No to privatization

At the Pittsburgh United mayoral forum on April 8, the candidates were asked if they would commit to keeping assets, such as the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, public if elected ( April 9, “Mayoral Forum Covers Equitable Development, Police Reform”).

Mayor Bill Peduto’s response was troubling. He claimed to oppose privatization, but then talked about his support of so-called “publicprivate partnerships” ( or PPPs). In 2019, Mr. Peduto signed a pledge that he “support[s] a ban on the privatization of water & sewage services in Pittsburgh that includes public-private partnerships that remove significant decision-making power from publicly accountable officials.”

As a city resident, I am deeply troubled by the mayor’s reversal. Elected officials need to be consistent in their commitments, and Mr. Peduto should acknowledge and hold himself accountable both to his role in past privatization threats and to his public commitment against PPPs.

As a sociologist who studies water privatization, I am perhaps even more concerned about this reversal. Numerous studies show that privatization of water means higher rates and lower quality water. This has contributed to a trend of remunicipalization (returning public services that were privatized to public control). Pittsburgh already had a failed experience with a PPP that contributed to the current problems with our water (including lead contamination).

Pittsburgh residents have also made clear consistently that we do not want our water privatized because water privatization (including and especially PPPs) never works out to the benefit of the people.

Let’s not forget the lessons of the past.

CAITLIN SCHROERING

Greenfield