Audubon appreciates you

Considering the degree to which Audubon's operations are subsidized by public funds, access to rights-of-way, perks and  privileges written into various management contracts and cooperative endeavor agreements and stuff.. not to mention the general social deference shown to its leadership... well, then, we'd say something like this is well overdue. 

New Orleans residents will get free admission each month to the Audubon Zoo, the Audubon Nature Institute announced Wednesday (Jan. 8). Free days also will be offered each month at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, the insectarium and the planetarium.

Every Wednesday, Orleans Parish residents with a government-issued photo ID will receive free admission with up to four guests to Audubon attractions, rotating each week from the zoo, aquarium, butterfly garden and insectarium and the planetarium at the Louisiana Nature Center.

The current schedule calls for one free day monthly at the zoo and the aquarium. Click here for the full schedule.

The schedule is a little complicated but the concept is very good. The article also notes that SNAP card holders can get free daily admission at Audubon attractions and mentions a separate program for high school students with 2.5 or higher GPAs. Additionally there are Audubon passes available for check out at your public libraries. (They're very popular and supplies are limited so keep an eye out.)

Anyway, all of this was announced a few weeks ago but I saw the mayor tweeted it out again today so I thought I'd mention it.  Audubon is gearing up to get a (kinder, gentler) version of its millage approved by voters in a few months. These new admission policies, while welcome, are also, it should be noted, a transparent effort to build some good will ahead of that election.

As for me, I'm not going back to the zoo until our hero Valerio returns to public view.  Actually, what is taking so long with that?  Back in November, he was supposed to be back "in a couple of week" but there has been no announcement since.

According to this adorable video from his younger days, Valerio's birthday is March 12. This year that is one week exactly after Mardi Gras. Maybe we'll look for him then.