Is There a Future for Privatizing the City's Infrastructure?

The NY Times wonders if more cities will allow public infrastructure to be privately financed. Investment banks have "an estimated $250 billion war chest" as the U.S.'s infrastructure crumbles. Mayor Bloomberg has touted the need for more federal funding ("we have an infrastructure crisis"). While the banks tells the Times, “Ten to 20 years from now infrastructure could be larger than real estate,” one big question is whether they'll get the returns they want. Still, there could be an upside for the public: A Northeastern University professor told Reuters earlier this month, "Elected officials often shortchange funding of maintenance because they don't want to increase user fees or taxes to pay for it. Their election cycle is four years. They can pass it on to someone else's watch."