Is Mayor Daley Looking To Lease Water System?

[Craftsman]

Source: http://cbs2chicago.com/local/water.system.2.1267896.html

CHICAGO (CBS) ―



Chicago is considering leasing its water system to help fix the budget.

The new boss could charge whatever they want for water, CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports.

Could it happen here in Chicago? It already has nearby. Homer Glen in Will County relies on Lake Michigan water, but the supply comes from a German-owned firm. Locals say there's a lot more than water going down the drain.

It's a vital resource you can't live without. But in Homer Glen, the question is can you afford water. Residents say rates are breaking the bank.

Read more: http://cbs2chicago.com/local/water.system.2.1267896.html

[Buzz Clik]

1. Indiana unloaded their toll roads to a private company.

It seems to be working, but it's a continued source of nervousness.

Many of those associated with the industry (water, that is) feel that privatization is the only way to go.

[Barack_America]

2. Um, Chicago does not own Lake Michigan.

And Daley is in for a sorry surprise if he thinks it does.

[pattmarty]

4. I know that a lot of communities have for years used or bought water..................

.................from Chicago. I don't know what the legalities are for lake Michigan, but I am betting they can get away with it. Daley has used corporate entities over his many years as Mayor and some (partnerships) I can somewhat agree with. In his later years as mayor he has become more of a corporatist politician. Overall, I think he has done a "decent" job with Chgo, but the water thing is in my opinion crossing the line.



I lived in Chgo off and on over my 62 years, and in the close surrounding suburbs the rest of my 54 yrs spent in the area (even under the "old mans" tenure).

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. Fight this with your dying breath.

This is the REAL game plan. To take even basic water rights away from government control and citizens and place them in the hands of private parties.

PLEASE read the links. I's easy to educate yourself about this topic. You think being owned and fighting wars for oil was great? How about water?

http://academic.evergreen.edu/g/grossmaz/VANOVEDR/
Water Privatization Conflicts
Dustin VanOverbeke [e-mail]

and

a Frontline story - Leasing the Rain

http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/bolivia/thestory.html

[madrchsod]

5. not in a thousand years...

daley has caught so much shit over the parking meters that he`s doing everything deflect the critics. he wanted to privatize snow removal but no one bid on the contract.

having the water distribution controlled by a private company? that would be the last straw for the unions and the public.

[Sannum]

Is there any way we can throw him out?

I have never met anyone who voted for the guy.

[Sannum]

6. Is there any way we can throw him out?

I have never met anyone who voted for the guy.

[Pharaoh]

7. That is fucking insane

to put your water supply in the hands of a for profit company. How would that be cheaper? Certainly not in the long run.

[rfranklin]

8. The invisible hand of the marketplace....

slowly choking consumers to death.

[Downwinder]

9. Welcome to the third world!!

Sort of a come down from the olympics. Check with Bolivia, they might have Bechtel's address.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

10. I've never owned property in Chicago but I seem to recall hearing >>>

>>> an awful lot of the private homes & apartment buildings don't have water meters. They get charged a flat fee. So if a private company came in and raised rates, a homeowner couldn't even cut back on usage to economize the way they might if electric or gas rates went up. They'd just have a gun pointed at their heads.