Arkansas Blog

OK, folks.....it's kind of cumbersome to sign but I just signed the petition and now it's everyone else's turn

I got it! Just have the Travs play 2 games a year at Ray Winder. Problem solved.

Before getting all gaga takes over . . . PLEASE think this through.

At clicky.

Nice try Norma. Your point is that you don't buy into the zoo concept (basically, you don't like them for a variety of fair reasons and so aren't going to support this one either). That is just fine, but ultimately not really relevant to this discussion.
This is a city planning issue and, even if you remove the zoo considerations from the equation, has become a matter of City officials playing to special interests to fulfill back room sweetheart deals that have been made some time ago and are obviously being discussed out of the public view and with a clear agenda in mind.
So your points about why you don't like zoos are fine and fair, but not relevant. Your proposal of the "humane disposition of the animals" isn't on the table. I'm also guessing (based on your comments and position) that you haven't been to the zoo in a while. It has come an extremely long way. Not that this will convince you of anything or to change your mind, but it has. It is heading in the right direction and it is here to stay.
Too bad I can't say the leaders of this City are heading the right direction and I certainly hope that they don't stay. Stodola and Hurst should be ousted in the next election. I hope some new blood gets into this City and lights a fire that takes this City places!
The old boy (and occasional connected lady) infrastructure needs to be infiltrated by people with big ideas and good brains who aren't sewn into the power fabric of this community. We need people who SERVE THE PUBLIC and not themselves, their friends or their connected special interests.
Stodola and Hurst should be the first ones shown the door. Moore should step up and explain where the parks commission is on this. And they all need to explain why they aren't serving the public interest and are conducting themselves like a mini Bush administration. Pathetic.

I am completely disgusted. Pardon me while I vomit. Ray Winder is an historic ballpark for Christ's sake, one of few left. It could be a working museum, hall of fame, inspiration to new players.

War Memorial Park will be destroyed if this path is continued. I don't want to live in a state that is so corrupted, narcissistic, greedy and short-sighted.

Most of the WWII veterans, to whom War Memorial Park is dedicated, are dead, so there's no need to honor that original purpose, right? What will happen to that expensive metal sculpture, by an out-of-state artist? Another example of Arkansas "leaders" shitting on their own. At least we still have Over The Jumps carousel, another unique rescue from progress.

UAMS looms in the skyline now overshadowing every nearby neighborhood, eating and devaluing real estate, destroying 100 year-old-trees and attracting the criminal element, generating more noise and heat in the summer for every inch of concrete and asphalt added. Maybe there's healing inside, but outside it is a cancer. At least Ray Winder is green. UAMS is not eco-friendly.

UAMS should expand across I-630. Apparently they are printing money for UAMS' use, so use it there. There's already a redevelopment district in the works for the 12th Street Corridor, including the three blocks between I-630 and 12th street. On that note...

ArkansasBusiness.com reported the names of the committee members:
"Former Little Rock Mayor Jim Daily chaired the five-member committee. Other members include: Steven Arnold, a bishop of St. Mark's Baptist Church; Gwendolyn Hodge, a member of the Little Rock Parks & Recreation Commission; Baker Kurrus, who represents the War Memorial Task Force and serves on the on Little Rock School District board; and Craig Berry, the chairman of the Midtown Redevelopment District Committee."

Why should St. Mark's pastor have a say in what happens to Ray Winder? Will it affect the church's real estate holdings north of 10th street (yes, the church is buying up property to its north).

I'm guessing oily backroom schemers have commercial plans for that area, since Dailey now works for big commercial real estate developers Flake and Kelley. He's not the mayor anymore, so why is he involved in this issue? Perhaps BECAUSE he works for big commercial real estate? MMMM. You think???

I repeat my long-held assessment: The Little Rock government does not like its citizens. Get ready for a task force to decide if that parking lot should have yellow, white,or perhaps green stripes. That's the only thing left to decide.

Lovin' it, BeThoughtful.

My entire point was the humane consideration of the animals involved, which nobody ever addresses.

You've neatly tried to brush that aside with your flat statement that my antipathy toward the "zoo concept" (whatever that means) is "ultimately not really relevant to this discussion."

In other words, the zoo animals and their welfare are "not really relevant to this discussion."

Sorta like children under the care of Arkansas' DHS are "not really relevant" to the discussion of child abuse and murder, in your view.

I hope, Tin Woodsman, you finally get a Heart.

Meanwhile, you fail to address a SINGLE point I made about the economics of all this and the financial priorities for the State of Arkansas, preferring to cite supposed "backroom sweetheart deals" -- which AGAIN you don't specify. Stirs the troops without facts, and apparently "works" for the unthinking.

"I'm also guessing (based on your comments and position) that you haven't been to the zoo in a while. It has come an extremely long way."

Actually, I was there not long ago. "It's come an extremely long way" from WHAT?

Bestial purgatory?

Yours is just more unquantifiable marketing phraseology, BeThoughtful, as EVERYBODY from out of state who visits the zoo says the same thing to me: "God, that's depressing."

So you're saying the zoo used to be even MORE depressing, but it's come an "extremely" long way? In what way, "extremely?"

"When did you stop beating your wife?" extreme?

Oh, right. You don't (can't?) say.

I wish you would (could). Facts would be nice.

Instead, your post is more of the same old "shoot the messenger" bullshit that sometimes passes for insightful "commentary" here.

I mean that in the nicest possible way, my little anaconda.

We're waiting, BeThoughtful, for your genuinely informative economic and humane FACTS on these "zoo" and property-use issues vis a vis state monetary benefits, my darling.

As opposed to your "shoot-the-messenger" uninformed knee-jerk opinions, my wild-eyed cage-pacing puma.

(Please, BeThoughtful. Realize most of these zoo animals haven't gotten any in YEARS. How would YOU feel?)

Shall I hold my minty-fresh breath in anticipation of your actual FACTS re: this complex economic-humane situation?

Or just drop dead in the next three minutes?

K. Don't answer that.

Ah yes, another fine time for the city to tear down another great old building for a parking lot!

UAMS has plenty of room to expand in all directions, and to reach the Ray Winde spot will require taking over the armory, the Red Cross building, and a few others before it reaches there. How long before that happens?

Give the land to the zoo - it will be better used and be a bigger benefit to the city. If not, it will be another sad day when another piece of our history becomes a parking lot.

WHAT "great old building" for a parking lot tear-down of a "piece of our history," JumpedCut?

Ray Winder Field? Rick's Armory? You're joking. Right?

Right, honey.

Where are the millions of $ to preserve Arkansas' "historic" outhouses, Turdblossom?

This sentamentalism for outmoded structures simply doesn't work anymore, preciousness.

Arkansans may be at the bottom of the national statistical ladder, but we're not THAT stupid.

Think about how long it took us to pass the animal cruelty law, Norma. In Arkansas, what is humane for the animals doesn't matter. By God, we need more room to cage wild animals up so we can look at them. What good's an animal if it can't be eaten, shot or stared at for amusement?

Norma, Norma, Norma...again, missing the point.
The discussion at hand isn't about whether zoos are good or bad, humane or inhumane. It is about open and transparent decision making in the interest of the citizens by elected officials.
Your opinions about zoos are fine and worthy of discussion, just not relevant here. This is about sound urban planning and real leadership over back room slime ball deals by current and now former politicians who are self interested and conflicted every which way to Sunday but expect us to buy the load of monkey poop they are shoveling our way.
Happy to talk merits of zoos vs. no zoos, species survival programs, housing animals that would otherwise have died etc. another time in a more relevant forum. Although I will now note the irony of your position and the fact that the zoo's proposed expansion and further development is expressly intended to further enhance quality of life for animals (which I recognize will never be enough to esuage your concerns - but still).
But back to the real issue - inept City leadership, back room deals and BS talking points that are insulting to the citizens these politicians represent.
Again I ask who will run against Hurst and Stodola? I've got a campaign contribution for you. And can someone take Dailey fishing or something and stop him from meddling?

I know what you mean, The_New_Deal.

"What are they DOING, Aunt Norma?"

I don't know about YOU, New Deal, but explaining open-air masturbation and public fucking on Monkey Island to intensely-inquisitive five year olds is beyond my job description as an Aunt.

"They're scratching themselves, cupcake. Let's move on and see the baby giraffe."

"Yeah, but why is he wrestling her in the dirt and she's squealing and he's flinging shit all over the place and their babies are bouncing all over the place?"

"It's the African Veldt exhibit, sweetheart."

"But he's HURTING her in the dirt and their little kids are screaming and everything! And he's like, spraying piss and throwing SHIT everywhere!"

"It's a three-million dollar educational exhibit, Beatrice. Let's go look at the giraffes."

"Yeah, but -- "

"Beatrice, shut up."

"But my name isn't Beatrice!"

"Look, kid. We ALL thought we were hot shit at five. You want me to throw you over the fence with the rhinoceroses?"

"Wha - - ?"

"Shut up, sweetheart. I'm serious. This is a world class zoo."

"But my name's -- "

"Look, you little nose-picker. CAN it and enjoy the animals."

And for GOD'S sake say something relevant, BeThoughtful.

You sound like you might be smart. But it's not about ME, iguana.

It's about the multi-million-dollar issues, prairie-dog.

Keep delving and get back to us.

Norma, you continue to try to goad me into a parallel conversation that I have made clear is not my focus or (in my opinion) presently relevant to the city mismanagement issue.
Your definition of relevance is talking about what you want to talk about. I've already made it abundantly clear that I respect your views and the value of your points but that you are addressing a separate issue from my own. Squeal on all you like, I totally respect your right to do so. But please stop pretending that we're having the same discussion, or that I'm avoiding yours. I get yours, I'm just not interested in having it here and now because I'm focused on the other issue, and the one I believe the blog entries are addressing. I'm not your enemy. And I respect your anti-zoo stance. Just not what I'm talking about here.
I am smart. And so are you. So don't undercut your own intelligence by creating an issue that isn't there because you've got an itch to debate your point. It is unbecoming, and I'm not interested.

Huh, BeThoughtful? Wha -- ?

You keep trying to make this discussion about ME -- without saying a single, pardon me, fucking thing about anything I initially addressed (at clicky).

You must be a Republican. Without any countering FACTS, we've had several back-and-forth posts here and all you've done is attack ME. Not my facts. Do you HAVE any, Hunka?

Now, I love getting assaulted as much as the next girl. As long as the assaultee can string two or more facts together, Valentine.

We LOVE us some facts here.

Saying I "squeal", or that you are focused on "the other issue" (what the fuck ever THAT is) or that you're not my "enemy" -- I mean, my darling -- you STILL haven't addressed one single fact that I addressed at clicky.

Astonishingly, you think you can get by with it. The I.Q. level on this blog averages 123, cow patty.

So far, I'd guesstimate you're ankle-deep.

LOVE -- absolutely LOVE -- your last statement --

"So don't undercut your own intelligence by creating an issue that isn't there because you've got an itch to debate your point. It is unbecoming, and I'm not interested."

Dumpling, I keep trying to tell you it's not about ME.

But I'm apparently the only thing you can focus on, post after post, no matter how "unbecoming" I am and how "not interested" you are in me.

Flattering, but you're never gonna get it, honey.

Now.

Can we move on to some FACTUAL discussions about the issue and skip your schoolboy fascination with putting me down instead of an adult dialogue?

Of course, if you ARE a schoolboy, and you're 18 or over, actions speak louder than words, Boney Moronie.

In which case, WORK with Mama!

Wow. Now that is impressive.
"...instead of an adult dialogue"
You might reread your entry and revisit common understandings of what constitutes "adult dialogue."
I can only repeat myself so many times and point out that I'm not interested in your discussion about the merits of zoos and am instead focused on a completely separate issue regarding city management and transparent leadership.
If that incenses you so much that you need to engage in a profanity laden tirade, that is entirely your prerogative. I'm not biting. Sorry.
Tirade away...you only prove my point.

The problem here is that the dialogue about the use of this property, adjacent to and actually part of a park which is the only significant green space inside the central part of Little Rock, has been reduced to a dichotomous choice. Either it's a zoo or it's a parking lot.

Not much of a choice. Surely Little Rock's finest can come up with something better than this. Unless, of course, the aforementioned back room deals have determined this outcome.

Smells worse than a zoo to me.

I'm with you Thoughtful. There really is no transparency in this issue.

Remember, there is a line in the infield of RWF that separates city/state. First off, the city attorney has no desire to be anywhere near this issue and would love it if someone else resolved the ownership issue.

This was the first move on the part of the city to narrow the horse race down from three to two horses. I have found that the city will avoid at all costs having to be involved with youth sports.

Truth be told, there are not enough big fields(90 foot base paths) in Central Arkansas to accommodate all the teams. I went down today to watch Central High practice and Sylvan Hills High School took the field after Central finished. Their field was demolished in the tornado last year and I'm thankful area high schools are helping them out. If RWF was available, they could have been playing there this last year while their field is being rebuilt.

Just think about the recent articles in the paper about the library installing the columns outside the main building that used to belong to the old Carnagie library that was torn down because it was deemed old and out-of-date. What a shame to lose a great old building, which is a part of our history, a part of the history of this little city and of this little state. Here in Arkansas we tend to destroy a lot of our history for the chance of progress. Just think of all the great old buildings that have been bulldozed and replaced with parking lots and empty lots in the past. But isn't it just a bit important to preserve a part of our past, as well?

Now the Little Rock Zoo might not be perfect, but it's the only zoo we have here. They are landlocked. Even if they were to take over some of the golf course land, how will they move across Fair Park Blvd? They could move across the freeway to expand, but then people would complain about the cost of buying property and building some sort of bridge over the freeway. The best option for the city would be for them to expand into the area that is currently Ray Winder with the thinking that they would preserve as much of the historic ballpark as possible while trying to make an outstanding addition to the zoo.

The parking problems at UAMS are problems created by UAMS. They should have known that they needed a certain amount of parking for patients, visitors and staff when they expanded and built new buildings. They have had every chance to build new parking decks or expand into a place to put in parking. We shouldn't sacrifice a large part of our city's history for the sake of yet another parking lot. Especially one that will more than likely be a parking lot very soon and not be a part of the hospital's expansion for probably a decade.

And Norma, I never suggested that the armory or the Red Cross building was a historic building. But the ballpark, which has been around for a century and was considered one of the great old ballparks in this country, is a historical place. Would you rather have had the Old State House destroyed for a parking lot too?

There is already a bridge across the freeway next to the zoo entrance. It's called Jonesboro Drive. The zoo's official address is 1 Jonesboro Drive. The road is between the zoo and Ray Winder, and it is divided with ample empty land on either side once you cross the freeway.

If the link at bluename doesn't work, just google zoo 72205 and look at the satellite view.

"Here in Arkansas we tend to destroy a lot of our history for the chance of progress."
No, we do it for the chance of developers to make money and contribute to political campaigns so they can make more money. Developers and churches get anything they want in Little Rock.

There has been some talk in the past of making South Monroe/Jonesboro bridge into a freeway entrance to cut traffic on Fair Park Blvd. and removing the freeway access from that street., although I'm not sure why unless it is to facilitate developing War Memorial park into something else. Mmm. I'm sure the developers of The Kettle property would not like that, or St. Mark's Baptist Church who owns the lots directly across Fair Park next to that exit.

Seems like a park train across the Jonesboro bridge would be less expensive to implement and would connect the zoo to the area south of the freeway, which is also part of the 12th Street Corridor redevelopment district. Seeing a pattern here?