Vote NO on the Zoo Bond
Deadline: May 21st
Why vote NO?
The previous zoo bond of $125 million was wasteful, did not help animal health, and resulted in several avoidable deaths.
The zoo has no clear plan to spend $380 million, just vague statements.
Construction companies, not animals, benefit from this bond measure.
This is yet another money grab by Metro, after their failures to address homelessness, crime & drug abuse.
This money could be put to much better use -- or simply returned to us!
Oregon Zoo's failures
Almost half the previous bond money was spent on Elephant Lands, and yet since its opening, there have been four elephant deaths (Packy, Rama, Tusko & Lily) as well as Chendra's miscarriage, all entirely avoidable. Medical records reveal injuries due to fighting & bullying.
Zoo attendance has been on a downward trend for over a decade, yet the zoo's expenses keep going up. The zoo has long been a money-loser, being propped up by our taxes. Last year alone we paid the zoo $25 million with our taxes.
The zoo squanders its money on exotic species over native wildlife conservation. They even refused an all-expense paid offer by a reputed sanctuary to rehabilitate Chendra.
We shouldn't reward failures with more money!
Metro's games
Metro is misleading us by calling this measure a "bond renewal". The previous bond was for $125 million and this one is over three times that.
Already second-highest taxed in the nation, this tax on housing only further burdens home owners and renters in the area.
Metro's $650 million bond measure for affordable housing and $248 million per year income tax to fund homeless services have both been expensive failures.
With crime hollowing out downtown and a fentanyl emergency declared in Portland, Metro looks to distract from their failures with a spiffy zoo.
You can help!
Please vote NO -- and convince your friends & neighbors to do so as well.
Print a poster to distribute in your neighborhood.
Help us reach more voters by reposting our content on social media.
The zoo has a PAC with a $670,000+ war chest and paid staff for this campaign. We have none of those but rely on people power... and we need your help!
Organizations opposing 26-244