WASHINGTON (WJLA) – Family Day at the National Zoo was created with parents and children in mind. But in recent years the Easter Monday event has been hijacked by fights, shootings and stabbings.
So, this year there will be increased security. Zoo officials say at a minimum there will be bag checks. Community activists are starting Project Safe Zoo. On Monday night at the Big Chair Bar and Grill in Southeast Washington, Project Safe Zoo participants held one of their final meetings before the big April 6 event. During Project Safe Zoo, dozens of adults will fan out across zoo grounds in identifiable shirts and encourage young people to stay positive and steer clear of trouble.
"The main thing is mediating any type of conflict or situations that might occur during that day with our youth in the city,” said participant Jeff Gallman.
Organizers say in years past some have come to this event to settle old scores. The expectation is that this year's event will return to its family-friendly roots. “So, we are going to go there to let them know it’s alright to socialize, but you have to respect the history and all the dignity of this event. Just there to mentor them not to make a wrong decision. Sometimes that’s all it takes. And we’re there to do the right things for the right reasons to get the right results,” said organizer Ron Moten.
Moten says the group will also monitor social media during the event to see if young people rally in a negative way. If they do, participants will try to stop it.
WASHINGTON (WJLA) - Police and security officers had a busy day Monday at the National Zoo.
Easter Monday is traditionally the zoo's "Family Day" event - one of the biggest attendance draws of the year.
But after outbursts of violence in recent years, the zoo stepped up security on Monday. Visitors underwent bag checks and security screenings at the entrances. Zoo officials said they also reserved the right to limit the number of visitors entering the zoo if it got too crowded.
Dozens of community activists also fanned out across the park in an effort called "Project Safe Zoo" to help police keep an eye on the crowds and encourage teenagers to behave.
"Seasons may come and your luck just may run out, and all that you'll have is some memories..."
16. "RE: they were SHOOTING last year" In response to Reply # 5 Tue Apr-07-15 09:56 AM by abcdmetrius
He was 14, he fired into a crowd outside of the zoo, it stemmed from neighborhood gang activity. How does more security inside of the zoo address this?
That's a community thing and could' re just as easily happened outside of Marvin.
In 2011 a 16 year old stabbed a 14 year old. Sounds like gang shit also, but damn of that doesn't happen everywhere.
Meanwhile in 2000, a 16 year old shot seven people near the entrance. 15 years ago. The entrance which is right off the street.
I don't see how additional interior security addresses these things aside from the stabbing, but that kind of stuff happens at movie theaters too.
20. "nope. Drama has been happening at the Zoo every year for at LEAST the pa..." In response to Reply # 3
10 years... I've lived here over 15 years and it's been a story almost every year that I can remember.....the past 5 have been particularly rough though....
"Seasons may come and your luck just may run out, and all that you'll have is some memories..."
4. "RE: Black people corralled at the National Zoo like animals" In response to Reply # 0
They could try hiring more friendly staff instead of not so friendly security. Give people more things to do instead of walk and look at animals.
I've been to that zoo exactly twice. The signs were outdated, the only staff I saw was working concessions, none of the animals were out, parking was atrocious, and the grounds weren't even that well kept.
Which arent excuses for people to act like knuckleheads, but this seems very short sighted. Make the experience more enjoyable and then see if the crowd enjoys themselves more.
15. "budget shortfalls? " In response to Reply # 12
The National Zoo is part of the Smithsonian. It doesn't charge admission and they don't even track visitors. The budget was cut because Republicans cut funding to the Smithsonian. This isn't a "butts-in-seats" issue.
22. "RE: budget shortfalls? " In response to Reply # 15
Funding comes from the Institutions own endowment, private and corporate contributions, membership dues, government support and ...
retail, concession and licensing revenue.
Which won't make up for the sequestrian and they do a decent job of hosting events; but unless you're funneling internal revenue, when people can walk across the street to 7/11 and get a similarly over priced soda or bring their own, then they're missing out.
24. "No it doesn't. It's federally funded....." In response to Reply # 22
>Funding comes from the Institutions own endowment, private >and corporate contributions, membership dues, government >support and ...
That only covers exhibit artifacts and limited exhibit installations...it doesn't cover infrastructure. A Zoo, any Zoo, is like 90% about infrastructure. Signage and things of that nature are part of infrastructure....
>retail, concession and licensing revenue.
Limited revenue from those sources.....
>Which won't make up for the sequestrian and they do a decent >job of hosting events; but unless you're funneling internal >revenue, when people can walk across the street to 7/11 and >get a similarly over priced soda or bring their own, then >they're missing out.
"Seasons may come and your luck just may run out, and all that you'll have is some memories..."
37. "exactly...but the Smithsonian can't ever charge. It's part of the charte..." In response to Reply # 33
It's kind of at the mercy of congress and finding creative ways to raise funding on its own. Most zoo's charge admission and sustain themselves that way....
"Seasons may come and your luck just may run out, and all that you'll have is some memories..."
8. "What in the entire fuck are you talking about?" In response to Reply # 4
>They could try hiring more friendly staff instead of not so >friendly security. Give people more things to do instead of >walk and look at animals.
It's a fucking zoo. You walk and look at animals.
>I've been to that zoo exactly twice. The signs were outdated, >the only staff I saw was working concessions, none of the >animals were out, parking was atrocious, and the grounds >weren't even that well kept.
I can't speak to the signage, but I've never seen the National Zoo look anything but clean. It's at worst, the 3rd best zoo in the country.
>Which arent excuses for people to act like knuckleheads, but >this seems very short sighted. Make the experience more >enjoyable and then see if the crowd enjoys themselves more.
So you're saying niggas wouldn't shoot fight and stab if the zoo were more funner?
14. "RE: What in the entire fuck are you talking about?" In response to Reply # 8
I went last year. The signs were scratched and faded. The interactive things were broken and/or dated. There was trash and weeds all through the main walkway.
Meanwhile, no knuckleheads are gonna be knuckleheads but at the very least try to distract them instead of thinking security is gonna change the behavior.
Make the zoo 2015 friendly. Which doesn't mean dial into this phone number to hear more about this.
Use augmented reality for phones, have an indoor zone that makes music out of animal sounds, show more information about their origins, talk about the preservation techniques, mention which animals WERE native to the region. There's a lot of things that could be done to update the experience.
Personally I'm fine. I enjoyed the boring zoo for being a boring zoo. But I'm also not of the culture that needs to instagram every morsel of food I plan to put in my mouth.
11. "Not really. The zoo is basically an open park. " In response to Reply # 10
Knowing the change in culture most things have to be more interactive.
I was making a stretch with friendly staff, but there's nothing wrong with people explaining the animals in a semi tour guide fashion. More security doesn't really change the behavior as much as it's false security. The skeletons of many amusement parks can attest to that.
23. "RE: this is literally the 1st time i've ever heard anyone say somethin" In response to Reply # 17
Parking isn't free and it's a hot ass hike from the busted metro in the summer with few other things to do on that neighborhood that would appeal to the family crowd the zoo wants to attract.
b/c i hear complaints about zoos. plenty ppl (myself included) aren't comfortable w/the idea of zoos, generally.
but in this context i think the complaint is about the lack of bells and whistles at this Zoo for this event. as you probably know, Easter Monday @ the Nat'l Zoo is an actual Black thing that's been going on for decades. they typically have family-friendly/kid-focused activities at the event beyond just walking around and looking at animals. like Easter egg rolls or hunts and other stuff.
41. "RE: niggas stay shooting up movie theaters though." In response to Reply # 39
And TGIFridays, and amusement parks. But when was the last time they were busting at the Acquarium or Air and Space museum, or portrait gallery.
Single scoped, outdated, cheap options consistently draw this foolishness. More security doesn't help. Attempting to update and adjust the model may or may not; but we already see what doesn't work.
44. "Now you're just mocking me. " In response to Reply # 42
But in all seriousness, why is the response to problems constantly more security? I guess because I "specialize" professionally in root cause analysis as well as solution implementation that I don't understand this aspect.
I find it very similar to the schooling system. There's scientific evidence that having flexible class spaces and walls enriches the learning environment. Yet our solutions tend to be more standardization in both the curriculum as well as the space.
So even when we know something isn't going to produce the given results, we give huff talk to a fix, while not really addressing the problems.
Shootings at the zoo seem to be a problem, but when it's taking place outside of the zoo and into a crowd, not a damn thing security was gonna do about that. Meanwhile in that neighborhood, there's not much to do aside from the zoo and it's a hike to the nearest metro. So of course crowds are going to gather and the unpredictably of crowds and surrounding elements is exactly why you want to address those problems rather than check bags and have some shit pop off the next year.
It's not a fun experience or an enriching one. It's a thing to do. So that's the folks you get there.
46. "if the problem is outside of the zoo" In response to Reply # 44
what is adding activities to the zoo supposed to do? at the end of the day shooters is gonna shoot and the problem is way deeper than the zoo itself. something has to be done are we really mad at the zoo for trying to prevent shit from happening at the zoo? i just find the notion that adding activities 'other than looking at animals' at a zoo is gonna change the situation out there, kinda funny.
49. "RE: if the problem is outside of the zoo" In response to Reply # 46
And I find fault with our reactive problem solving. I'm not mad at the zoo for being a zoo. I'm frustrated with the inability to adequately assess the problem or find a solution.
The solution would seem to be de emphasize loitering and crowd gathering while offering more entertainment options.
52. "RE: There aint another TV's at the zoo, how am I supposed to watch Power..." In response to Reply # 50
I dislike our ability to see in the grey. Not necessarily here, the Internet is for jokes, but people do think like that.
Kansas just moved forward with a bill that would limit their EBT withdrawals to $25 a day. Another state wants to ban using food stamps to buy seafood. Why? Because someone might buy a steak or lobster.
It's short thinking that gets more cops on the street. More unvetted authoritariam figures with guns immersed in a culture that they don't bother to understand and openly dispise.
Again, I'm not pro shooting at the zoo, I'm for better space utilization and advocating for a solution rather than trying things that don't work. But I see these kind of things at work. As Americans we don't like change at all or even really in depth analysis. Not that too many other spaces are better, but progressive ideas tend to be poo pooed on.
Not going at you though. I loled, it's OKP afterall. But when people that could actually do something about stuff like this display that myopia, I just throw my hands up Buggin Out style.
47. "can't remember the last time that i went there" In response to Reply # 0 Tue Apr-07-15 11:05 AM by Crash Bandacoot
kinda subpar from what i remember. it's cool going as a kid but, as a grown up, i don't like seeing animals in captivation. then you add violent outbursts into the mix, no thanks.
54. "RE: they should be out in the wild, sea, etc." In response to Reply # 53
Some of them can't. We've destroyed a lot of natural habits. A good zoo is one that emphasizes learning as well as teaching. A lot of species have been preserved through good zoos.
61. "provocative. But really....how else do you explain it?" In response to Reply # 60
the other 360 something days that the National Zoo is open...they don't do what they did yesterday....
The ONE day that is officially recognized as Black Family day, they go all out and publicize the "solution" they've come up with to curtail the violence that's been jumping off over the past 10 years....
give me a better post title.
"Seasons may come and your luck just may run out, and all that you'll have is some memories..."
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