BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
The longtime head of Palo Alto’s Junior Museum & Zoo was paid to resign without suing the city, according to a settlement agreement obtained by the Post.
The city gave Executive Director John Aikin “an intent to terminate (his) employment via written notice” on March 30, the agreement said. But rather than proceeding with firing Aikin, the city paid him $46,433. In exchange, Aikin agreed not to file any claims of discrimination, harassment or retaliation against the city.
The city has publicly said that Aikin retired on April 21, without giving further details. City Attorney Chris Jensen declined to comment on Wednesday about why Aikin was on the verge of getting fired, and Aikin couldn’t be reached for comment. Aikin was hired to lead the zoo in June 2008 and oversaw a three-year, $33 million rebuild mostly funded by private donations.
The zoo reopened in November 2021.
Since then, the zoo has relied on subsidies from the city budget and started charging for admission, with ticket prices going up to $16 on weekday mornings and weekends.
Lauren Angelo, board president for the nonprofit that raised money for the rebuild, pushed the city to keep ticket prices down.
“We’re really concerned that it will undermine the goodwill of the community and it will really impact our ability to fundraise for the JMZ in the future, and will also have an impact on people willing to donate to other capital projects in the city,” Angelo said in a May 2021 interview.
Angelo couldn’t be reached for comment about Aikin’s departure.
Demand for the zoo is strong with 120,822 admissions in the last fiscal year, City Auditor Katherine Murdock said in a report for council. The zoo has 60 animal species, including meerkats, flamingos, parrots and a giant tortoise.
The city did final interviews for Aikin’s replacement the week of July 27. The salary is $115,253 to $172,890, plus benefits and every other Friday off.
Assistant Community Services Director Amanda Deml is running the zoo in the meantime.
It’s obvious why they wanted him out — wrong color skin pigment.
The city of Palo Alto is one of the last places left that hires/fires/promotes/demotes based on skin color.