I read the Editorial in yesterday's Fresno Bee from PAATZ. She claims, among other things, that she is voting no on Measure Z because the Omaha zoo is spending $2.5 million per acre on its Africa exhibit, which is much less than Fresno's cost per acre. Really PAATZ? Valuing the project by one factor -- the cost per acre? It reminds me when you valued Sea Lion Cove by the gallons of water in the pool. And look at that exhibit -- the nation's best!
This is just another example of how PAATZ twists the facts.
PAATZ fails to inform the reader that the Omaha zoo Africa exhibit will cost $70 million to construct. http://journalstar.com/news/local/omaha-zoo-plans-to-build-million-african-grasslands/article_54d04203-d449-5cf7-bf18-6276c87d6683.html Fresno's Africa Adventure will cost $56 million. That's a comparative bargain!
Let's also factor into the equation the cost of construction in California compared to Nebraska. Perhaps a line from the Wizard of Oz (with modification) is appropriate: "You're not in Nebraska anymore."
Moreover, we can't forget that we pay prevailing wages for those working on the Chaffee zoo exhibits. Prevailing wages add significantly to the cost of a project. But the trade off is that the construction at Fresno's Chaffee Zoo results in well-paying jobs to those in our local community.
And by the way, while Omaha is a great zoo, our Africa Adventure exhibit will be much better! Take a look at this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhnj1_KgpwY
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