Emanuel Wants to Privatize City's 311 Call Center

[Stellar]

Wedged between a property tax hike and an e-cigarette tax in Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget proposal was a plan to take the 311 system Chicago “invented” private.
The decision to privatize the 311 system would mean that residents calling to complain about rats or report potholes would speak to employees of a private company rather than city

The move would save taxpayers “a million dollars each year,” Emanuel said during the address.
Later, Emanuel said the city needs “about $40 [million] to $50 million to modernize [311] in the coming years,” and noted that “capital expenditure” could be solved by a private operator, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Still, 311 operators say outsourcing the service is “harmful and wrong.” They cited the need for training in the position and the loss of jobs it could mean for the city, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents dozens of the workers at the 311 center, said.

NBC Chicago

[randys1]

1. What an ASS

[Stuart G]

6. Asses across the nation, say they don't want to be associated with Emanuel. (he stinks too much)

Still he really is an ass...well said...

[hibbing]

2. Socialize the costs and privatize the profits n/t

[Stellar]

3. You got it...

That's the way I see it.

[mucifer]

4. The aldermen might not let him do this.

Fingers crossed that they learned something from the parking meters.

[Stellar]

5. There's a lot of AFSCME Union workers at 311.

[Old Union Guy]

7. A perfect storm of union busting and dirty deal making. n/t