[Summit] Do not let them sell the water system

Tue Apr 1 01:14:27 UTC 2008

Yes, if the one time pay down of the Providence city pension obligations
requires us to have a tax increase, that tax increase will in the long run
be a much smaller price to pay than the permanent and continuing increases
in our water bills that privatization will bring.  If these water companies
are in it for a profit, that profit has to come with increased fees.  This
is not a good solution to the pension debt. Once the reservoir is sold, we
can't get it back.  We could even find Providence with water shortages as
the water is sold to other areas or to other private companies or the
reservoir "developed" for something even more profitable such as tourism or
McMansions.  We can find a way to pay down this pension obligation without
sacrificing the reservoir and the future viability and affordability of our
water supply.
Charlotte O'Kelly

-----Original Message-----
From: summit-bounces at sna.providence.ri.us
[mailto:summit-bounces at sna.providence.ri.us] On Behalf Of Aaron Masri
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 9:55 PM
To: Summit Neighborhood
Subject: Re: [Summit] Do not let them sell the water system

I thought everybody might be interested in this article from the LA Times
that was published January 23, 2003.  It describes how Dennis Kucinich, as
mayor of Cleveland, refused to sell the city owned electic utility company
to a privately-owned competitor, keeping a promise he made during his
mayoral campaign.  The decision utimately led to the city defaulting on its
loans, and Kucinich was defeated in his re-election campaign.  However, in
looking back over the long term, it proved to be the right decision despite
the initial hardship experienced by the city of Cleveland.  We should
hopefully learn from this history.  It's not that long of an article.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0123-04.htm
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Daniels" <bettdaniels at yahoo.com>
To: "Greg Gerritt" <gerritt at mindspring.com>; "Summit Neighborhood"
<Summit at sna.providence.ri.us>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 4:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Summit] Do not let them sell the water system

> I agree completely that this is NOT a good idea.
> Betty Daniels
>
>
>
> --- Greg Gerritt <gerritt at mindspring.com> wrote:
>
> > If anyone wants to help stop this travesty, let me
> > know.  Greg gerritt
> >
> >
> >
> > >March 26, 2008
> >
> > >
> >
> > >The Providence City Council is looking into the
> >
> > >the possible sale of the Providence Water Supply
> > Board, and the
> >
> > >network of reservoirs and treatment plants it
> > controls to pay down debt.
> >
> > >City Council Finance Chairman John Igliozzi has
> > described the Scituate
> >
> > >Reservoir as a "liability" to the city of the
> > Providence.   Why any
> > >person
> >
> > >would describe a priceless gem like the Scituate
> > Reservoir in such a
> >
> > >cavalier and senseless way is beyond comprehension.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >The City Council has appointed a sub committee to
> > investigate the
> > >possibility
> >
> > >of "selling or leasing" the reservoir as soon as a
> > suitable buyer can be
> > >found.
> >
> > >At the ridiculously low price of $400 to $600
> > million dollars, I imagine
> > >there
> >
> > >will be many offers.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >As residents of Rhode Island, we're not supposed to
> > worry about this; it
> > >will
> >
> > >continue to be regulated by the Public Utilities
> > and it doesn't
> > >necessarily
> >
> > >mean that our water bills will go up?!
> >
> > >
> >
> > >It doesn't matter how many guarantees they try to
> > make, the Providence
> >
> > >Water Supply Board and the Scituate Reservoir
> > belong to the people of
> >
> > >Rhode Island and are not there to be sold off to
> > commercial interests
> >
> > >because past or current office holders are unable
> > to do their job and
> >
> > >protect the interests of the people.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >The subcommittee met for the first time on March
> > 27th at City Hall.
> >
> > > Links to both Journal articles are at the bottom
> > of this page.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >I would like to work with any person or group that
> > also thinks this is
> >
> > >a really terrible idea as a solution to any current
> > budget crisis and
> >
> > >for the long term welfare of the city and people of
> > RI.
> >
> > >
> >
> > >Margaret O'Donnell
> >
> > >margeeod at gmail.com
> >
> > >401-272-9788
> >
> > >
> >
> >
> >http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/WATER_BOARD_03-25-08_E19G8MM_
> > >v11.380aac0.html
> >
> >
> >http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/NO_MC_WATER_03-28-08_E19I18M_
> > >v12.358bf01.html
> >
> > >
> >
> >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > Summit mailing list
> > Summit at sna.providence.ri.us
> >
>
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>
>
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