News
Think tank to study privatizing most Postal Service operations
As members of Congress pledged Thursday to revive legislation to save the financially ailing U.S. Postal Service, a Washington think tank announced it will conduct an independent study of how the quasi-government agency could cede much of its operation to private companies. The review by the nonprofit National Academy of Public Administration will analyze the benefits of restoring the agency’s financial health by using a “hybrid” model, which would farm out to the private sector postal operations other than the last delivery mile. A letter carrier would still drive or walk that last part, dropping letters and packages in mailboxes. Washington Post
GA: Court petition contends woman jailed because she can’t pay fines
A woman jailed for nearly three months is too poor to pay-court ordered fines and fees is being held illegally, a habeas corpus petition filed this week contends. The petition, filed in Richmond County Superior Court on Wednesday, seeks the release of Virginia Cash, 32, and a declaration that privatizing probation services is unconstitutional… Cash’s petition contends Sentinel has an economic incentive to have judges extend probation sentences by ordering sentences to run consecutively and stopping the clock on sentences when probation violation warrants are obtained. The Augusta Chronicle
FL: State, vendor OK deal to privatize S. Fla. inmate care
Gov. Rick Scott’s administration announced Thursday the state has signed a contract with a Pennsylvania based company, Wexford Health Sources, to outsource all medical care to more than 15,000 inmates in several South Florida prisons. Miami Herald
PA: Lottery privatization: Camelot would look to get more people playing the lottery a little
The private company that is vying to takeover running the Pennsylvania Lottery says it would seek to boost profits by encouraging Pennsylvanians to think of buying lottery tickets as they would any consumer good. The private firm looking to takeover running the Pennsylvania Lottery wants to attract more players to play a little rather than a few to play a lot. “We think lottery is like a can of Coke or a bar of gum,” said Alex Kovach, managing director of British-based Camelot Global Services, in an interview in Harrisburg. “Our philosophy is to broaden the player base, to get to as many people and get them playing a little bit as opposed to many lotteries which are focused on core players playing a lot.” Patriot-News
IL: Advancing Privatizing Midway
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration is advancing the idea of privatizing Midway Airport but suggests having a lease agreement much shorter than the $2.5 billion 99-year proposal backed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley that fell through in 2009. Southwest News-Herald
NJ: Closter privatization of trash pickups rejected for now
The Borough Council’s rejection of a proposal to privatize trash collection does not end the discussion of outsourcing pickups to cut costs, said officials. NorthJerseycom
CA: LA County to ‘Privatize’ Janitorial Services at 15 Libraries
County Librarian Margaret D. Todd is asking the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to approve an initial four-year contract with a janitorial firm for custodial services at 15 county libraries. SCVNEWS.com
CA: Opinion: Let’s prevent public resource from being peddled for profit
Natural resource privatization, especially water privatization, is a huge threat to the way of life of citizens in the state and will continue to cause further problems. Bakersfield Californian