We can't quite understand Almighty Marty's obsession with adult sized children's toys. Marty's toy trolley has taken a detour through the Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) but is still in the works, and now Marty's on the hunt again for his real life teddy bear. The proposed panda project is back on the radar after Marty's recent visit to China to - among other things - try and convince the Chinese to lease one of the San Diego Zoo's pandas to Albuquerque.
The original panda plan was a hotly contested item during the 2005 mayoral election. The council by a narrow majority opposed the panda project and the ruler of the 11th floor erupted threatening vetoes (ABQ Journal - Subscription). In the end, the proposed panda project died of natural causes, the Chinese didn't want to lease one to Albuquerque; even at $1 MILLION a year.
One of the arguments against the panda was that while it's fuzzy and cute (not to mention dangerous), it doesn't add its weight in Yuan (or dollars for that matter) to an already fantastic zoo. We seem to recall the exhibit alone would cost taxpayers $3 to $4 MILLION just to build the habitat to house the $1 MILLION a year panda. Pandas have also put pressure on zoo budgets that have them and forced increases in admission fees to cover costs associated with panda exhibits.
We have to hand it to Mayor Marty, although his choices in legacy projects may seem juvenile, he shows the single-mindedness and determination of spoiled child who is at long last denied their heart's most fervent desire. We hope that the council and the public are wise enough to continue to block Marty's attempts to build his legacy on the backs of Albuquerque taxpayers and their progeny.
58 comments:
Yeah, let's spend $1000,000 a year and raise admission fees to house an animal that likely will be hiding in trees most of the time, and you'll rarely see it. Makes perfect sense. Umm, I don't know about the rest of you, but I have the Discovery Channel and National Geographic....
I'm willing to bet King Marty's little Chinese Panda hunt was just a diversionary tactic to hide the truth about the REAL purpose of his visit....to find a young, obedient wife to bring home and mold into his perfect queen.
But that's just me.
LOL....the press release was talking about Chinese Punani...not Chinese Pandas...someone read it and ASSUMED Marty meant Pandas.
And now you know the REST of the story!
Paul Harvey
First comment. You're right. Not JUST about the panda, however, I didn't think of the one you describe, although I'm sure he's getting his share of"two-can-chew".
It's more about bringing Chinese intrests here, with tax benefits to them in exchange for gobs of dolloars (or yen) funneled his way via some laundry scheme. We'll leave that up to Bruce and Greg to figure out. One needs campaign money to run for Governor and the other for his bid for Mayor.
I don't give two shits about a Panda. Why don't we stop with the higher than mighty attitude and drop the crime rate, make the city workers happy, work on the real shit that is affecting the city.
Good luck to you Mayor! A Panda would be a welcome addition to our beautiful Bio Park.....Lets get 2 !
Here Here, You are doing a great job Marty. Don't let these idiots deter you. You have helped make Albuquerque a world class city & I'm proud to call it my home!
A world-class city? ALBUQUERQUE? You must live in the Northeast heights. Over here on the Westside, we can barely get sufficient roads and schools built to sustain the population growth (funny how Mr. Chavez loves to brag about how Albuquerque's growing, but he won't INVEST in the areas that are growing). But, yeah, let's get a panda. It'll subdue us poor people on the other side of town for a short while until our little dictator can come up with another diversionary tactic to distract our attention from the true issues in Albuquerque, like water shortages, poor healthcare, the crime rate, and ineffective schools. (Don't worry about all that, though. We're getting a panda!)
how about more people to run the bio and the zoo they are short help in all areas!!!!!
Can anybody guess which comments were left by Mayor Marty's Trash Team?
A panda would be great if we could BUY one, but leasing an animal that requires a high dollar habitat is silly. We have a nice zoo that is not over priced to visit -- lets keep it that way
World Class City??? when I worked in the school system I realized that probably half of the 8th graders couldn't even spell Panda or locate China on a map. If we are world class in any way it is for the geography, or the climate or the fact that this is the first town you have to go through on your way to visit Taos or Santa Fe. I am sure that visitors to our great city are not here because we have a D-ride or neon lights on Central or to visit the Tempurpedic Mattress factory on 9 mile hill.
Nothing "world class" over here in the NE heights either...and I have a pretty good view of the entire city from where I'm sitting!
Lease a Panda????? Oh come onnnnn!!!!!!
Leave the Panda in its natural habitat,China, not here where it could possibly die.
For that matter, why don't the politicians downtown go to they're natural habitat as well. HELL !!!
The ignorant, foul and hate-filled comments posted here disgrace not just this blog but the city as well. It's sickening and I hope I don't have to be anywhere near you in public.
It's to bad, but city government has changed. We may never see a fair form of government again.
but not because it's not possible.
we lack the will.
ched macquigg.
You have nailed it. Citizens in this community DON'T have the will.
Too much complacency, apathy.Don't put up with them pushing you around any more.
They are afraid of these thugs, and bullies, when in reality they are nothing but cowards and pussies. Come on Albuquerque, grow a set and punch back the bullies.
The citizens in District 9 have no problem in doing so, so come out behind your skirts and stop the injustices that the mayor , chief, deputies and the others are nailing us with.
Yeah, I agree, lets get 3 Pandas. You go Marty ! You have my vote. Don't worry about the 15 idiots that post BS on this rag, they can't vote, won't vote or refuse to vote anyway. The people that run this town, pay the taxes and do vote support you....Go for it!
I vote. And I don't want a Panda.
I vote and I dont want Marty, it aint the panda its the shi**y attitude, his impervious air that he takes with his "minions" and his overall short man complex that causes him to belittle and abuse city employees that arent in the inner circle ( example, remember his throwing his keys to the airport security people and demanding they go park his car )
You'll get over it
yeah, let's lease a panda, and put it over at the zoo, where there is just 3 guards most days, which means one at each gate, and one on the 50 acre grounds. no cameras, no real security at night, except 2 guards, and you too could have yourself a panda.....once again, shepherd is lacking, everything but kneepads to marty.....
Only 2 guards at the zoo at night? I hope you're not one of them because you seem to not be too bright. I would think that kind of information is protected? I would not want that type of detail revealed to the public. Guess not for just a guard. I saw one of the guards at the zoo one night, she was this old fat red head hag that couldn't get up out of a chair if she tried. Guess with gurads like that it really wouldn't matter how many you had....
Don't know who you are talking about, but I'm a guy that just happens to work FOR the zoo. As far as I know there are no female guards at night. It's not protected information either. The public should know those kinds of things, maybe someone would update the security procedures which seem to be another swept under the rug issue. From talking to the guards, guess what is protected like hell? Marty's office. Don't know about you, but I like the animals MUCH better.
I hear bernalillo has a zoo, maybe you would be happy working there?
I love my job, I just hate how the city treats the problems, everything will just go away if it is swept under the rug? Why is it that everyone's answer is to quit? Why isn't anyone addressing the real issues? The people who complain are not the problem, the people who don't take care of the problem are the problem.....jeeze would it hurt to hire some more people?
I agree with the poster above, I went to the concert last week, and it seemed to me that the whole place was understaffed, there were people smoking, no one around to do anything about it, and it was blowing right into our faces.
And a panda? And higher admission fees? No security? Dayum, there's alot of problems right there.
And to the other poster? Insted of telling people to find a new job, that's real helpful, you must be management......maybe you can hire someone that will kiss your ass instead of someone that will try to fix things.
Somehow I just don't see how your bitching here on this rag is going to fix anything. Instead of parking your butt in front of the computer, why don't you go down and sign up to volunteer your time at the zoo, maybe at the concerts. Then and only then do you move from being part of the problem to becoming part of the solution.
If it's such a rag, why are you here? Are you Linda? AKA Gail Reese? Just doing the work of lord Marty huh? It's always someones problem other than the city management isn't it? Our fearless leader could never be wrong could he? I;d just like to know his method of brainwashing, so I could make the blackjack dealer believe me when I tell him that 19 beats 21.
So....I guess that means you won't be volunteering your time at the zoo in an effort to make things better?
I will volunteer to help care for the Panda's when they arrive. Does anyone know when they will arrive or how many we are getting? I think it will be a great day for our city when Marty secures our Panda's. I'm really excited for my family, we have an excellect zoo, staffed with great people who love their jobs. What a wonderful place to have a career.
Yes, you see there are great people in this city! People who want to improve things not just complain for the sake of complaining. Albuquerque is a great place to live and raise a family, we love it here. The leaders in our Government do a great job and so do their employees, thats what makes it great!
I vote we get a panda to replace the mayor!
I'll second that vote! All in favor...
There is no second, the measure fails,,,,,
throw the overpriced, recluse fuckin' thing a rat poison steak, green leaves or whatever it eats.
Let's hope nobody feels that way about you! What did you eat for dinner tonite?
your mom ......!!!!!!!!!!!! Mmmmmm... Finger lickin' good!
Taste good bro...kinda like dirt? I burried her many years ago.
Yes I am A Police Officer here< yes I am terrified I would get fired by a mean and nasty boss if he knew I was speaking out. I just came back from arizona trying to find a police dept that might give me a sense of purpose and pride, a willingness to help my fellow citizens again. I always do my job and never complain, I tried to keep loving this dept, but its like those bad relationships now, its not good for me or my family. The chief or mayor wont care im quitting soon, they will find some lowlife to replace me, who wont give a crap about the good people here. mayor you will regret letting these people ruin the police department, I assure you. this town is slipping and is just one step away from another cop murder. a panda......?
See ya, have a nice life somewhere else.
It's gotta beat the miserable life he/she would have here working for this city.
It's gotten so that I'm almost sorry for some of the idiots in management at this point. Follow me on this K? There are so many of them that have been promoted way above their capability, and they don't even get it. They are universally hated by all the rank and file, given lip service, and laughed at when they turn their backs. There's no one that will back them up if they get into shit, and we are all just praying for that day. No one has a damn good thing to say about any of them, and they think that the other rank has their back and will take care of them if they get into trouble with the higher ranks. But if they look into the mirror, they will see the same kind of people that they think will take care of them. They need to ask themselves if they'd back up the other assholes, and when the answer is no, then they need to realize that they haven't got any back up for themselves either. There is no honor amongst thieves, or anyone who has a management position in the city.
And the reason you gotta almost feel sorry for them? They don't even get it.
Just a copy & paste job eh? Oh well like I said before....Here's a cut & paste job for ya too...
You'll get over it!
Anonymous said...
See ya, have a nice life somewhere else.
Yupp, I got to agree with the poster above. With an attitude like that you'll never amount to anything more than a disgruntled employee sucking the tax payer tit. You might as well quit now & try to find another line of work before you get fired....
Also, check it out:
2:44, 2:45, 2:46. Hmmm. Reply to your own posts much? Hard to find someone else to agree with you huh? I detect a small little poster, with a small little mind.
And a BIG inferiority complex. For good reason. Obviously.
You'll get over it....Oh and by the way "you should get the fuck out & try to get a real job instead of sucking the tax payer tit". Did I cover them all?The only waste of tax payer money is your salary....Quit before you get fired has a nice ring to it. I'd say go to the private sector but we all know that's why you work for the City, you couldn't make it in a real job in the real world. Oh yeah, I'd be really proud of that......
From your ignorant comments and nasty tone you must be PH ?..nope maybe JB ? or AW ? or MB ? have I come close to your name? I bet I have...
All the you will get over it post? Ha ha ha ha ha . Hackers gotta love em'. I know WHO YOU ARE!
YOU WILL GET OVER IT! WAIT AND SEE ............!
You'll get over it!
You'll get over it!
You have to have a job to pay taxes so i doubt that you could possibly pay much! You vote? That's frightening....
I'm on welfare and foodstamps and I live off single chicks after I knock them up. All I do is drink, and sleep when I do get up around 3 in the afternoon I go and do my thang. Thanks again for working soo hard so I don't have to. Ooooh by the way YOU WILL GET OVER IT ..........!
You'll get over it!
yeah your right I will get over it.
I know you will my son...
yeah your right ........!
Post a Comment