Efforts launched to save Yosemite’s landmark names from corporate copyright grab
by Miriam Rafferty
SAN DIEGO – The National Park Service has announced it must change the names of some of its most iconic landmarks due to a copyright claim filed by Delaware North, the former park concessionaire. Items slated for name changes include the historic Ahwahnee Hotel and Wawona Hotel (both Native American names), as well as Curry Village, Yosemite Lodge and Badger Pass ).
But now activists are mobilizing efforts to stop Delaware’s greedy grab of treasured names on public lands. There are petitions to sign and for residents in the San Diego area, where Delaware runs concessions at Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Park, Yosemite fans are urged to ask the City, Chargers and Padres to terminate Delaware’s lease once the contract runs out if the company won’t give back Yosemite’s names to the National Park Service. Here are links to take action:
1. Sign these two petitions at the Petition site asking Delaware to remove its trademark on the names:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/488/164/638/remove-your-trademark-on-names-in-yosemite-national-park/
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/delaware-north-release
2. Ask your members of Congress to introduce a bill to prohibit Delaware North from getting any more federal contracts unless it releases copyright claims to all names within National Parks and other public lands. (Here are contacts for your Congressional members and U.S. Senators): )
3. Look up other places Delaware North owns here: http://www.delawarenorth.com/venues
4. Notify Delaware and their venues in your area that you will be boycotting them and why. http://www.delawarenorth.com/contact-us/contact-us-form
5. Many of these venues are major sports stadium, airports, resorts, etc. Notify the city, county, team or other owners/major partners of these facilities and ask them to pressure Delaware North to give back Yosemite’s names to the National Park Service, or cancel their future business.
6. San Diego has Delaware North doing concessions at both Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Park, where the Chargers and Padres play. Ask the City of San Diego and Mayor their revulsion and urge Delaware North to do the right thing, or cancel their contracts at the first opportunity. Contacts for City Council: http://www.sandiego.gov/citycouncil/ Mayor Kevin Faulconer: http://www.sandiego.gov/mayor/contact/index.shtml . You could also contact the Chargers and Padres to voice your displeasure with the concessionaire at the stadiums in which they play.
7. Find more actions at theses two sites established to fight this battle:
#handsoffyosemite https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/handsoffyosemite?hc_location=ufi
#delawarenorthsucks https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/delawarenorthsucks?hc_location=ufi
8. Share this article with others on your social media sites.
Miriam Rafferty is the editor of East County Magazine. This article is reprinted from East County Magazine which, along with The Moderate Voice, is a member of the San Diego Oneline News Association.