Source: BY CÉCILE LEPAGE, San Francisco Bay Guardian (CA), Wednesday July 8, 2009
City officials are considering shutting down the municipal asphalt plant -- the source of material for repaving roads and fixing potholes -- in order to facilitate construction of a private plant on the waterfront that the city would agree to help finance and support over the long term.
While the privatization plan is being billed by project proponents as a way to save money during tough financial times, it raises questions about whether relying on the private sector for this essential material could hurt the city's ability to make emergency repairs and ultimately end up costing taxpayers even more.
City officials are considering shutting down the municipal asphalt plant -- the source of material for repaving roads and fixing potholes -- in order to facilitate construction of a private plant on the waterfront that the city would agree to help finance and support over the long term.
While the privatization plan is being billed by project proponents as a way to save money during tough financial times, it raises questions about whether relying on the private sector for this essential material could hurt the city's ability to make emergency repairs and ultimately end up costing taxpayers even more.
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