Outsourcing the giraffes - Los Angeles
Running the Los Angeles zoo costs the city $18 million annually, but animal lovers only bring $11 million to the attraction.
To tame Los Angeles' $212 million budget shortfall -- and an even-wider $495 million deficit projected for next year -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa begged the city council to take the zoo off the city's books.
While Los Angeles will likely continue to own the zoo property and provide some subsidies, the city is negotiating with the nonprofit Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association to take over operations.
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