Sewer Socialism Down the Drain?: Activists in Milwaukee fight to keep water system in public hands

[marmar]

from In These Times:



Sewer Socialism Down the Drain?
Activists in Milwaukee fight to keep their city’s water system in public hands.

By Roger Bybee


Public water, one of the most important legacies of Milwaukee’s Socialist Party, which led the city almost continuously from 1910 to 1960, is now under attack from those who see a chance to convert this fundamental resource into a profit stream via privatization.

In the name of coping with rising deficits, privatization advocates led by City Comptroller Wally Morics have proposed leasing the water system to private operators for 75 to 99 years.

Once the city moved to hire consultants on the water privatization proposal, it tapped into a broad current of citizen outrage in favor of preserving a vital part of “the commons,” as public water advocates put it. The grassroots opposition to privatization came to a head at a June 12 rally of some 300 pumped-up citizens outside Milwaukee’s City Hall. Environmentalists, health advocates, unionists, senior citizens and youth activists were present.

“Public water is a trust that belongs to all of us,” declared Cheryl Nenn, the interim executive director of the Milwaukee Riverkeepers. “Where there has been privatization, jobs have been lost and benefits cut for workers, while monitoring of water quality has been cut or eliminated, and prices have risen.”

“We must stand for public ownership of public water,” thundered Jim Godsil, long-time activist and editor of the web-zine Milwaukee Renaissance. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/4544/sewer_socialism_down_the_drain