Couldn't Have Said It As Well (II)
The Winston-Salem Journal has come out in support of the North Carolina Zoo's requests for almost $6 million of the General Assembly too:
"Help the Zoo
"The people of North Carolina own a number of crown jewels, and they must take good care of them.
"These jewels are, of course, the special state institutions that lift North Carolina above its neighbors and most other states. For example, the University of North Carolina, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of Art are rivals for great institutions built by far richer states.
"Add to that list the North Carolina Zoo near Asheboro. It is one of this nation's truly great zoos, an institution conceived and planned with considerable foresight back in the 1970s and built, slowly but surely, over the decades since.
"The state's museums and university system have fared well in state budgets in recent years.
"The zoo, however, has gone 14 years without state funds for capital improvements.
"It is time for the General Assembly to begin upgrading the zoo again, and this year marks an appropriate starting point.
"Zoo officials have six projects on the drawing boards and need $6 million in state funds. State appropriations will draw down other funds from private donors.
"Gov. Mike Easley included the money in his budget. The state Senate budget does not include the funds, however.
"At the top of the list is the Children's Discovery Center, which David Jones, the zoo's director, described as a hands-on experience for youngsters that will have a tree house as its centerpiece.
"With $1.5 million of state money, the center will draw another $1 million from the private N.C. Zoo Society, he told The Associated Press.
"Not all of the capital needs are that exciting. Much of the money is needed for facilities related to the care and feeding of animals and to zoo upkeep. Such facilities are essential to the preservation and advancement of the institution.
"Over the years, North Carolina taxpayers have invested wisely in the zoo. So have North Carolina businesses and private foundations. The zoo hasn't remained static just because state capital has not been flowing in.
"But now that state money is needed, and when the needs are obvious, as they are with the zoo, then the legislature must step in and provide them.
"The zoo is one of North Carolina's great public assets.
"Legislators must make sure that it continues to be an attraction that is of great use and great pride to the people of this state."
"Help the Zoo
"The people of North Carolina own a number of crown jewels, and they must take good care of them.
"These jewels are, of course, the special state institutions that lift North Carolina above its neighbors and most other states. For example, the University of North Carolina, the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences and the N.C. Museum of Art are rivals for great institutions built by far richer states.
"Add to that list the North Carolina Zoo near Asheboro. It is one of this nation's truly great zoos, an institution conceived and planned with considerable foresight back in the 1970s and built, slowly but surely, over the decades since.
"The state's museums and university system have fared well in state budgets in recent years.
"The zoo, however, has gone 14 years without state funds for capital improvements.
"It is time for the General Assembly to begin upgrading the zoo again, and this year marks an appropriate starting point.
"Zoo officials have six projects on the drawing boards and need $6 million in state funds. State appropriations will draw down other funds from private donors.
"Gov. Mike Easley included the money in his budget. The state Senate budget does not include the funds, however.
"At the top of the list is the Children's Discovery Center, which David Jones, the zoo's director, described as a hands-on experience for youngsters that will have a tree house as its centerpiece.
"With $1.5 million of state money, the center will draw another $1 million from the private N.C. Zoo Society, he told The Associated Press.
"Not all of the capital needs are that exciting. Much of the money is needed for facilities related to the care and feeding of animals and to zoo upkeep. Such facilities are essential to the preservation and advancement of the institution.
"Over the years, North Carolina taxpayers have invested wisely in the zoo. So have North Carolina businesses and private foundations. The zoo hasn't remained static just because state capital has not been flowing in.
"But now that state money is needed, and when the needs are obvious, as they are with the zoo, then the legislature must step in and provide them.
"The zoo is one of North Carolina's great public assets.
"Legislators must make sure that it continues to be an attraction that is of great use and great pride to the people of this state."
posted by Russ Williams at
2:45 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home