Rob Wilcox authored this piece for CityWatchLA.com and published on July 10, 2025:
ANIMAL WATCH – Noah Goldberg’s recent Los Angeles Times exposé on the deeply rooted dysfunction at the LA Zoo and its longtime fundraising partner, the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA), offers an excellent, much-needed spotlight on a decades-long pattern of mismanagement, poor transparency, and troubling governance. But make no mistake—his reporting only scratches the surface.
Having worked around these entities for over two decades—starting with my time as Deputy to former Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick—I’ve seen firsthand the warning signs that continue to go unaddressed. We raised the alarm years ago about a lack of fiscal oversight, weak internal controls, and accountability mechanisms that were more performative than functional. Unfortunately, many of those same problems persist today.
The fundamental question remains: Who’s minding the store?
The Zoo is an important cultural and educational institution, but its current operations suggest an agency adrift. Its spending practices raise red flags, long-term planning appears muddled, and accountability is virtually nonexistent—both internally and at the City Hall level. When significant public investments are at stake, this is a recipe for disaster.