John O'Leary is a former GOVERNING contributor. He is co-author of "If We Can Put a Man on the Moon: Getting Big Things Done in Government."
E-mail: johnoleary1962@hotmail.comTwitter: @governing
Does Privatization Work for Cities?
It is an age-old debate: Can competitive outsourcing help struggling cities stretch scarce tax dollars?
In this 8 minute video from the John Stossel show, Stephen Goldsmith tells the success story of his competition initiative in Indianapolis when he served as mayor.
He points out that he was able to reduce costs, enhance services, and put Indianapolis on a stronger financial footing, avoiding the dreaded "death spiral" of higher-taxes and fleeing-citizens that plague so many midewestern cities, such as Cleveland and Detroit.
Taking the other side of the issue is Congressman Dennis Kucinich from Ohio. The show contrasts the Indianapolis approach with Cleveland, which runs a produce market, golf courses, and more. It is a fascinating contrast in visions, and a conversation you won't want to miss.
Twitter: @governing
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