L.A. entering the golf cart business?

The city's Department of Recreation and Parks appears to be abandoning its years-long effort at awarding a new contract for the golf cart concession. Rather than have some outside concessionaire operate the rentals, L.A. officials have decided that city workers can do it themselves. From the LAT:

The proposal came as a surprise, even for a city whose bidding processes are known for being politically charged and glacial in pace. Parks officials have recommended that the five-member Recreation and Parks Commission vote Wednesday to terminate a contract with a company that has performed the work for at least 35 years and drop plans -- two years in the making -- to award the concession to Encino-based Ready Golf.

Best quote of the story:

"I would recommend that someone put a bullet in their head before they try to get a contract with the city," Ready Golf President Michael Bernback said after learning of the new proposal. "Nothing moves forward. Nothing gets accomplished."

Ready Golf's proposed contract was held up as labor leaders pushed to have members of the Service Employees International Union Local 721 handle the cart rentals. I guess that would protect a few union members from losing their jobs. Never mind that it also runs counter to the belief among budget officials that L.A. needs to scale back its services - or at least outsource them.