Trash? A Public Utility?

The City of Austin has a proposed ordinance to declare the commercial collection of waste and recyclables a public utility and to require every hauler of commercial waste and recyclables within the City of Austin to enter into a franchise agreement under Article XI of the City Charter.
Seriously? A Public Utility? The City is not worn out its welcome in our energy and water taxes/rates so now they want to be in the trash business. As we all know, besides how economically well governments run businesses (NOT!) a single choice for trash service and no competition means high rates and poor service. The City sets the rates? I am sorry this is another tax. It will be a hidden tax on small business. The minimum will be 4% on small businesses and non-profits for the collection of commercial waste and recyclables. The City would confiscate the business rights of commercial solid waste collection companies like Texas Disposal System, who have huge stakes in equipment and landfills and have given back to Austin ten fold. The TDS recycling program is modeled countrywide. Their landfill is a model in eco-friendly systems that work in harmony with nature. The owners of TDS have given back to the community over and over with the donation of money and their facilities for fundraising efforts. Is this how we pay them back? I only speak of TDS because they are the only locally owned trash company I know of. Even the nationally owned companies have invested millions into recycling and landfills. Socialized trash? Our GREEN Mayor is starting to look more like Chairman Mao Wynn.
Let's not forget my good friends in "code enforcement", the sign police, the solid waste department is where they pick up their paychecks. Makes sense huh? See my previous blog about the sign police. Wake up people! We need to take back Austin!