I like the Woodland Park Zoo, but I'm not persuaded by the logic behind the proposed parking garage:
Although the garage is expected to cost about $16.2 million to build, by the time the debt and interest is paid, it will total more than $30 million. The zoo and the city are committed to coming up with $1.5 million in payments each year for 20 years.The amount projected to be paid for by parking fees appears to be based solely on wishful thinking. We also learn thatThe city and the zoo anticipate that $19 million of that debt will be covered by parking fees, but the rest of it -- $11 million -- won't be, and will have to be covered 75 percent by the city and 25 percent by the zoo.
According to city studies, there are now plenty of spaces in zoo lots for visitors 264 days of the year.It seems more than a little silly for the zoo and the city to commit to spending $1.5 million a year to create more parking for the peak 100 days of the year. After all, that's roughly $2.65 a head for every man, woman and child who lives in Seattle. It would be both more fair and more logical to simply raise parking rates during the high season. Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at May 09, 2006 10:41 PM | Email This
Next, Paddy Crap will be telling us that a fancy parking facility is required at the zoo by the 14th Amendment.
Liberal? Want something? Just make it up as you go along -- it doesn't need to make sense . . . especially since it isn't your money.
Posted by: Amused by liberals on May 10, 2006 12:51 AMBy the way I see the Mayor of Portland is now driving a Hybrid Prius himself. Unlike the Fatso Mayor and King County Executive, and the Queen herself, who all ride in Brand New Lincoln Town Cars or Cadillacs, or SUV's which leave their depo's everyday to go pick them up at their homes and bring them back, plus take them anywhere their hearts desire during the day.
While they tell us to get out of our cars and get green!
Lead and We will follow! Heh Libs!
Posted by: GS on May 10, 2006 01:39 AMWith all due respect -- there isn't -- and that's the point.
The only point any of the "leadership" in the Seattle area has is "power."
Having no good ideas whatsoever of what to do with power, they will spend money and destroy things.
They have no notion of service to the public and in fact laugh out loud when such ideas are uttered as though service to anything but yourself is naive or passe.
A self professed liberal himself, Raw Data nailed it saying about Richard Conlin, is "a 'nanny' if there ever was one...who wants to impose his values on everyone else. And not deeply [held] values; . . . Behind that smile and his treacly 'sweetness and light' is a very unpleasant political personality who is constantly grasping for power." Very accurate and well said. Posted by Raw Data at May 10, 2006 06:31 AM
Never try to underestimate liberals -- in that regard they will fool you every time.
Oh yeah and Steven, those 264 days are not an off-peak season, they're called "week days" and they happen all year. There are 104 weekend days a year and the only thing crowded in the zoo on these days is the parking lot. Raising rates on the weekends won't achieve the goal of all this. The goal which you seem to have missed: getting more people to go to the zoo!
Posted by: Dumble Dork on May 10, 2006 01:31 PMThe Zoo is a private corporation. Another name for a taxpayer subsidy to a private corporation is "corporate welfare." It violates the principles of free market economics. It steals from the taxpayers in order to benefit a special interest; Zoo officials, attendees and patrons.
If the zoo needs more parking, they should buy the land, or build their own garage.
If they accept corporate welfare, that might be a good reason to reduce your voluntary contributions, and your patronage. The next time you write them a check, send half the amount, and tell them it would have been bigger had they not accepted government handouts.
Posted by: Bruce Guthrie on May 10, 2006 05:35 PMThose darned corporations, pesky zoo officials, attendees and patrons . . . . golly what will we do? After all, if the zoo needs more parking, they should buy the land, or build their own dagum garage don't you think?
Daresnuffit I'm with you there feller, the next time anyone writes them a check, they should send half the amount, and tell them it would have been bigger had they not accepted government handouts.
That'll fix it by golly.
Fine work there feller.
How about getting more people to the zoo off of peak hours or days. Discounts may work. It seems that if the zoo is at capacity during peak times and more parking will only bring more people which will in turn further strain the zoo's facilities and not provide for an enjoyable visit. After several years of stained facilities, the city will have to expand Zoo facilities and further tax the city folk. Love good planning for problem creation. New parking garage leads to more people which in turn creates a need for more facilities to serve the growing population of visitors. Growing the problem is the vision of Democrats as expressed in various other arenas and forums, is it not?
Yeah.
"Regardless of what the price is," good for the neighbors.