 1/4th of it being used for animal habitats). I myself was actively involved in promoting the move, dealing with Sen. Mansell and West Valley city officials. I wish they HAD decided to make the move, giving us and the animals a bigger zoo. But alas we're stuck with the current location (now I'd like to know what happened to the plan to expand it across the street).

Again, about $5.00 a year isn't much at all... the price of a matinee movie. I think most can handle that just fine.