Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Shut down Franklin Park Zoo or take away the One Beacon tax breaks?

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I was actually up at Franklin Park last weekend with my wife, campaigning and visiting a friend having a cook out.  While we were there we went over to the zoo. (by the way, it is having a free day on July 24th (I think) for all to visit)

A few things struck me about the article. One is how the “public/private partnership” which runs the operation won’t tell how much they are being paid for the movie rights. Not very public or transparent.   Another public/private partnership, the Conservancy taking care of the Rose Kennedy Greenway pays its director, Nancy Brennan, more than the Governor or the Mayor get paid.  Somehow, I believe the politicians jobs are more difficult, but it is our tax dollars paying her salary.

More importantly, is how close the budget of the zoo is to the tax break given each year to the One Beacon Street tower for being in a blighted area. Every year they receive a tax break that was initially designed for affordable housing in blighted areas of between 5 and 8 million dollars. It is a Chapter 121A tax break. The juxtaposition of the One Beacon tower on beautiful Beacon Hill, just down from the State House and Franklin Park which is in the heart of Dorchester and Roxbury is striking.

The crowd at Franklin Park was over 95% minority. As we were walking towards the zoo, we experienced a heartbreaking encounter.  A young boy of about 4 came up to me, grabbed my hand and said “I want to be your friend.”  He would not let go of my arm.  His sister, who was no more than 6 or 7 came over and said matter of factly: “our natural mother kicked us out of the house so now we have to stay with someone else.”  We stopped to talk with them for awhile, and I tried to teach him to tie his shoe.   He was so adorable we wanted to take him home with us, and as we left he just stood and waved and watched us go.  

I have been working and campaigning on Beacon Hill for years, and met many children but I’ve never heard a story like that from any of the kids that live there or go to Hill House for their recreational activities at the multi million dollar Ebersol Field.

When will our society stop giving tax breaks to the rich, while crying poor and shutting down cultural attractions in poorer sections of town?  Let’s eliminate the 121A tax break for the One Beacon tower given by the BRA, let the Tower pay its fair share of taxes like the rest of us, and maybe we won’t have to close down the zoo.

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  1. The amount in question for the zoos is $5M.

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    p>Boston-area residents spend far more than that sports memorabilia and tickets, not to mention movie tickets, sneakers, and nail salons (judging by their proliferation).

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    p>Folks who want the zoos to stay open should stop whining and support the tax increases needed to support them. Perhaps they can wear t-shirts without the Red Sox logo one summer. Perhaps they can yell themselves hoarse at the beach instead of in $325 a pop “Dugout Box” seats at Fenway Park.

    • Yes, a lot of people spend money on stuff they don’t necessarily need. Yes, some people whine about any kind of tax increases. Yes, there are people who are upset about the possibility of the Zoo closing. What do those people have to do with each other?

  2. Thank you for this Diary on the Zoo Kevin and thank you for frontpaging  it Charlie.

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    p>Here’s part of an email I got with some more background on the budget history of our our wonderful Zoos from John Linehan President & CEO of Zoo New England. (Zoo New England manages the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston and the Stone Zoo in Stoneham.  Both Zoos are accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).  Zoo New England’s mission is to inspire people to protect and sustain the natural world for future generations by creating fun and engaging experiences that integrate wildlife and conservation)

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    p>

    Marie St. Fleur called me this afternoon and suggested I contact you.  Marie has been a champion for our Zoos and she has been a strong advocate for the Franklin Park Zoo in particular.  As she may have told you, we are in a bit of a challenging situation where Governor Patrick vetoed the majority of our public funding.  We went from $6.5 M in the Legislative Budget to $2.5 M post veto. Funding at this level would rapidly lead to a crisis as it does not provide funding for even a close-down process for the Zoos.  This would take at least 2 years to properly place he 1,000 + animals we have.  I the meantime all the costs of maintaining them would fall on the owner (that being the Commonwealth) to the tune of $9 million in the first year alone.  Obviously, if in shutdown mode, we would lose self-generated revenues including admissions, concessions, rides, private events and donations.

    We have been working hard to get an override in motion (which unfortunately we have had to do in several other years too) but as you know this year is even more challenging than others.  I feel as if the both sides of the Legislature have been fair with us (after years of education about the host of values we provide), but the Governors (with the ever changing faces there) have been much more difficult for us to educate. I’m optimistic that we have enough support for an override, but I’m not counting any chickens.  Marie said you had interest in our plight and thought you might have some advice.

    John Linehan
    President & CEO
    Zoo New England (Franklin Park Zoo – Stone Zoo)
    One Franklin Park Road
    Boston, MA 02121

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    p>So now I’m doing a little outreach to you the BMG community. You have two assignments, call your Reps and Senators and ask them to override the veto of the funding for the Franklin Park Zoo and Stoneham Zoo and educate the Governor about the importance of maintaining our wonderful Zoos.    

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    p>The Veto message below

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    p>

    Veto Explanation:  I am reducing this item by an amount not recommended in light of available revenues.

    6,700,000 2,500,000

    7007-0951 Commonwealth Zoological Corporation
    For the operation of the Commonwealth Zoological Corporation pursuant to chapter 92B of the General Laws; provided, that funds appropriated in this item shall be expended for the purposes of promoting private fundraising, achieving self-sufficiency and serving as a catalyst for urban economic development and job opportunities for local residents; provided further, that the corporation shall take all steps necessary to increase the amount of private funding available for the operation of the zoos; provided further, that funding in this item may not be transferred through interdepartmental service agreements; and provided further, that the corporation shall report to the house and senate committees on ways and means not later than February 1, 2010, on the status of, and amounts collected from, the private fundraising and enhanced revenue efforts identified in the draft Massachusetts Zoos Business and Operations Plan, dated December, 1996

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    p>Oh yeah a third assignment. While I wish we could snatch a little money from the Tower in time, I think the real long term solution is also educating our Governor and Reps and Senators that we do not hate paying taxes, we just want to know that our fairly collected taxes are supporting public structures that do a good job taking care of children in need of social services and animals in our zoos.  

        • What’s missing here?  Seems more like 3 to 5% cut in spending, as opposed to 30 to 50%.

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          p>In other words, if certain programs were cut 30-50%, who gained while others lost, to, on average lose 3 to 5%?

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          p>Expended  FY2009 – Expended  FY2010

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          p>Wages & Salaries 4,246,441 –  3,989,175
          Employee Benefits  1,148,498 –  1,205,011
          Operating Expenses 1,171,741 – 1,068,951
          Public Assistance  13,118,165 – 13,000,239
          Grants & Subsidies 5,808,427 – 5,719,110
          Debt Service 2,045,025 – 2,063,525  

          • And inflation.  

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            p>Almost every year, but particularly when the economy tanks, eligibility and need for government services grows.  In the MassHealth area for example (over 1/3 of the state budget), overall spending grew by a few percentage points.  Yet, demand is projected to grow far faster than government spending.  Cost of care is projected to grow far faster than government spending.  Inflation will add to the “budget gap.”

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            p>All these factors mean that, despite the small increase in MassHealth spending, payments to providers are expected to be cut by over $200 million.   Coverage for legal immigrants will likely be eliminated (“saving” $70-$150 million in budgetary terms).  State support for the free care pool is $0 this year, “saving” us tens of millions (at least in the short term).  Tens of millions more in “savings” and “cuts” is projected via various “care management” tools.

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            p>So, you tell me, is “MassHealth” being “cut” even though it is getting slightly more overall appropriations?

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            p>Remember, this is over 1/3 of the state budget but “health reform” and “education” are the two favored areas under the FY10 budget.  The cuts to public health, social services, violence prevention and other areas are even more substantial.   Most are real dollar cuts of over 10%.  
            This substantial budget cuts are then magnified several times over when it comes to “service cuts” for many of the same “maintenance of effort” reasons.

            • What to believe, you or my lying eyes?

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              p>You say spending cuts of 30% – 50%.  Sure, MassHealth spending has increased; Federal reimbursements simultaneously increased.  

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              p>The net effect is all over the board with level-funding of most providers’ rates. True, a cut in masshealth dental (but you probably know as well as I that the dental was never a big benefit because so few dentists take MassHealth dental), cut in immigrant coverage, ect. MassHealth spending is budgeted to increase. Disagree?

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              p>Here’s the 2009 to 2010 comparison. It’s not 30 to 50%.  It not even ‘real dollar cuts of over 10%’.

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              p>Interesting is this:  if you exclude “local aid” from the 2010 budget, State spending actually increased from 2009 to 2010.  Local aid is taking it on the chin. The state, not so much.

      • to a new extreme.  Usually you just threaten closure (or stopping T service say 30 minutes before the end of the rush hour).  New spin going with also killing the animals (or any hapless commuter or tourist not making the closing hour).  Politics is such a wonderful business.

        • That is a ripoff of an old National Lampoon cover, “Buy this magazine or we will kill this dog.”  It is the same dog, same hand, same gun with a ripped off spin on it.  The magazine cover from 1973 was funny (I was 14)the Republican poster was just lame.

  5. …in the early 70’s it had been the sight of a razed old department store that had gone out of business in the 30’s, and leased to offices and run down since.  It was a parking lot for five years until Commercial Union Insurance agreed to develop the land (I knew folks who worked there in the 70’s).

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    p>However, my understanding is that those tax abatements are supposed to run something like 15 years.  My math has it that 1972 to 2009 runs a bit over that.  Wonder if doing renovations every few years extends it somehow?

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    p>This scan is an article from the NYTimes on CU’s initial plans to build on that spot.

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    p>It has been there for decades, even if I do remember it when it was young…:)

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    p>Yrs,
    Shava (showing her age)

  6. It is true that the tax breaks are supposed to expire.  But the BRA has the authority to extend them.  So what they have done is extort a $1 per square foot of about a million dollars from each subsequent buyer of the building in order to extend the tax credits.

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    p>It is a win/win/lose situation.   The buyer of the tower pays one million dollars to get a 5 to 8 million dollar tax break, the BRA gets a million dollars to spend as they want and…

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    p>THE TAXPAYERS GET SCREWED out of millions of dollars.   All thanks to the Mayor and his BRA.  

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    p>This is one of the key reasons I’m running for Mayor is to educate people about these tax breaks that are given to the rich while at the same time our city cries poor.

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    p>I agree with Meredith, we do not mind paying taxes.   What we mind is wasting taxes, and letting the rich get richer while the poor get further behind.

    • I agree with Meredith, we do not mind paying taxes.   What we mind is wasting taxes, and letting the rich get richer while the poor get further behind.

  7. Before I contact any of my elected officials where can I view the payroll and financials  of Zoo New England?

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    p>If my tax dollars are supporting them this info should be readily available.

    • Join the effort to support the Zoos!

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      p>

      For the past several days, there has been extensive media attention focused on Governor Patrick’s line-item veto of the Zoos’ funding in the FY10 budget.  We have been encouraged and inspired by the tremendous outpouring of support for the Zoos from people throughout the Commonwealth and across the country.

      Here’s what you can do to join the effort to restore this funding and to help ensure a bright future for our Zoos.

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      p>

      • for a fool I hope you realize.  Come on, Saturday morning announcing closure of the zoo and killing the animals?  Even better that poor Deval Patrick is the “ogre” in this mess. Reminds me of the old Nat Lampoon play of “buy this magazine or we kill this puppy”.

        • Mike – if anyone is being “played” it is Gov. Patrick by whomever wrote the veto message and choose only the poor, the voiceless [animals don’t vote] mentally ill kids, courts [cannot hire lobbyists] so that Gov. Patrick’s vetos make him look like a CLUELESS bully.  In person, Gov. Patrick is a warm and caring person – but these vetos smack of discrimination against the vulnerable as well as a lack of understanding of long range returns.

          • no offense, but this was the most ridiculous thing I’ve seen in reading Saturday Globes over the last 30 years of adulthood.  Come on, we have to close the zoo and kill the animals? (plus the Emily Litella moment today, we didn’t really mean we’ll kill the animals).  God love politics and the summer – what utter BS.

    • IRS form 990 for the zoo has this info, and I was able to pull it off of the attorney general’s website pretty quickly.  

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      p>Try this:  http://tinyurl.com/mbljbt

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      p>It isn’t too crazy with pay for top execs like some of the charities.  The director makes $128k, there are a few other board members that are VPs that are over $100k, and the top 5 non-board employees make between $65k and $89k.  That means that nobody beyond the 5 full-timers on the board and the five top-paid non-board members make over $65k.  

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      p>It does show that they are very dependent upon the state funding to make their financials work.  I can see how they may be able to take a small hit and cut some administrative costs, but a $4 million hit does not make it easy to keep running, even if they cut all the VPs and directors.  

      • How many more 501(c)s are out there with regular state funding that funnels through to programs that fund  exec salary.  The regular and recurring 501 funding via the state budget is nearly invisible.  You’d be sifting through guidestar.org for months to figure out the number.    

        • Audubond Society.  Birds, what’s not to like.  Go to [Guidestar and open a free account http:guidestar.org].  Ssearch under ‘massaachusetts’]  Open the 990s page one and look for ‘government support’.  

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          p>Case in point Audubond Society.  Government grants and/or payments under contract to the Audubond Society:  $6.8 Million.  There are at least a half-dozen people there making $100K per year.

        • This private 501c3 corporation, an instrument of the Artery Business Committee, insinuated itself into a “stewardship” position over the whole Greenway on the promise that it would fund all maintenance privately.  Like most public-private partnerships, this one is about public money and private power.  The Conservancy managed to get itself $10 million in “start-up” funds from state and city (while, e.g. the Ferguson industries for the Blind was shut down to save $860,000 a year), a lease on the Greenway land, and half it’s annual budget from the state. Its budget, currently estimated at $5 million, is inflated to about ten times the real cost of maintenance.  Its Executive Director makes $220,000 in base pay, and its Development Director makes $185,000. With benefits, that’s about a half million dollars a year — which would be close to the real cost of maintaining the 10-acre park.  The whole City of Boston Parks Dept. takes care of 2200 acres, with $15 million; the Commissioner makes $113,000 a year. The Conservancy, with millions in public money and unknown millions in private money,is effectively a private park authority, with full featherbedding privileges at public expense.  Now, the Conservancy is quickly proceeding to privatize the Greenway; all events will have to pay huge fees, and there are designated free speech zones.  This group of corporate lobbyists will decide when and where we citizens can exercise free speech rights on our own park.  And we are paying them handsomely to do it.

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          p>And you couldn’t tell from the 990, because they don’t reveal the government money; it’s all listed as “direct public support.” So it looks like the citizens are making voluntary individual donations, whereas the truth is we’re being fleeced.

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          p>This was a DiMasi pet.  Now, we should get rid of it; it’s an outrage and a disgrace.  Too bad we can’t claw back all those millions misspent….

          • for whom “the mission”, helping homeless veterans, counts more than making big money and living high on the hog. Ditto for all of the above.

  8. Save Animals – not Gov. Patrick’s campaign war chest!

    Joe Landolfi’s reported statement containing “…if the zoos choose * to close…”  is too much.  If a nonprofit suddenly loses 2/3 of its state funding [1/3 of its total budget] and closes, that is not a choice.  In the private sector, a zoo or other enterprise has to close if it cannot pay its bills.  I have an idea; how about all of us who contributed to Gov. Patrick’s 2006 campaign donate the same amount to the Zoos – and zero to Patrick?  My husband and I both maxed out for the first time ever to Patrick’s campaign but will now donate to the Zoo instead.  If others follow our lead, that just might save those zoos and animals.  Before posting this, I had my husband read it and he shares this opinion, by the way.

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    p>*emphasis added.  I found the choice of the word “choose” in Joe Landolfi’s official response especially offensive.

    • Desipite his assumption that private citizens will take up the burden of funding the zoos, I am not sure that he would be all that happy to have all of his campaign contributors give their money to more worthy charitable causes (not necessarily the zoo). Personally, I may vote for him again (at least if my choices are Cahill or a Republican), but my wife and I definitely won’t be giving him any more money in the future.

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      p>I know Deval has to make a lot of tough choices as Governor, but at the rate that he is pissing people off, he should seriously be shopping for a job in private sector or the Obama administration.

  9. statements by Deleo, Murray, and the Gov

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    p>DeLeo says over ride of Zoo veto very likely; Murray says if House over rides, Senate will as well.

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    p>Gov. Patrick rips into the Zoo and says it should tighten its belt and live within its means “like families in the Commonwealth” – how many families, except for those laid off, suddenly lose 30% of their income stream and still pay their mortgages?  Inquiring minds want to know.

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