Should We Sell Milwaukee Water Works to Haliburton? by Sura, June 12

of course not.

So why would we sell it to another corporation? (Answer: Because city leaders lack the creativity or guts to figure out other ways to increase revenue or decrease spending). This is a critical issue and here’s how you can help:

1) Sign the petition at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/3/Stop-Water-Privatization-Wisconsin

2) Come to the Common Council’s public hearing on Monday, June 15 at 12:30, at City Hall. 200 East Wells. (Some of us will bike or carpool together — depending on weather — from Riverwest on Monday. Email me if you’re interested.)

3) Call your alderperson and tell them NO to privatizing our public assets. 414 286-2221

The City of Milwaukee Water Works is a well-managed, efficient public utility. As a result, water rates are relatively low and the water quality is high.

Clean water is vital for families, businesses and community safety. It is a major resource for jobs and economic development.  But now, in a desperate effort to generate revenue, some city leaders have proposed privatizing the system through a long term lease. Privatization in other cities has led to soaring water rates, unhealthy contaminants in water, declining investment in water system infrastructure, political corruption, and a lack of accountability.

This plan hurts the people of Milwaukee.  We have already seen the private corporation operating MMSD dumping raw sewage into Lake Michigan to save money.  If the city privatizes drinking water system, costs will soar and water quality will go down as has happened in other cities, including Indianapolis, Cleveland, Stockton, Gary, Peoria and others. We can find other ways to support city services.

Many water companies are foreign-owned. That means taking our money as profit and sending it overseas. The following are just some of the foreign owned water companies, including those with American names: American Water Works, Illinois-American Water Co, RWE, Siemens, Suez, United Water Resources, U.S. Filter, US Water, Veolia, Vivendi.

We need to ask our Mayor and Alders “Whom are you representing — Multinational corporations or the people?”

KPOW! (Keep Public Our Waters)

12 Jun 2009 | 2:37 pm | Representation, Water

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