Should Mayor Richard Daley privatize Midway Airport?
352 YES — 1,119 NO
Results are based on responses to a Tribune online question.
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Indiana lesson
The lease of the Indiana Skyway has been a huge benefit for the local taxpayer. The lease of Midway will be a relief to the Chicago taxpayer.
— Robert Kalthoff, Granger, Ind.
Do the math
Selling city infrastructure is a shortsighted way to fix problems with our city budget. We are simply putting ourselves in a position where we are essentially going to put a tax on the users of these pieces of infrastructure as the new owners charge higher fees to not only recoup the money paid to the city, but also make a handsome profit. So we are out not only the money that goes to the city, but we are putting a nice sum into the hands of overseas investors who really have no stake in our city beyond extracting a profit. Why can’t the mayor just eject his do-nothing cronies and run the city efficiently?
— John Morris, Chicago
Making billions
If a company is willing to pay billions to run Midway, it must have figured out how to make even more billions. Why can’t Chicago figure out how to make the billions?
— Mark Tokarz, Villa Park
Just think
Penny-wise. Pound-foolish.
The mayor is simply addressing today’s problems to the distress of tomorrow’s Chicagoans and their leaders. I know money is tight, but that doesn’t mean we kill the golden-egg-laying goose because we forgot to shop for groceries?
— Ed, Glenwood
The coward’s way
A private company would not pick up the lease except to make a profit. If the city cannot run Midway at a comparable profit, the problem is with the city. It should be remedied there. Auctioning off public property is not a solution to anything. It is a cowardly way to try to push the problem onto the next generation.
— Pat Palmer, Socorro, N.M.
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For today’s question, go to chicagotribune.com
Jonah Goldberg explains why no one is blameless in this financial mess.
chicagotribune.com/goldberg
