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UID:Indybay-18765167
SEQUENCE:18883065
CREATED:20141207T121200Z
DESCRIPTION:STOP THE VOTE TO DEVELOP THE PARK! THIS TUESDAY – DECEMBER 9th – 5:30PM 
 – Oakland City Hall!\nPosted on December 7, 2014 by 
 ecogeneralstrike\n(SAVEKNOWLAND.ORG) City Council to finalize their vote on 
 Tues, Dec 9 – Send NEW ONE-CLICK letter to City Council 
 now!\n1f616e6c-8f6c-4956-b30b-82bd3f97eacd\n\nACTION REQUEST: One-click 
 letter to City Councilmembers to save Knowland Park. \n\nTurns out there 
 will be ANOTHER City Council vote on their decision to hand over more of 
 Knowland Park for the zoo’s phony “conservation” easement—this 
 “second reading” will finalize the City Council vote taken at their 
 Tues, Nov 18 meeting that so many people turned out for. This final vote is 
 Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the regular City Council meeting at City Hall, beginning 
 at 5:30 pm.\n\nWe’re still getting information on what is likely to 
 happen at this meeting, the agenda items, and whether people can speak, but 
 we wanted to let you know so you can please HOLD THIS DATE.\n\nThere is 
 always a chance that we could persuade some on the Council to change their 
 position and change the outcome, if ENOUGH outcry is heard.\n\nACTION 
 REQUEST: Please click now to send this NEW letter to City Councilmembers 
 and the Mayor to save Knowland Park. Every letter counts.\n\nAnd please 
 share this link with family and friends and ask them to 
 sign:http://www.saveknowland.org/HelpSaveKnowland.html\n\nIf you’d also 
 like to phone, here are phone numbers.\n\nKey talking points you can 
 emphasize are:\n\nThe public has never had a chance to vote on this 
 project, and granting this “conservation” easement sets a terrible 
 precedent to give away public parkland to the Zoo. When informed that the 
 development will be on the ridgeline, on important wildlife habitat, the 
 public opposes this plan.\nZoo management has never observed the terms of 
 its management contract with the City of Oakland— why would you believe 
 them now?\nUnder its current management contract, Zoo management is 
 responsible for stewardship of Knowland Park, but stewardship of the park 
 is being done by volunteers from groups opposed to the expansion project 
 location.\nUnder its current management contract, Zoo executives are 
 supposed to submit their contracts for evaluation by the City to ensure 
 compliance, but according to City staff, the Zoo has not done this 
 (something the Oakland Museum, another City entity operated by a nonprofit, 
 has done).\nUnder its current management contract, Zoo management is 
 required to file annual capital spending plans, but after repeated public 
 records requests, City staff informed us that since 2005, no such reports 
 had been submitted… until 2014—and even then, that report does not 
 contain the required information.\nZoo management has not told the truth 
 about this project. When the project was approved by City Council in 2011, 
 Zoo CEO Joel Parrott said no more public money would be needed. Yet by Fall 
 2012, Zoo management had put a $125 million parcel tax measure on the 
 ballot, saying they had insufficient money to run the existing zoo. If you 
 approve this easement to make it easier for Zoo execs to build this 
 grandiose project, they will be back to ask for more funds.\nWhen a 
 Councilmember asked CEO Parrott the crucial question at the Nov 18 Council 
 meeting, Parrott said Zoo management is not willing to compromise on its 
 expansion location (even after Fish & Wildlife agencies cited 
 “significant and permanent” habitat damage that City Councilmembers 
 were not aware of when they approved the project in 2011). That speaks 
 volumes about Zoo management’s frame of mind— that they believe they 
 are entitled to whatever they want (even additional public parkland at no 
 cost), whenever they want it.\nWe are taking stock right now of several 
 options, as we consider next steps …and we’ll be seeking your input 
 once we have more information. Meanwhile, enjoy Knowland Park and help to 
 protect it every day!\n\nThanks for everything,\n\nThe Friends of Knowland 
 Park\n\nWant to hear the Nov 18 City Council comments? Click here and 
 scroll down to the video.\n\nHave you seen this aerial video of partial Zoo 
 project area, produced by Ben Snyder?\n\nHave you looked at our FAQ 
 sheet?\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/07/18765167.php
SUMMARY:Stop the Vote to Develop Knowland! - Oakland City Hall
LOCATION:Oakland City Hall - Council Chambers
URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/12/07/18765167.php
DTSTART:20141210T013000Z
DTEND:20141210T013000Z
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