ABQ's quest for panda fails

ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ'S LONG QUEST FOR A PANDA BEAR AT THE RIO GRANDE ZOO HAS COME TO...  More »

ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR MARTIN CHAVEZ'S LONG QUEST FOR A PANDA BEAR AT THE RIO GRANDE ZOO HAS COME TO AN UNSUCCESSFUL END - AFTER 4 YEARS OF PAWING AFTER A PANDA-- THE MAYOR ADMITTED TO US TODAY IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN. STUART DYSON REPORTS FROM THE ZOO WITH OUR EXCLUSIVE TOP STORY. OUT Q :'STUART DYSON EYEWITNESS NEWS FOUR'' CHINA SAYS NO TO ALBUQUERQUE'S REQUEST FOR A PANDA - THAT WOULD HAVE PUT THIS ZOO IN THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT - THE DEAL FALLS THROUGH - WE'VE GOT THE BLACK AND WHITE BLUES!' THE DEAL WOULD HAVE PUT THE ALBUQUERQUE ZOO IN COMPANY WITH WASHINGTON DC - MEMPHIS - ATLANTA - AND SAN DIEGO - THE ONLY AMERICAN ZOOS WITH THE RARE BEARS FROM CHINA! 'China has refused to provide the panda - so there will be no pandas coming to Albuquerque - that may be good news for some - but to me - I think it's a shame - we knew it was uphill from the beginning - but it was worth trying.' CITY COUNCILOR DEBBIE O'MALLEY FOUGHT THE PANDA PLAN - TOO MUCH MONEY. ' We have other priorities - and we have other needs that definitely come before having a panda - as cute as they are - as fluffy as they are - and all those wonderful things.' IT WOULD HAVE COST THE CITY ALMOST TWO MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO LEASE A PANDA FROM CHINA - CREATE A HABITAT FOR IT AT THE ZOO - FEED IT BAMBOO - AND HIRE CHINA-APPROVED PANDA-KEEPERS - ALBUQUERQUE WAS NEGOTIATING TO BORROW A PANDA FROM THE SAN DIEGO ZOO. ' In negotiating with San Diego China finally said no - we will not do that - and if you insist then San Diego will lose its pandas - and San Diego - given that choice - said sorry Albuquerque!' THE CITY HAD PLANS FOR A TWO STORY - 7 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT PANDA EXHIBIT. ' THE MAYOR SAYS THE CITY SPENT VERY LITTLE MONEY TRYING TO GET THE PANDA - MAINLY HIS TRIP TO CHINA LAST YEAR THAT INCLUDED OTHER MISSIONS FOR A STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM - BUSINESS INTERNSHIPS - AND A VISIT FROM A CHINESE TRADE DELEGATION - PRICETAG 8 THOUSAND 5 HUNDRED BUCKS. AT THE ZOO STUART DYSON EYEWITNESS  « Less