Citi Bank to Sponsor State Parks

Citi Bank has come to the rescue of some 55 New York State parks that have been closed as a result of state budget woes. The $25,000,000 deal, inked in a closed door session last night includes the following provisions:

1. Allegany State Park will now be known as the Citi Allegany Fun Spot.

2. Swimmers at the reopened Stony Brook swimming area will be required to wear speedos with the CitiBank logo across the ass.

3. Seneca Lake will be dyed "CitiRed" every year on CEO Vikram Pandit's birthday.

4. Each state legislator will receive a complimentary $20,000 CitiBank Ultimate 5-yr CD locked in at 3.85%.

5. The Moinihans of Jamestown, NY will be required to rename their annual Bona Vista State Park Memorial Day Picnic "The Moinihan's BBQ brought to you by Citi." Each invitation mailed shall include one application for a CitiBucks platinum credit card.

Reason Magazine has an interesting article outlining the benefits of state park privatization here (sorry Glenn Beck haters, he's right on this one). Our power-hungry lawmakers have an aversion to forfeiting control of anything. However, if they can't even keep our parks open, shouldn't we give the privilege of oversight to someone who can?