Pomona Privatized The City Owned Trash Company
Veronica's City Meeting Intervention in Spanish and English
According to the Oxford Dictionary: “Privatizing” is the transfer of ownership, property, or business from the government to the private sector. The private sector does business to make a profit; the government is run to obtain its main objective, which is the well-being of society. Therefore, I am against the privatization of public property. Privatization exposes the people to the ambitious decisions of the private sector. The privatization of public property has led to unjust and expensive circumstances for citizens in many cases.
Due to the war in Ukraine in 2021, Most European countries suffered the greatest gas shortage ever seen in history, as a result of Russia being the largest supplier of gas to most of those European countries, (not being self-sufficient is a big mistake) The Europeans’ gas bills increased 500%. In February of the same year, Texas also had a gas and electricity crisis because the state had privatized the energy sector. The huge snowstorm had caused the energy grid to be insufficient for the private companies to supply all the energy needed, leaving Texan citizens without gas for weeks. People’s electricity and gas bills increased to the 1000’s.
By privatizing public services, average citizens are forcibly positioned at the mercy of the private sector, which will take advantage of any opportunity to make a profit instead of prioritizing the well-being of the people who depend on those services.
I can’t see actions like this and stay quiet! I believe the only solution is to help educate our citizens in matters that concern us all and invite them to participate in public and governmental matters. There will be 3 city council seats elected next year (Districts 1, 6, and 4). It is the responsibility of the government to provide basic public services to the people.
Having public, free of personal interest and bias, representatives is imperative for the guarantee of the well-being of the people. If you feel the same way, I invite you to participate and support me as future Pomona City Mayor.
After reviewing the Pomona City contract with Athens, the trash collector company, I thought that citizens should be informed that Athens will reimburse the city a tremendous amount of money. This reimbursement will come from increased waste collection costs that Pomona’s residents and business owners will have to pay:
1.- Residential Franchise Fee payment of 10% of gross receipts.
2.- Commercial Franchise Fee payment of 15% of gross receipts.
3.- Outsourcing payment of $1,100,000 annually
4.- AB939 Fee $250,000 annually
5.- Administration fee of $350,000 annually.
6.- Vehicle Impact Fee $750,000 annually.
7.- Edible Food Recovery Support $150,000 annually.
8.- Annual rate adjustment Reimbursement of $15,000 annually.
9.- Sale of City Equipment to Athens (trucks and containers) $1,250,000 one-time payment
10.- Street Sweeping Signage $800,000 one-time payment.
11.-Procurement Reimbursement $250,000 one-time payment.
12.-Housing Effort Support $75,000 ongoing Donation.
13.-Children’s programs $75,000 ongoing donation.
14 Students’ Scholarships for environmental studies
The city should not profit from the citizens. With these franchise fees, Athens is charging commercial property owners and businesses from 2 to 4 times more in service fees.