National Parks Becoming Privatized?

This administration is aiming to privatize our national parks along with our weather (NOAA). It even seems more likely now that the superintendent of Yosemite has been let go recently.

 Is anyone else concerned about having a Trump Tower next to the Ahwahnee?

https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-10-23/yosemite-national-park-superintendent-removed-trump

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/25/us-national-parks-privatized-trump-administration

It’s all true! Last summer I was walking across the large meadow by the TM East entrance. To my surprise I found a survey team way out at the far side- surveying. I asked what they were measuring for? “The 9th Hole Green” The man with the Orange Hair said. He continued.... “And the magnificent Clubhouse and Resort will be over their... “By the Restaurant and Helo pad”
He continued....” Its such a beautiful place and its to bad that to visit here one must fight for a campsite or break the law and poach one, you know the Nat Park Superintendent has done a horrible job a horrific job managing the place”
He continued “Gavin let’s people shit anyplace and camp anyplace in this state- why not here?”

Seems like a better option. I personally have a $100,000 sprinter van and would gladly pay a $50,000 Yosemite membership fee. Limit the amount of people. Get rid of all those dirtbags who climb harder than I do. My fellow van lifers and trustafaraians our time has come. Yosemite is Great Again 
#therealvanlife

Ty is correct. these sobs will cut the NPS and privatize federal land. We’ve seen it at Bears Ears where more than half of the land was set aside for development.
What will happen to Yosemite? Just more commercial opportunities for some group that can pay to play. 

This is nothing new.  Several years ago around 2010 I was walking up the Mist Trail in the Valley and came across two guys who looked out of place as they were wearing loafers and slacks, looking like they just stepped out of a business meeting.  Anyway I stopped near them to take a breather and overheard them talking about how much certain parts of the park could be sold for.   They were pointing over toward Glacier Point and saying “this area we think could go for xxxx millions of dollars”.   I have no idea exactly what they were talking about but it sure sounded like they were either planning on selling or some sort of development.  
Either way the parks have been privatized long ago when they brought in private concessions.   This is not new to the Trump administration.  

I can just picture my next family vacation to Club Med Yosemite 

Having companies run the campgrounds and operate the existing businesses is different than drilling for oil or selling the land to the highest bidder. This thread is unnecessarily alarmist.

As Kevin pointed out above, this has been going on for a long time and, to me, doesn't seem like a threat to our national parks.

FrankPS wrote: Having companies run the campgrounds and operate the existing businesses is different than drilling for oil or selling the land to the highest bidder. This thread is unnecessarily alarmist.

As Kevin pointed out above, this has been going on for a long time and, to me, doesn't seem like a threat to our national parks.

Companies have an incentive to make money . They will do everything they can to cut corners. I have worked for park concessions for 7 years now. The  national park service does a much better job caring for the environment and the guests to the park. Increase NPS funding, don’t sell out our public lands to the billionaires ...... 

The National Parks and Monuments need to be divested to the African American community as Reparations.

I heard Trump was going to bulldoze the Phantom Ranch and put a Trump Tower there. The mules are getting kicked off the Kaibab Trail, and there will be an escalator, from the rim, to the new Trump Phantom Ranch Tower.

The concern is that the cost to U.S. taxpayers to maintain federal assets including the park system will increase at a rate far exceeding the rate of inflation (largely due to the fact the contract employees cost about twice as much).  And so many of the companies are from outside our borders, so the money leaves and drains our economy.

The federal government is over half privatized already, so expect a continuation if not acceleration.

Seventeen years ago, I paid $10 for a Golden Age Passport . Only have had to use it when I entered National Parks in  automobiles but seldom when I entered them on foot ,skis , and bicycles . I'm wiling to pay an annual renewal fee .

Brother Numsie wrote: The National Parks and Monuments need to be divested to the African American community as Reparations.

How about National Parks and Monuments east of the Mississippi go to African American community as reparations and National Parks and Monuments west of the Mississippi go to Native American community as reparations?

Gerald Adams wrote: Seventeen years ago, I paid $10 for a Golden Age Passport . Only have had to use it when I entered National Parks in  automobiles but seldom when I entered them on foot ,skis , and bicycles . I'm wiling to pay an annual renewal fee .

They want that to go away.  Seniors will have to pay up just like everybody else...

Jim Turner wrote:

They want that to go away.  Seniors will have to pay up just like everybody else...

Good. They're the ones who ruined these lands anyway......

;)

I wish it was only the NPS. However these chumps are attacking all federal lands.
They won’t stop until they take it away or monetize it so the private sector can get a taste. 

Artem Vasilyev wrote:

Basically, my point is, there are some parks that would absolutely turn into a fucking resort if accommodations are privately run without any restrictions and the numbers spit out by a model are green.

This isn't going to happen. The restrictions would be in the contract with the concessionaire.  The US government isn't going to let the private company do whatever they want.  

FrankPS wrote:

This isn't going to happen. The restrictions would be in the contract with the concessionaire.  The US government isn't going to let the private company do whatever they want.  

That might be true until the federal contract administrators are contracted out, or are part of the revolving door.  But I appreciate the optimism.

Dave K wrote:

Great idea. We need more of this in the Grand Canyon:

Better than this:

Artem Vasilyev wrote:

Por que no los dos? 

Parce que 

More of the sameness