Public Land, Private Funds

Juan Gonzalez over at the Daily News has a nice expose about a private party that Mayor Bloomberg's company had on Randalls Island last year. Problem is, Randalls Island like Central Park is public land and from what I see in the article Bloomberg LP took up the entire space:

"East Harlem residents who crossed the footbridge into Randalls Island hoping to enjoy the park were confronted during those days by an unusual police presence, metal barriers and signs that read: "Private Event - Do Not Enter."

Now usually I wouldn't care to comment about something like this. Personally I think that public lands should be leased on a periodic basic to private companies. The land should be leased at a time when the public would be less likely to use it, and the money collected can be then put into the development of the land. Sounds proper doesn't it. But as you keep reading you notice that Randalls Island Sports Foundation (the group in charge of Randalls Island) hasn't quite been on the up and up:

"Randalls Island Sports Foundation officials refused this week to answer questions about how much the company paid to use the park or what the foundation's policy is for private parties on the island... It is part of the reason why East Harlem leaders and citywide advocates are battling a City Hall plan to give 20 of Manhattan's richest private schools exclusive use on weekday afternoons for the next 20 years to most of the more than 60 new ballfields that will soon be built or renovated on the island. That contract, which was secretly hatched between the foundation and the private schools over the past year, will be voted on Wednesday by the city's Franchise and Concessions Review Committee."

From top to bottom, from the Bush Adminstration to petty-ante (in comparision) sweetheart deals like this the problem the people have with the government is the lack of transparency. It's not that we're anti-capitalist or anti-corporation, but that we're anti-secrets. Hevesi had to pay the piper--will you?

PS: Ok, that was a bit of hyperbole. I highly doubt there will be a Randalls Island-gate, but some clarity with the public on the part of Bloomberg would be nice.