Privatization Hits Municipal Services

“Privatization,” which has been a conservative free-market mantra for decades, has in recent years taken a form that even some its most avid Reagan-era proponents could hardy have imagined: hedge-fund investment in formerly civic endeavors, like fire-fighting and ambulance services. It sometimes works, but overall this New York Times feature finds a disturbing pattern of garish failure – like the case of a financially stressed ambulance company sending out a dunning letter after its attendants delivered a baby in transit. The notice went directly to the infant girl, essentially saying that if she didn’t pay up, the matter would go on her credit report. More common are multi-thousand dollar bills for putting out fires, and even, in one reported case, a bill for $5,000 that went to the owner of a home that had burned to the ground after the fire department had failed to get there in time.