WILL ANIMAL SERVICES GO TO HSUS?

These two recent articles (BELOW) point out that LAAS and the Zoo may be turned over to private groups. This rumor has been circulating for months, and there were previous articles about the possibility.

Jim Bickhart told me a month ago that there was this possibility, but that the Mayor's Office had not really gone into it that much yet in terms of realistically examining the possibility.  

However, he may just be covering up, and that is why so little time and energy has been spent on getting a new GM.

Below, Orlov says Council will be taking this issue on next month.

Also, I was told three months ago by sources I won't name, that the turnover of LAAS to HSUS was nearly a done deal. Pacelle has been spending a lot of time in LA recently.

Does anyone know anything? 

Is having clean water worth a parcel tax? By Rick Orlov, Staff Writer Posted: 12/27/2009 04:51:33 PM PST Updated: 12/27/2009 04:55:15 PM PST Earlier this year, the city Board of Public Works was forced to pull the plug on a plan to increase stormwater fees when it came under attack for failing to do the groundwork necessary for an effective campaign. Well, now, they're doing the groundwork. A survey was sent out to several hundred residents this past month asking for their views on a potential parcel tax to clean up the stormwater system. It is an open-ended survey, asking respondents their views on whether they would support such a measure, how much they believe would be reasonable to pay and asking for arguments for and against the measure. Adel Hagekhalil of the Bureau of Sanitation, said the survey is just the first step in trying to gauge public opinion for a possible future ballot measure either alone or in collaboration with Los Angeles County. "We are trying to find the threshold of public support to pay for clean water and how much they would be willing to pay," Hagekhalil said. "Everything is still up in the air and we are looking at the acceptance level." Hagekhalil said no decision has been made on whether to go ahead with a plan or which ballot to target. "We aren't sure if it will be ready for this next year and we are in discussions with the county, which is considering a similar proposal," Hagekhalil said. "In some ways, it makes more sense to do a countywide measure rather than have a number of separate elections." The Advertisement city is not the only local governmental body looking at a parcel tax. Los Angeles Unified School Board members are also considering a request to voters to help make up the loss of state revenue. As Los Angeles prepares for 2010, the city is looking at giving up some programs that are near and dear to politicians everywhere. City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana said he believes it is inevitable the city will have to make major reductions in its services and eliminate some departments it can no longer afford. Chief among these is the Los Angeles Zoo and the Department of Animal Services - both of which are being looked at as being potential public-private partnerships - and the Los Angeles Convention Center. And, even with that, Santana said the city might need to lay off additional workers. "We have to look at what the core mission of the city is," Santana said. "Is it a Zoo? Is it a Convention Center? Those are questions the City Council will have to answer." Savings from any decision to end city operation of the services would take more than a year to realize because of the time it takes to negotiate employee contracts and configure a deal with any private group.

THE SECOND ARTICLE:

Google News Alert for: "animal services" "los angeles"

LAist (blog) Will the City Part Ways with the Zoo, Animal Shelters & Convention Center?