Is Chicago about to privatize water?

[marmar]

via CommonDreams:



Published on Monday, November 16, 2009 by the Chicago Tribune

Privatizing Water System Could Be a Risky Move for Chicago
Mayor Richard Daley could learn from other cities' experiences

by Michael Hawthorne


Mayor Richard Daley says any part of city government is up for grabs if the price is right.

A water intake crib near Navy Pier in Lake Michigan. (Alex Garcia, Chicago Tribune)But if he is tempted to dangle Chicago's vast water system as his next lease deal, he might want to first consult Atlanta, which is still smarting from a botched experiment with privatizing a big-city water supply.

Or the mayor could look someplace closer to home, like Bolingbrook, one of dozens of suburbs and downstate communities furious about steep rate increases imposed by a private water operator.

Daley is searching for more jackpots as his administration draws heavily on the money it reaped from leasing parking meters and the Chicago Skyway to ease the city through the recession. The mayor recently told the Tribune editorial board that he has met with consultants who outlined new privatization deals, but he would not provide details.

"Everything is always on the table," Daley said, though mayoral aides later insisted that nothing immediate is in the works.

If Chicago tried to sell off its water department to a private company, it would be the largest U.S. city to do so. Such a deal also would run counter to movements in dozens of smaller towns across the suburbs and the rest of the nation, where local officials are having second thoughts about private control of public water. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/16-0

[frazzled]

1. Over our dead bodies

Contact your aldermen now to tell them that if Daley tries to privatize one more thing in this city, and they don't stop them ... well, this time people may just get out to vote them out of office.

[valerief]

2. Sounds like the mayor's office is already privatized. nt

[mopinko]

3. iirc, the water in lake michigan is protected by many laws that extend beyond

the city of chicago, including treaties with canada. there have been many attempts to sell water to suburbs that have been struck down in court.
article sounds more like a hatchet job than news. not a shock from the trib.