News summaries
IL: Just $180M left of Chicago's $1.5B meter windfall
Chicago is facing a record budget shortfall -- approaching $700 million
when the cost of police and fire contracts are factored in -- setting
the stage for another raid on reserves generated by the parking meter
and Chicago Skyway leases. As of Dec. 31, the city had just $180
million left from the $1.15 billion parking meter windfall that was
supposed to last for 75 years. There was $550 million remaining from
the $1.83 billion deal that privatized the Skyway for 99 years....If
the mayor keeps his hand out of taxpayers' pockets for a second
straight year, his choices are few unless he revives the failed deal to
privatize Midway Airport.
Chicago Sun Times
AK:Alaska public land legislation is flawed - opinion
Unfortunately, the U.S. Congress may soon take action on highly
controversial legislation that would transfer public lands rich in
wildlife to the Sealaska Regional Corporation, which has already
unsustainably clear-cut an abundance of some of the most valuable and
biologically productive lands in Southeast Alaska...Under Senator Lisa
Murkowskis S. 881 proposal, however, Sealaska would receive about 125
square miles of high-value land in small parcels that would allow them
to select the best estuaries, bays, stream mouths and stands of large
old-growth trees for intensive clear-cut logging and other
developmental purposes. It may also privatize, at taxpayers expense but
without any public review or informed discourse, access to extremely
valuable tidal electrical generation sites.
Denver Post
AR: Park signs to recognizing corp donors
[Fayetteville] Alderman Sarah Lewis was in opposition of the measure
and has been critical of allowing corporate donors to have their names
attached to public spaces. Because of those concerns, city staff
altered the ordinance since it was first discussed with the council.
The name of a park or facility recognizing a donor will now have to be
approved by the council. For trails, a sign at the trailhead cannot
exceed 4 square feet, and along the trail, signs cannot be larger than
1.5 square feet. Even with the changes, some residents were still
uneasy about allowing the signs, particularly ones that would carry the
logo and name of a company. “I’m afraid we are now going to pimp out
our parks,” said Karon Reese.
Fayetteville Flyer
NJ: Gov proposes privatizing horse racing parks
With more flair than a traveling road act, Gov. Chris Christie stood on
the 50-yard line of the New Meadowlands Stadium Wednesday and declared
the state government's long romance with horse racing dead. "I don't
have the money to subsidize failure," he said, summarizing the findings
of a special commission that has concluded the state's long financial
support of horse racing has had its day. It's a river of red ink and
can't be saved...Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver, D-Essex, said while it
was important to make sure Atlantic City remained strong, she called
the Meadowlands complex essential to New Jersey's economy... The
shutdown of operations at the Meadowlands Racetrack and privatizing the
operations of the sports authority itself, including the sale or lease
of the Izod Center and Monmouth Park racetrack.
The Star-Ledger
VA: Privatized liquor plan starts to take shape
Virginia would auction a limited number of liquor licenses to large and
small retailers and dedicate the proceeds to the state's cash-starved
transportation system under a proposal emerging in Gov. Bob McDonnell's
administration -- a move that would more than double liquor locations
statewide. The limited privatization plan would fulfill McDonnell's
goals of getting the state out of the booze business and generating a
one-time windfall for transportation needs, while still maintaining
control over the proliferation of liquor stores. The plan could make
distilled spirits available at as many as 800 retail spots throughout
the state, far more than the 332 stores now run by the Department of
Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Roanok Times
VA: State sweetens pot to get bidders for new U.S. 460
Hoping to boost interest among road builders to construct and operate a
new multibillion-dollar U.S. 460 as a toll road, the state highway
department is throwing in cash and other incentives.
The Virginian-Pilot
