2/10/2007

New coalition calls privatization ‘pawn-shop mentality’

From Jami Jones of Land Line Magazine:

SPECIAL REPORT: New coalition calls privatization ‘pawn-shop mentality’

Friday, Feb. 9, 2007 – The united voice of the entire range of highway users and the highway-based service community told the federal government today that privatizing the nation’s roads is all about big-business profit, and that it short-changes the needs of the highway system.

The coalition, Americans for a Strong National Highway Network, held a press conference Friday morning at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, outlining the group’s concerns about the federal push to privatize more highways.

A letter was also sent to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters Thursday afternoon.

Federal promotion of privatization deals that do not consider highway users’ interest as the top priority will not achieve your goals of promoting safety, mobility, economic growth, and congestion relief,” the members of the coalition wrote in the letter to Peters.

If ensuring the profit for private companies and quick cash for state and local governments remain the top priorities, these plans could actually lead to a decline in safety and mobility on both the privatized roads and the parallel public roads, as private companies try to maximize their profits and prevent competition.”

Read more HERE.


No comments: