DID PARKS PULL A FAST ONE?

THOMPSON STATEMENT ON SOLE SOURCE DEAL TO ALLOW HIGH LINE, INC. TO AWARD CONCESSIONS WITHOUT COMPETITIVE BIDDING

New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today issued the following statement after his office voted at the Franchise and Concession Review Committee meeting against authorizing the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to negotiate a sole source concession agreement with the Friends of the High Line, Inc. to operate and maintain concessions at the newly opened High Line:

"I join many New Yorkers in supporting the growth and development of green spaces and parks and truly believe the High Line park stands as a great benefit to our city. I am a supporter of public-private partnerships, and applaud the Friends of the High Line, Inc. for its efforts in bringing New York an urban gem. However, we should not let the beauty of the park overshadow our obligation to ensure transparency and accountability regarding the operation and use of a public park.

At a time when New York City and the rest of the nation are facing trying economic times, it is important to ensure that the City is getting the best value possible when it allows private businesses to operate in our parks or other public places. This is typically achieved through an open and competitive bidding process.

The measure placed before FCRC members for approval was presented by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation without sufficient opportunity for all members to thoroughly examine the proposed agreements. I have previously supported public-private partnership concession agreements that help to support and improve our parks. However, those agreements included important controls regarding required processes for any sub-concessions and transparency on the use of funds generated by the concessions, requiring in the concession agreement itself that the funds go directly to support park maintenance.

That does not seem to be the case here. Instead, Parks Department has artificially split up the agreement and created a separate license agreement, which my office received only hours before the vote, in order to justify its request for a sole source concession. That is simply unacceptable and undermines necessary transparency and oversight on these types of partnerships."