Feds (still) can’t fix Carlsbad Caverns Elevator while Obama adds millions of acres to federal estate

The Rio Grande Foundation has been reporting on the Carlsbad Caverns elevator situation since this time last year.

Then, back in July, I abandoned plans to take my family down to the Caverns because of long lines resulting from the ongoing elevator problems.

Today, the Albuquerque Journal reports that the elevator situation is STILL not fixed.

Ironically, just the other day, despite a self-reported $12 billion maintenance backlog at the National Park Service alone, President Obama grabbed 1.6 million acres in the West for new national monuments. Adding federal lands to the estate costs money in terms of maintenance and makes revenue generation opportunities nearly impossible. Costly expansion while existing assets fall into disrepair is what government does, however.