Dismissal of Zoo Director

As a native Californian, before the advent of Warren Thomas, visits to the Los Angeles Zoo made me so angry and upset about the conditions of animal care that I was unable to take my children or visiting firemen there, and I had to pretend that the San Diego Zoo was somehow an extension of the Greater Los Angeles Zoo.

Now, as an empty-nester, I can go to see the zoo for an enjoyable experience, as well as to take friends there. Thomas has obtained the cooperation of the community and its pool of unique talents in the docent program and in the activities of Greater Los Angeles Zoo Assn. On the other hand, James Hadaway is best known for the Griffith Park entrance fee fiasco. In his arrogance, he failed to consult the Griffith family, and this resulted in a lawsuit. He also did not gauge the moods and tempers of his consumers. His department has not engaged community involvement except in the negative sense.

No executive can bat 1.000 and the more that he or she does, the more likely it is that a mistake will be made. The true measurement of an executive is the quality of the results that he obtains in his administration. On this basis, Thomas has brought honor upon the Los Angeles Zoo. The firing of Thomas was a perfect example of bureaucratic arrogance. What roles are councilmanic oversight, the chief city administrator, and Mayor Tom Bradley going to play in reversing this high-handed maneuver?

The residents of Southern California must not let bureaucrats play games with the lives of competent and innovative public servants. We must require that this injustice be reversed.

JO PERRY

La Crescenta