Privatization of water

Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan proposes funneling billions of tax dollars to corporations to help them secure privatization deals. This administration is determined to wrest power from governmental agencies that work for the benefit of society and give it to large corporations that are in it for the money, not for the benefit of the citizens. Obviously, to make money, corporations need to raise rates to pay shareholders and excessively paid CEOs.

This is happening on many fronts, but a good example is the privatization of water. Cities like Bayonne, New Jersey, allowed their water and sewer to be taken over by a private investment firm and saw its rates increase 28 percent in the four years since the deal was made in 2012.

In contrast, the city of Spokane has sold $200 million in bonds to pay for a series of projects that are designed to protect the environment, such as the giant storm-water storage tanks being constructed to manage overflows into the Spokane River. Nobody likes the traffic detours downtown, but it’s good to know our city is concerned for the health and safety of its citizens. Public services should remain public, not be put in the hands of profit-making corporations.

Linda Greene

Spokane