This week's Privatization Update

From In the Public Interest's weekly privitization scan:

7) California: Controversy builds over possible privatization of Los
Angeles Animal Services, a city department. “Privatization in favor of
a single favored organization above all other local orgs appears to be
a bone of contention that could make an already angry opposition boil
over with rage.”



8) Florida: June 13 date set for oral arguments in the state’s appeal
of a state circuit judge’s ruling that the Florida legislature
inappropriately moved to privatize the state’s prisons. “‘The PBA is
prepared to present our case to the appeals court,’ Jimmy Baiardi,
president of Florida PBA State Correctional Officers Chapter, stated
in a release. ‘We think Judge Fulford made the correct decision and
that the appeals court will uphold her ruling. The PBA is confident in
our case and we look forward to having the matter put to rest once and
for all.’”



9) Florida: North Miami Beach Council to hear from public before
deciding whether to privatize the city’s garbage services. Council’s
choice of a contractor is under fire. “Council members agreed they
wanted to see a study commissioned by AFSCME, the union that
represents the city’s sanitation workers, on possible cost savings if
they choose to keep the trash pickup in house.”

13) New Jersey: Despite repeated delays, the possible privatization of
New Jersey Transit parking facilities is still moving forward. “The
agency has said a [Request for Proposals] is possible by mid-summer.”
[Sub required]



14) New Jersey: 150 workers facing layoffs at Runnells Specialized
Hospital in Union County as their departments are to be privatized. No
notice was given. “If I mop a floor, I put a sign up so no one falls.
If I don’t do that, I can be held accountable. Where was the sign from
the county? Where was the warning to us before they wiped us out?”



15) New York: Nassau County Executive Edward Mangano selects United
Water to take over operation of the sewer authority. Legislative
Minority Leader criticizes the move: “Mangano’s sewer proposal is a
Hail Mary pass designed to provide a short term budget fix to address
the long term fiscal mismanagement that has occurred on his watch. The
foreign operator he has selected to run our sewers has a track record
of rate hikes and serious environmental damage in other areas where
they operate in the U.S.  This is a disastrous decision by Ed Mangano
to bail himself out on the backs of Nassau taxpayers who depend on
reliable and affordable sewer service.” Public hearings scheduled for
May 9th, 16th and 17th.

17) Ohio: Students and faculty protest against Ohio State University’s
plans to privatize its parking facilities. Send an email response to
university President Gee’s email outlining his proposal and detailing
the university’s Request for Proposals. Responses to the RFP are due
May 30.



18) Ohio: Troy City Council to privatize maintenance of city-owned
vehicles and equipment. Will seek bids for outsourcing through 2013.
[Dayton Daily News, May 5,  2012]



19) Ohio: Forum on privatization of education in the state will be
held on May 7. “It’s very important for the public to be better
informed about the privatization movement occurring in education, and
to equip taxpayers with the necessary information to help protect the
future of public education,” says Ron Iarussi, superintendent of the
Mahoning County Educational Service Center.



20) Ohio: Cost of studying the possible privatization of the Ohio
Turnpike jumps from $2.85 million initial figure to $3.4 million. KPMG
Corporate Finance is conducting the study, which is expected to be
released by the end of this year. The law firm Allen & Overy is being
paid $50,000 a months for six month to work on the project. “Lawyers
for Barnes & Thornburg, with offices in Columbus, are charging $290 an
hour, up to $250,000, to serve as lead local counsel.”



21) Oklahoma: 2,700-page report released on October 2011 prison riot
at the Corrections Corporation of America-run North Fork Correctional
Facility in Sayre.

25) Texas: Department of Transportation unveils new road “public
private partnership.” The State Highway 288 (SH 288) project is
intended to relieve a congested Harris County corridor. Request for
Qualifications expected to be released this summer. [Sub required]

26) Texas: Decision on whether to build a new Travis County Courthouse
as a “public private partnership” is deferred. “When it came time for
a thumbs-up-or-down, they unanimously punted the question of whether
‘to P3 or not to P3’ back to a committee that will include judges,
attorneys, and interested parties from the Downtown region.” A report
had been presented to county commissioners on April 17 by Ernst &
Young and Hawkins Delafield, who urged quick adoption. [Public Works
Financing, April 2012]



27) Virginia: Department of Transportation will transfer operations
and maintenance responsibility on the Downtown Tunnel/Midtown Tunnel/
MLK Extension Project to the private company Elizabeth River Crossings
as early as July 14. Recruitment sessions will “provide current VDOT
employees the opportunity to interview for positions with ERC,” which
“will give priority consideration to existing Elizabeth River Tunnels
employees.”