“Pandagate” … Sparks' $18 Million Deficit Doesn't Stop Taxpayer-Funded Zoo Trip

Councilmember Charlene Bybee’s Facebook post with Councilmember Dian VanderWell.

Pandas Over People at the City of Sparks.

While the City of Sparks drowns in an $18 million deficit, two city councilmembers somehow found it essential to jet off to Washington DC—with a special stop to snap panda selfies at the National Zoo.

That's right. As the city offers early retirement packages, freezes positions, and whispers about upcoming layoffs, Councilmembers Bybee and VanderWell were busy cooing at Bao Li and Qing Bao at the Smithsonian's National Zoo—presumably on the taxpayer dime.

Was the National League of Cities conference strategically scheduled on a weekend just so local officials could indulge in some panda tourism? Sure seems that way.

So much for Mayor Ed Lawson's call to "buckle up" during Sparks' budget crisis. Apparently, that doesn't apply to councilmembers' travel expenses. Couldn't they at least have flipped a coin to decide which ONE should attend the conference?

The optics are particularly rich for the "fiscally conservative" Bybee, who's reportedly eyeing a run for Sparks Mayor. Seems her penny-pinching principles evaporate faster than bamboo in front of a hungry panda when there's a chance to take a taxpayer-funded trip to the nation's capital.

Sparks residents might wonder: With the city sinking in red ink, should their elected officials be posting zoo selfies from 2,500 miles away?

We will be requesting public records of the councilmember’s travel expenses. Remember the National League of Cities and Mayor Ed Lawson are behind the public records bill AB 51 at the legislature. Wanting to make it mandatory people show photo ID in order to get access to records, oh, and that they are charged for them.

We’re hoping Bybee and VanderWell brought Mayor Ed Lawson back some M&M’s after their Panda visit.