Update Plus!

During a recent visit, I got into a conversation about the crime Zoo Management has committed against me and my friend. I mentioned this blog and when I came away from that conversation, I realized how fast time has flown and that I hadn't made an update in some time.

About six weeks ago I received a letter from San Francisco Zoological Society Chairman David Stanton. As soon as I read it, I batted out a reply. Since it was clear in the letter I received that my previous correspondence information and request to view this blog for more details, was not heeded, my reply came in at nine pages. I have not sent it yet, as I felt I should sit on it for a few days to make sure I hadn't missed mentioning any important details. Since it took six months to get a response out of anyone, I figured I better make sure I'm VERY clear. As the days went on, I decided I wasn't yet sure how I wanted to proceed. Life happens and I still haven't gotten around to dealing with this time and energy consuming issue. So, here we are almost a couple months later.

I had planned to post a copy of this letter and my reply, and I still will as soon as I get that far. Until then I don't want to say much more about it, only to let those who have been following the situation know, I will never give up seeking justice.

If you are just visiting this blog for the first time, I'm going to try and add a synopsis here, so you don't have to spend your time reading all the details, unless you want to :)

Synopsis: My friend Lee and I love the Zoo. We have been big supporters for years. We are on a friendly basis with a great many of the Staff. The Zoo Staffs very few Security and since we love the Zoo Friends, we report misbehavior when we see it. Lee reported seeing a man over the barrier at a Polar Bear Grotto. A week later we both had our Memberships revoked. Until recently no one had officially given us a reason, we had to hear via third parties we enlisted to help us. We have been slandered with accusations we called in a prank call, as well have abused Staff. Many attempts over the past many months were made to not only get an official reason, but to present our side and show how ridiculously obvious this is, by exposing the untruths.

I also want to say that it is draining not only dealing with this when I do, but making sure all the details are documented. As well I also have a blog sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com that documents things that just don't seem right. Also, along the same lines, my crusade for the Zoo to give their Andean Bear some grass, as he lives exclusively on concrete :O projectgetwishbonegrass.blogspot.com Writing these negative vibe blogs is kind-of a bummer. It sometimes feels like all I do since the crime was committed is complain. I seriously wish that all this didn't happen and I was still blogging on my gooberssfzoofriends.blogspot.com blog about all the great Zoo Friends and great things happening at the Zoo. I also wish I was still making enrichment toys for the friends and posting all the fun at thebigcatnip.blogspot.com BUT there are persons in Zoo Management that evidentially would prefer to stir things up, not just with me, but with other Staffers as well.

It would serve the people above Zoo Management, eg the Zoological Society Board and City Park and Rec. to take a real close look at what is happening at Management level if they want the Zoo to thrive.

It will really be a shame if the system stays status-quo. The Zoo could be so much more, if the hands of those who really cared weren't tied. To me the Zoo should be Staffed by people who are there because they love Animals and want to do what's best for them. Sure its a business, but it is also a place where Animals live. So, everyone at all levels should keep that in mind and put personal agendas aside. The people who work at the Zoo are the luckiest people, more of them should be grateful they have these great jobs and stop trying to domineer and politic.

Ok so maybe I went on a tangent there, but after my experience, my semi-rosed colored glasses came off. What happened to me is sad and frustrating because its wrong. Unfortunately there is alot of wrong going on at the San Francisco Zoo.

I do want to say that I am trying to move away from my negative vibe blogs and have started a new one. I have yet to post, but have the outline, so it will launch soon. My goal is to just report on my visit of the day and post photos. The details I share will be exactly what I thought and saw that day. It will be about my awesome Zoo Friends, Visitor misbehavior and other assorted yays and nays. Check it out if you're interested iamnotananteater.blogspot.com

You can also find links to my other Zoo Friend related blogs and photosite in the Welcome post of this blog. Thankx!

UPDATE: 11.09.11 I have mailed my reply to David Stanton, Zoological Society Chair, as well and delivered a copy to Phil Ginsburg, Park and Rec GM. When/if I get a reply I will post their reply, my reply and hopefully a response to it all!

6 month update!

I started this written update last week, and got side tracked by yet another Zoo issue. You can view the latest at www.sanfranciscozoofails.blogspot.com

On Monday August 8th, 2011, I made a video update as a follow-up to my initial youtube.com account of the crime that is this Membership situation.

My internet has been slow and it has failed to upload the video update to youtube on many occasions, so I wanted (and planned to eventually) post an update in writing, as we approach yet another Monday at the end of this weekend.

The above date of 8.8.11, marks six weeks since I hand delivered the letters of correspondence to San Francisco City Officials. This Monday 8.29.11 will mark 9 weeks.

As noted in the last blog post, my most recent attempt was made by hand delivering letters to Zoo related Officials.

One of those Officials is Phil Ginsburg, the General Manager of the San Francisco Park and Recreation. I have zero'd my aim at him as the Zoo, a City owned facility, is responsible to the Park and Rec.

I noted that I visited the Park and Rec offices on 7.18.11 in an attempt to meet with GM Ginsburg. At that time, I left a message for his Assistant Staci.

I received no call in response, so the following week, I again stopped by the office. I had an extended conversation with Staci, who apologized for not getting back to me, agreed that the "crime" was unjust, said that she would not only relay to Ginsburg, but see if he was in-fact the go-to person on this or if Park and Rec Commission President Mark Buell would be. If it was to be Buell's attention, she would contact the appropriate liaison. She agreed to call me that Friday, July 29, with an update to what she had done. I called and left her a voice-mail on Tuesday August 6.

8.26.11 - I have still not received a follow-up call from her. Thank you Staci for your word and your professionalism.

It really is disconcerting that a City like San Francisco, my hometown, has branches (Park and Rec AND of course the Zoo) in which the people who represent them and thus the City, have such blatant disregard for such injustice's as to completely ignore requests from the victim's to be heard. They remind me of Mobsters. Which by containing the word Mob, is by definition, lawless. These people band together and disregard as if they are above the law. Maybe they are and there and that is where the problem lies.

# * Why Would We?

Something the San Francisco Zoo has obviously failed to ask themselves, in making their reasoning believable.

Why would we make a call with false information, AND make it while standing there in the midst, wearing party hats!??? It was Jahari's (Lion) Birthday coming up, so I made party hats featuring the Cats getting Birthday Party stuff from past celebrations, before Curator Corinne MacDonald took away their fun. Photo taken in Lion House before heading over to Bears, 2.5.11.

It has to be obvious to anyone who has read the documentation on this blog that someone isn't being truthful.

Why would Kim?

Who has:

*Been a Lifelong Visitor
*Been a Member most of Adult Life
*Since 2008 Visiting 3/4 times a week
*Adoptive Parent to Bairds Tapir Goober.
*Part of a group who donated to the Tatiana Memorial Bench.
*Became friendly with a majority of the Keepers and Staff.
*Did extensive online research, including reading every article posted in the sfgate.com archive on the San Francisco Zoo. Dating back ten years. & Read every Joint Zoo Committee Meeting Agenda and Minutes posted online from the past ten years. More research than most Zoo Staff, paid and volunteer.
*Responded to sfgate.com and yelp.com reader comments, in effort to educate and endear people to the San Francisco Zoo and its Residents. More outreach at the time than the Zoo's own Staff.
*Has numerous websites sharing information and Photos on the Zoo and the Animals. More than official San Francisco Zoo websites.
*Constantly interacted in person with Visitors, sharing my knowledge of the Zoo Animals.
*During most of 2010 Made Enrichment Toys for Big Cats and on occasion Bears.
*Organized a Memorial in honor of Tony (Siberian Tiger), for his Keepers and Friends, that consisted of his favorite meal Meatballs, and handout photo mementos.
*Lent Primate Department Videos for the Animals to watch. I offered to loan in rotation my Disney Collection. Never received the first two back. Its been over a year.
*Worked at Photo Booth, just to be working on Zoo grounds.
*Got Guard Card after being there so often and seeing horrible harassing of the Animals. I never wanted to be a Security Guard, but I was unemployed and felt I may have to, in order to protect the animals, since the Guards working there weren't. Inquired about being part of Security, but after new Company was hired, felt secure they were doing a good job.

Why would Lee?

Who has:

*Been a Member of many years.
*Is a Former San Francisco Zoo Docent
*Is a Former SFZOO Animal Parent in Adoption Program. Adopting upwards of 6-10 Animals per year.
*Has both arms filled with tattoo's of the Big Cats.
*Made Animal Photo Magnets and donated to Members Morning event for visitor take home mementos.
*Constantly interacted in person with visitors, sharing knowledge of the Zoo Animals, even after being forced to resign from Docent Program, after being abused by a higher level Docent.
*During most of 2010 Made Enrichment Toys for Big Cats and on occasion Bears.
*Organized a Memorial in honor of Tony (Siberian Tiger), for his Keepers and Friends, that consisted of his favorite meal Meatballs, and handout photo mementos.
*Was asked by the Zoo Director Tanya Peterson to speak at a meeting about the Memorial.
*Was asked by the Zoo Director Tanya Peterson to submit her Resume for possible job opportunity within the Fundraising Department.
*In 2010 Renewed Membership at Guardian Level ($1000. per year)

Why would either of us, do what the San Francisco Zoo is claiming we have done?

#12 update REASON Issued But Not To Us

When this blog went live I was contacted by several members of the media, some had other agenda's and I chose to stick with my personal issue rather than get involved in other issues that while may be relevant to San Francisco Zoo related issues, were not part of my personal goal, which is justice for having my Membership revoked without a valid reason.

I chose to go with KGO-TV's 7 On Your Side, a Consumer defense based show in the News Department. While the reporter, Randall Yip was working on gathering information, Lee had contacted her District Supervisor Scott Wiener, who put his Assistant on the case of seeking a reason for us. The following are the reasons they were given.

Reason given to Adam Taylor, Assistant to Supervisor Scott Wiener

Friday April 22, 2011

"After speaking with Gwendolyn (Tornatore , San Francisco Zoo Public Relations), she stated that is the Zoo's responsibility to provide a safe, harassment-free environment for employees. According to her, the reason your membership was revoked was because you engaged in a pattern of conduct that was disruptive to the employees of the Zoo, culminating with the instance when you called in to report a code red scenario at the bear grotto."

Reason given to Randall Yip, KGO-TV 7 On Your Side

March 29, 2011

"Zoo responded, accusing you of abusive behavior of staff and calling in a prank phone call. Reason (for membership revoking) was given by PR, stating you (Lee and I) acknowledged calling in a false alarm and that you had abused staff. They said there was no third call (caller beside Lee) and no documentation of a third call.

All I can say at this time, is there is much dishonest and cowardice behavior among Zoo Staff involved in both decision making and in defense of holding employment. These accusations are unfounded and slanderous.

Note that to date, Sunday May 8, 2011:

*Neither myself (Kim) or Lee has received in writing an official reason for having our Memberships revoked. The request was made in writing to both Director Tanya Peterson and to the Head of Membership Lora LaMarca.

*I (Kim) have never received a follow-up from Supervisor Sean Elsbernd who's District the Zoo falls into.

*I (Kim) have not received a reply on letters sent to Nick Podell, Chairman of the Board, San Francisco Zoological Society, David Stanton, Board Member, San Francisco Zoological Society, Larry Martin, San Francisco Park and Recreation Commissioner, and San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee.