Don't Privatize Midway/Don't Privatize Our Water

I take exception to the op ed piece in the Chicago Tribune’s Feb 11 edition:  “Time to privatize Midway.”

The authors, Roper and Gannon, claim that the “great success” of privatizing Chicago’s parking meters is an argument for privatizing Midway Airport.   That’s news to me since I have heard nothing but criticism and public outrage since the parking meter sell off occurred. I wonder that the authors have the audacity to make such a claim.

The authors cite the success story of Midway and today’s interest rates as providing a “chance to capitalize on this potential investment…..”     If private firms reap the profits from the public’s investment for a short-term public payout, who will remain to oversee the interests of the public with regards to neighborhood safety and the environmental impact of continued growth in this area?

How long will the current lawmakers continue the process of selling off the public commons to finance a short term bonus to the public treasury?  I suspect this is another chance for certain interests to make a killing.

Now there are plans afoot to privatize the water we receive from Lake Michigan.    Once sold, there will be no public control of what has been a resource for all to use and private profit will trump public need.

Join the Green Party and help protect the public’s property for the public’s good.