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Restore NYC Funding to Staten Island Zoo
  1. Signatures
    844 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Council Member (+ 6 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Council Member (Deborah Rose)
      • Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
      • Council Member (James S. Oddo)
      • Council Member (Vincent Ignizio)
      • Council Member (Jimmy Van Bramer)
      • Council Member (Domenic M. Recchia, Jr.)
      • Council Speaker (Christine Quinn)
  2. Created By
    Staten Island Zoological Society
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates

The current New York City budget will reduce the funds allocated to the Staten Island Zoo by nearly 55%.  Such a funding cut would cripple the operations of the Zoo and severely impact the sustainability of the park.

Please help us remind New York City how valuable the Staten Island Zoo is to local visitors, school groups, and neighboring businesses.  Sign the petition and stand up for New York's biggest little Zoo!

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Restore NYC Funding to the Staten Island Zoo

Greetings,

For over 75 years, the Staten Island Zoo has been serving the Greater New York City Area in providing a unique and inspirational visitor experience. The organization has become a staple of the local community and a proponent for wildlife conservation and education.

As a Zoo advocate, I urge City Hall and the City Council to restore the City's funding to the Department of Cultural Affairs to prevent the destabilizing impact of the FY12 Executive budget cuts on the 33 members of the Cultural Institutions Group and the over 800 neighborhood-based organizations that received Cultural Development Funding. Without this restoration, our city will see a loss of thousands of jobs and a negative economic impact, as well as less cultural opportunities for all.

Funding for the 33 members of the Cultural Institutions Group will be cut by 50%! This includes the American Museum of Natural History, Bronx Zoo, Carnegie Hall, Historic Richmond Town, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Hall of Science, The New York Public Theater, Queens Botanical Garden, Staten Island Children's Museum the Staten Island Museum, The Staten Island Zoo, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Gardens (to name a few). Similarly severe cuts will hurt over 800 cultural organizations such as the Alice Austen House, Council on the Arts and Humanities on Staten Island, Musical Chairs Chamber Ensemble and Sundog Theatre.

Cultural and art programs attract over 19 million families, schoolchildren, teachers and tourists a year. They are a critical part of a neighborhood's fabric, strengthen local businesses, provide jobs and enrich our quality of life. Cultural organizations educate and inspire teachers and children. They work jointly with schools and community groups to provide free or affordable access and programming for the most vulnerable citizens.

Thank you for the consideration of this request.

[Your name]

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