madachode / October 26, 2009 8:42 AM

The unions (ghostpayrolls) and the political favor machine have sucked the city dry. Raising taxes cannot even cover the massive losses of revenue due to over inflated salaries.

JJHunsecker / October 26, 2009 9:13 AM

The city should not be privatizing what the citizens have built and paid for. These assets are ours. We are already in a crisis because of the abuse of TIFS--which are a privatized form of tax collection on behalf of the upper-middle class, which, evidently, no longer deigns to pay taxes. I won't even mention the parking ridiculousness. And then there's Midway Airport--you paid for it, and now it's been "privatized."

A.B. Dada / October 26, 2009 9:46 AM

The city should be getting itself OUT of utilities and services COMPLETELY and letting competitive businesses take over -- lowering prices, increasing quality of service, and providing a variety of different levels of service based on the person's need and ability to pay (or the charities ability to provide).

I support the idea fully.

Mucky Fingers / October 26, 2009 10:40 AM

How do you feel about the City privatizing its utilities and services?

"The City" is codeword for our mayor, which means it is rampant with corruption. Privatization might work, but not with our current mayor.

Cheryl / October 26, 2009 10:49 AM

It's stupid and short sighted.

Spook / October 26, 2009 10:57 AM

I'm not sure what you mean?

Most of our "utilities" are private
oligopolies, i.e Com Ed, "People'
s Energy,Amron etc,.
Which is why they're able to milk the public (especially the poor) and not provide quality serves.

Any one who is slightly analytical knows that the "market place, invisible hand, and competition, amongst big business, have been replaced by pervasive government supported corporate robber baroness.

In Chicago, privatization has meant white connected firms making profits, and poor working people( mostly of color) losing their jobs and benefits to be replaced by minimum wage jobs that don't support families and communities.

Look no further then the Chicago Park District, where even in poor communities, children have to "pay to play"

flange / October 26, 2009 11:59 AM

i'm so happy this city will finally be affordable! i can't wait for garbage to be picked up on time and not left next to my building's carport! fines for overdue library books will be slashed! all streets promptly plowed and salted in the winter! this city will be so pleasant to live and work in that i'm going to change my mind and back chicago 2016!

annie / October 26, 2009 12:35 PM

Spook - Why do children in low income communities have to pay to play in city parks?

vanessa / October 26, 2009 1:14 PM

I love how they are trying to "find" money for the budget by looking to privatize the utilities. Here's an idea: stop paying the aldermen $100,000+ a year in salary and up to $73,280 in expense accounts. Maybe we can save money that way?

vanessa / October 26, 2009 1:15 PM

Here's the article I found about the expense accounts.

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2009/08/whats-in-chicago-aldermanic-expense-accounts.html

Spook / October 26, 2009 2:48 PM

annie,

Well, or as Ronald Reagan use to say "Whheeeelp"

Because Daley may not hate Black people, but he certainly don't like poor and working class ones.

See before Darth Daley, a shortie could,If thier Mom worked or if they had a really crappy crack head Mom, go to the park after school and have all sorts of activities to keep them busy.

Now with "Mayor Daley's Park Kid's" Program, they have to pay a fee for the whole season. And its a long waiting list with Alderman's kids at the top of the list.

Also, it use to be open gym for basketball. Now gyms are rented
by private citizens, community organizations
and churches.

Heck at one Westside park. A well funded community organization basically rents the whole park gym room and swimming pool for the whole summer, which is great if you belong to that organization, but sucks if you are just a little snot nosed shortie trying to make her/his way.

And, when you rent out park space, full time staff get cut.

Yea I listen to the Wu Tang Clan, but Daley and his cronies, live by their words "Cash Rules Every Thing Around Me C.R.E.A.M! Get The Money! Dolla Dolla Bill Yallll!"

The only person who has ever reported on what Daley did to the Park District starting under Forest Claypool was The Reader's Ben Joravsky

Spook / October 26, 2009 2:53 PM

vanessa,

check into how many alderman are forced to supplement thier $100,000+ a year in salary and up to $73,280 in expense accounts, with other government positions, legal practices, realestate lobbying, etc, etc.

David / October 27, 2009 12:45 AM

Not good. Obviously, the parking meter debacle isn't going well, and other privatization measures have been similarly problematic ... Not that the city does much better, but if the city were to restructure some divisions it could reap the long-term benefits by holding the services and improving them, rather than taking a miniscule initial payout.

Chris / October 27, 2009 10:46 AM

it will go as well as it has gone all through Latin America (just look at Bolivia). Privatization is the dream of the Chicago school, it's only fair that it come home to roost. This city is screwed.