
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, July 23, 1990                   TAG: 9007230302
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A/4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TIGER HOME GETS PRIORITY OVER POOR

WHILE READING an article about the costs of the new "home" for Ruby, I became infuriated at the shortsightedness of the citizens of the Roanoke Valley. The fact that people would try to raise, and will undoubtedly donate, up to $600,000 to house a tiger that already has a home is utterly ridiculous.

Last year a tragic fire destroyed Roanoke's Total Action Against Poverty building. Afterward a great amount of money was raised to help the poverty-stricken and homeless, but the monetary needs of TAP and other services still have not been met.

This subject boils down to want vs. need. The zoo wants to have a new home for Ruby and I do too, but the homeless and poverty-stricken of the Roanoke Valley need the financial support of the public. People have lost sight of what is really important.

THOMAS G. SCHAAFF\ VINTON

by CNB