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Fate of Billy the Elephant's Home Goes to City Council Today
The LA City Council is fielding general public comment right now, but behind them in a packed council chambers is are animal lovers, activists and experts waiting to speak on whether the six acre pachyderm forest exhibit for LA Zoo's lone elephant, Billy, should stay continue construction or continue to be on hold.
On Monday, both sides--including celebrities Bob Barker and Slash from Guns N' Roses--duked it out at a city council committee. A today's meeting, Barker, Cher and Lily Tomlin will speak.
"The new Pachyderm Forest will provide Billy and other Asian elephants not only with more space than Asian elephants now enjoy at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, but also with a level of personal care and state-of-the-art veterinary services they simply won’t get anywhere else," Connie Morgan, President of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association, said. "Jack Hanna, one of the world’s best known animal care experts, calls the habitat 'A model for humane elephant care that will educate generations to come on the threats Asian elephants face in the wild.'"
The other side begs to differ. If you want to watch the Elephant debate, go to Channel 35 and tune in right now. You can also watch online.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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