Save Happy Hollow

By Roy Franklin Que-Heath

Oppose efforts to privatize Happy Hollow

With the recent interest in purchasing public facilities for private profit and the desire of some politicians to raise money quickly it was inevitable that assets such as Happy Hollow, Municipal Water and the Convention Center would be eyed as sources of quick cash for special projects.

Privatization is a bad idea. Money spent on a city owned facility maintained by city employees returns to our community in the form of salaries paid to employees and services purchased from local vendors. A private company expects to make a profit which will go to its stockholders. Some of these companies are based in France or England. That money goes bye-bye. Our economy won't see it again. City employees have to pass background checks before they are hired. What assurance do we have that a private company will be as careful.

Happy Hollow is special. As the saying goes "If it's not broke, don't fix it."