Government Relations

INDEPENDENCE VISITOR CENTER

1. Gateway [Independence] Visitor Center Authorization Act of 1999, PUBLIC LAW 106–131—DEC. 7, 1999
2. National Park Service Memo - Gateway [Independence] Visitor Center Authorization Act, January 3, 2000
3. Special Use Permit (November 19, 2001 through January 31, 2002) and Amendments 1-18 (January 31, 2002 through June 30, 2008), United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, “Name of Use: Operation of Independence Visitor Center,” Permit, NER INDE 5300 42
4. Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia, Ticket Sales – Inside Kiosk License Agreement (only provided to select motorized tour operators), Prepared by Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, Draft, August 2005
5. Replica Liberty Bell "tourist trap" operated inside of the Independence Visitor Center with the approval of the IVC and Independence National Historical Park, in spite of the fact that this: A) is not in keeping with the mission of INHP, B) does not provide for a good visitor experience, and C) is inconsistent with other INHP's policies about solicitation and commercial activities that are strictly applied to other third parties including tour operators and vendors.

COMPENDIUM

6. Superintendent's 2004 Compendium for Independence National Historical Park

THE CONSTITUTIONAL WALKING TOUR

7. Timeline of Events to attain a Resolution with Independence National Historical Park, the Independence Visitor Center and the City of Philadelphia regarding Tour Staging Locations for The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia

LETTERS

8. Letter from Senator Arlen Specter to Dennis Reidenbach, Superintendent, Independence National Historical Park, regarding The Constitutional Walking Tour, December 7, 2006
9. Letter from the Office of Senator Arlen Specter to the National Park Service regarding The Constitutional Walking Tour, June 20, 2007
10. Letter from Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell to the Honorable Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior regarding Valley Forge National Historical Park, December 15, 2005

ARTICLES & EDITORIALS

11. "Smaller Tour Operators Seek More Access on Independence Mall," The Associated Press, March 26, 2008.
12. "Tour Problems Center on Lack of Agreement," Philadelphia Daily News, March 27, 2008
13. "Mall Madness," Editorial, Philadelphia Daily News, April 3, 2008

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) REQUESTS & APPEAL

14. Letter from LaRima L. Lane, FOIA Appeals Specialist, Department of the Interior, regarding FOIA Appeal Number 2006-189 to Jonathan Bari, The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia, August 25, 2006. As of March 24, 2008, Appeal Number 2006-189 is still pending with the Department of the Interior, in spite of the fact that the Freedom of Information Act requires an agency to make a determination on an appeal within 20 (twenty) workdays after receipt of such appeal - 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(ii).
15. Letter from Darrell R. Strayhorn, FOIA Appeals Officer, Department of the Interior, regarding FOIA Appeal Number 2006-189 to Jonathan Bari, The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia, August 7, 2006. As of March 24, 2008, Appeal Number 2006-189 is still pending with the Department of the Interior, in spite of the fact that the Freedom of Information Act requires an agency to make a determination on an appeal within 20 (twenty) workdays after receipt of such appeal - 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(ii).
16. Letter from Jonathan Bari, The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia, to National Park Service, Freedom of Information Appeal resulting from the FOIA denial from Independence National Historical Park, dated July 18, 2006, to FOIA Request dated June 19, 2006, pursuant to 43 CFR § 2.28. As of March 24, 2008, Appeal Number 2006-189 is still pending with the Department of the Interior, in spite of the fact that the Freedom of Information Act requires an agency to make a determination on an appeal within 20 (twenty) workdays after receipt of such appeal - 5 U.S.C. § 552(a)(6)(A)(ii).
17. Letter from Dennis Reidenbach, Superintendent, Independence National Historical Park, regarding FOIA Request (A7221(INDE)) to Jonathan Bari, The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia, July 18, 2006.

COMMERCIAL USE AUTHORIZATIONS

18. Ride the Ducks - Independence National Historical Park Commercial Use Authorization ("CUA") for Penn Ducks, a fictitious name which does business as Ride the Ducks, April 17, 2007-April 16, 2008
19. Ride the Ducks - Independence National Historical Park Commercial Use Authorization ("CUA") for Philly Ducks, a fictitious name which does business as Ride the Ducks, April 17, 2007-April 16, 2008
20. Ride the Ducks - Independence National Historical Park Commercial Use Authorization ("CUA") for River Ducks, a fictitious name which does business as Ride the Ducks, April 17, 2007-April 16, 2008
21. Ride the Ducks - Independence National Historical Park Commercial Use Authorization ("CUA") for Ride the Ducks, a fictitious name which does business as Ride the Ducks, April 17, 2007-April 16, 2008

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

22. City of Philadelphia Bill No 050862 - The Philadelphia Code, Title 9, Chapter 9-400 Carriers, of The Philadelphia Code, Regulation of Businesses, Trades and Professions, as amended on January 24, 2006
23. Independence National Historical Park ("INHP") - Tour Passenger Loading Zone Areas for Motorized Tour Operators at the Independence Visitor Center ("IVC") Showing Four Staging Locations for Ride the Ducks (Ride the Ducks, Philly Ducks, River Ducks, and Penn Ducks).

MISCELLANEOUS

24. Declaration House: Closed Entire July 4th Weekend, 2006 - Visitors wanting to see the Declaration House where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence were greeted with locked gates to the Declaration House courtyard and a very unfriendly note posted on the gate from the National Park Service that said "Closed due to equipment failure." Huh? Plus very limited availability all year round has continued through to the present in Spring 2008. This is just another example of the questionable judgement and poor visitor experience that the National Park Service provides visitors.