US House Rep Susan Davis' office issued the following:
San Diego, April 15, 2020
Reps. Susan Davis (CA-53), Scott Peters (CA-52), Juan
Vargas (CA-51) and Mike Levin (CA-49) sent a letter to Speaker Nancy
Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging that upcoming relief
legislation include assistance for the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego
Zoo Safari Park.
“For the first time in their 103-year history, the San
Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park were forced to close their
doors to the public in the wake of COVID-19. With this unprecedented
closure, the zoo is still incurring significant expenses to care for its
animals and plants, including many who are threatened or endangered, as
well as those of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, without revenue to
mitigate costs,” the members wrote. “During normal operations, San
Diego Zoo Global’s (SDZG) economic impact is an estimated $1.7 billion
annually, employing 3,000 Californians, and indirectly contributing to
more than 14,000 jobs in San Diego.”
The full letter can be read here.
