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Thank you Bernie Sanders recognizing Baltimore's huge accomplishment Banning water privatization
Link to tweet
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders:
Congratulations to Baltimore for not only becoming the first major U.S. city to ban water privatization – but also for setting an example to the rest of the country that clean water is an unalienable right, not a commodity that can be sold off for profit. We cannot have an economy that works for everyone when multinational corporations are able to control our natural resources and make enormous profits, while people all across this country suffer from inadequate access to clean water. The good news is that it’s not too late to follow Baltimore’s lead and get back on track. Let’s come together in communities all across this country to demand similar actions and policies to protect the right to clean water for every American.
Congratulations to Baltimore for not only becoming the first major U.S. city to ban water privatization – but also for setting an example to the rest of the country that clean water is an unalienable right, not a commodity that can be sold off for profit. We cannot have an economy that works for everyone when multinational corporations are able to control our natural resources and make enormous profits, while people all across this country suffer from inadequate access to clean water. The good news is that it’s not too late to follow Baltimore’s lead and get back on track. Let’s come together in communities all across this country to demand similar actions and policies to protect the right to clean water for every American.
Baltimore Joins Global Movement, Becoming the First Major U.S. City to Ban Water Privatization
The decades-long and seemingly unassailable neoliberal “consensus” of globalization, economic liberalization, privatization, austerity and monetary orthodoxy is now facing a deep legitimacy crisis.
On November 6, Baltimore became the first major city in the United States whose residents voted to ban water privatization. Nearly 77 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of Question E, which declared the “inalienability” of the water and sewer systems and exempted them from any city charter provisions related to franchising or operational rights.
This vote resulted from an ongoing struggle waged by Baltimore community activists, unions and civic leaders demanding affordable access to water for low-income residents. That struggle emerged in response to concern the city could sell off the community’s water infrastructure to for-profit investors.
The vote is also part of an emerging worldwide movement to fight back against privatization and to municipalize or re-municipalize (put under public control) local enterprises and services. Between 2007 and 2014, the number of privately owned water systems in the United States fell by 7 percent.
As in Baltimore, the mere threat of water privatization now sparks community resistance around the world.
http://inthesetimes.com/article/21574/baltimore-global-movement-water-privatization-2018
The decades-long and seemingly unassailable neoliberal “consensus” of globalization, economic liberalization, privatization, austerity and monetary orthodoxy is now facing a deep legitimacy crisis.
On November 6, Baltimore became the first major city in the United States whose residents voted to ban water privatization. Nearly 77 percent of voters cast ballots in favor of Question E, which declared the “inalienability” of the water and sewer systems and exempted them from any city charter provisions related to franchising or operational rights.
This vote resulted from an ongoing struggle waged by Baltimore community activists, unions and civic leaders demanding affordable access to water for low-income residents. That struggle emerged in response to concern the city could sell off the community’s water infrastructure to for-profit investors.
The vote is also part of an emerging worldwide movement to fight back against privatization and to municipalize or re-municipalize (put under public control) local enterprises and services. Between 2007 and 2014, the number of privately owned water systems in the United States fell by 7 percent.
As in Baltimore, the mere threat of water privatization now sparks community resistance around the world.
http://inthesetimes.com/article/21574/baltimore-global-movement-water-privatization-2018
