Reduce and Expand: Real Estate, Parks, Concessions

Affirmative Action Transactions
California and every State must take it's own TICKETS and all fees. States must control the monetary transactions from it's own management of real property assets. The only online access from the National Recreation Resource Syndicate (NRRS )which is ReserveAmerica and Recreation Resource Management (RRM) should be to redirect travelers to individual State sites. Once the door is opened to privatization, it is hard to reverse the trend. In the Proud Partner Agreements of Corporate Sponsorship, State DPR is obligated by contract to support (in behalf of) the Sponsor in competitive clause litigation and contract renewal.

It is not proven that anything is more efficient, and there are no 'lower fees'. Quite the opposite in fact. Privatized concession run parks “pay a penny on the dollar” for credit card processing and bank fees - November 2, 2011, Warren Meyer – ReserveAmerica, Recreation Resource Management, National Recreation Resource Syndicate

All corporate involvement is tax deductible, thrice over. 1) General Fund Tax dollars for development of the 'Parks for Perks' business model 2) Tax dollars pay to make up for the corporate citizen's allowable deductions, and 3) tax dollars will pay for the promotion, public acceptance and market monitoring, and protection of the business management of concession agreements. On the National level, it will be the corporate-only financed National Park Foundation, presumably with it's billion dollar fund by 2016 that foots the promotions bill. But the National 'Parks For Perks' program is so rewarding it's worth it!

An interesting side note to the Lessons Learned in Texas (esteemed by the LAO in it’s 03022012 report) is that the TEXAS State Parks Concessions Program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is “committed to the highest ethical standards in carrying out all purchasing activity. We are determined to spend money wisely by purchasing the best products and services available. TPWD shall provide opportunities to increase HUB participation in the procurement of TPWD's goods and services, including construction. The agency's HUB Program is located in the Purchasing Section and reports to the Director of Purchasing, Contracting and Distribution Services.”

Under Bids and Vendor Opportunities, the first link is HUB:
Historically Underutilized Businesses.

More about the HUB Program:
What is a HUB? A HUB is defined as a profit-making corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership or joint venture in which at least 51% of the shares of stock or equitable securities are owned by one or more persons who are members of the following groups:

Black Americans
Includes all persons having origins of Black racial groups of Africa;

Hispanic Americans
Includes all person of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South America, or other Spanish/Portuguese culture or origin, regardless of race;

Asian Pacific Americans
Includes persons whose origins are from Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Territories of the Pacific, or the Northern Marianas; and Subcontinent Asian Americans which includes persons who origins are from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, or Nepal;

Native Americans
Includes persons who are American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, or Native Hawaiians; and

American Women
Includes women of any ethnicity, except those specified above.
In addition, the eligible group member must exercise control over the daily affairs of the business and be active in routine management and administration of the business.

Now I would really like to see the LAO come up with a detailed analysis of the benefits for California Parks Concession agrrements (RFP) in California that have as much merit as proposed in the Texas HUB program.

And in the North part of the State, it seems as though this might be an excellent opportunity for the Tribes to take on management of a State Park. Non-profits can’t take tickets according to DPR.

Tomas DiFiore