So much for childhood memories--Detroit might be closing its zoo. And of course, it's because of the evil racists:

Council member Barbara-Rose Collins said the state’s deadline for the city to sign over zoo operations to the Zoological society boiled down to disrespect. Many council members felt they were being bullied into handing over zoo operations without an agreement they were comfortable with.

Collins said, "The symbolism is that Detroit is a black city and that we’re unable to govern ourselves. So we need an overseer, the state legislature, or what have you, to step in and tell us what we must do and how to do it."

She said she will not sign off on an operating agreement until it protects Detroit’s interests and the state should not try to force them with a funding deadline.

"That is a racist attitude. I resent it very much. I’m trying not to let it color my judgments, but we’re not a plantation, blacks aren’t owned by white folks anymore," said Collins.

No, it has nothing to do with the fact that the people who run Detroit, whether white, black or purple, have run it into the ground.

I'm a native Detroiter, although I live just outside the city limits now.

As to zoos: I've come to the conclusion that it's stupid to keep animals in cages, or fake savannas just so people can see them. It's even stupider to go to great lengths with artificial insemination methods, etc., to preserve these animals. I also think that in many zoos it is cruel to keep the animals.

As to zoos: The whole city of Detroit is one. Perhaps Councilman Barbara Rose-Collins is qualified to run the city, but she's been there a long time as the city has gotten deeper and deeper into debt, as the street lights go out and out, as the transportation system gets broken and more broken. Michigan schools are not under city governance, so the destruction of the Detroit school system cannopt be blamed on city administrator. But whoever ruined it, along with the city and zoo, doesn't deserve any respect.

Some zoos are very humane and serve a very useful purpose of education and enjoyment. The Sanoran Dessert Museum outside Tucson, Arizona is the best zoo I've ever seen. The Monterey Aquarium is also top notch (though technically not a zoo.)

On the other hand, Utah's Hogle Zoo (my "local" zoo) is vile and should have been shut down years ago.

Education, enjoyment and preserving species against the day they can be reintroduced into their habitat.

Left on their own - for example - the African elephant might become exctinct. We can afford to keep these critters in captivity until Africa is a more hospitable place for them.

The Detroit zoo!

I had completely forgotten about that.

I remember being there a number of times. As I recall it was a pretty neat place....'course I was just a kid.

If it's anything like Detroit when I last visited several years ago, I shudder to think what it must be like now.

it should be illegal to keep primates in zoos. big cats too. that shits just depressing.

I was there about five years ago, and it seemed like a decent zoo then.

Hopefully, the Detroit Zoo won't close. The noise around Detroit about this issue is loud! The zoo is well run and popular. The proposed solution is a good one, too bad the city council rejected it.

Unfortunately, there are a number of people on the Detroit Council who blame everything on someone else - usually of another skin color - and who cannot take responsibility for anything. Until we get some good leadership there, the city will continue to decline.

Councilwoman Collins is very accurate about having a racists attitude.

The Fort Worth Zoo has a awesome multi-million dollar facility for their Gorillas. Large play area outside. Indoor air-conditioned pavilion with a simulated rock faced water fall. Plexiglass that runs from floor to ceiling so one can literally stand right next to a gorilla.

I hate be this way, but doesn't the city council of Detroit have anything better to do?

This is by all accounts a city where the inhabitants riot when there sports teams lose. Or win. Or tie.

The last year for which I could find records, 2002, Detroit had the second highest murder rate in the country. 41.8 per 100,000, D.C. was first 45.9 per 100,000.

We know Michigans economy is down because it used to rely on the Big 3 Auto Makers. The City Councils agenda, Jobs are down, Crime is up, lets worry about good homes for the rare Central American speckled p3cker possum.

UM UM, thats good politics.

Maybe the Council should vote for municipal bonds to build a Gladiatoial Arena. Use the animals IN the arena, and the teams can kill each other, eliminating the need for the fans to do so.

Close the zoo, kill and skin the animals, sell the pelts, cook the meat, feed the hungry, save the tax dollars being spent.

I am by no means a supporter of big gub'ment. But if the choice is between feeding and housing people or feeding and housing "food", call me silly, I vote for the people.

Do like Brando did in The Intern. Sell tickets to rich people to the Exotic Game Dinner. Use the proceeds to feed the poor.