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?

NYS Legislature Wants to Buy More Land for State Parks

The Albany Times Union reports that the NYS legislature has blocked Paterson's plan to fund the reopening of some fifty-five state parks. Paterson had proposed using $6 million of the state's Senate proposed $222 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) to get the parks open, but your elected officials said "Ah, NO!" One of the primary functions of the EPF: the purchase of land for preservation. Hmmm...

Spitzer Crony Won't Attend Kangaroo Court

The Albany Times-Union reports that former Eliot Spitzer Communications Director Darren Dopp has refused to attend his own hearing, conducted by the Commission on Public Integrity. Instead, Dopp wants his case to be transferred to civil court.

"I have concluded that it is simply not possible to receive a fair hearing from this commission,'' Dopp claimed, adding that the Commission wanted him to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to testifying, and that he would be disallowed from providing his own evidence to the Commission.

If you're wondering what the Commission on Public Integrity is, check out their site. Their mission statement reads, "The Commission... is charged with administering and enforcing the State's ethics and lobbying laws as well as the State's anti-nepotism law and laws pertaining to certain political activities and improper influence. The Commission has 55 full-time employees and a proposed 2009 budget of $5.1 million.

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Albany Hoarding Income Tax Returns

The Albany Times-Union reports that over 400,000 state income tax returns have been slowed, due to new state screening processes. At this time last year, over 1,800,000 returns had been mailed, compared to less than 1,400,000 this year. Officials blame the fact that the IRS started their process one week late this year, coupled with a new technology that spots irregularities in returns.

Officials deny that the state is holding onto the money for increased revenue, as other states have done this year. So, if you haven't received your return yet, please be patient, as the State tries to find a reason to keep your hard-earned money.

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