"Floodlights Instead of Flashlights"

New report exposes how Sunshine Laws are out of step with government contracting, leaving the public in the dark Read more...

ITPI Asset Privatization Guide

Our guide outlines key questions to ask about proposed asset privatization deals. Read more...

Keeping Public Libraries Public

The American Library Association recently released a checklist for communities considering the privatization of public libraries. Read more...

Private Prisons, Public Risks

ITPI and several other organizations have recently released resources that discuss the risks of prison privatization. Read more...

ITPI Commentary

Questions remain on infrastructure trust

By Celeste Meiffren April 27, 2012

A few days ago, the City Council passed an ordinance to establish the Chicago Infrastructure Trust - a nonprofit that will leverage private, for-profit investment for public infrastructure projects. Much of the recent attention has been on the lack of strong public protections to make the trust transparent and accountable to citizens. But there is a more fundamental question: Do we really need it?

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ALEC and the Privatization of Education

The American Legislative Exchange (ALEC) is a business-supported organization whose corporate members, along with the legislator members of its task forces, craft model bills on a variety of issues.  They recently announced that they were shutting down their task force on public safety and elections in the wake of controversy over its model legislation on

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Weekly Privatization Scan

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Latest Resources

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Case Studies

  • Chicago's Parking Meters

    In 2009, the City of Chicago leased its parking meters to a private firm for 75 years, giving the company rights to all revenue generated by the meters. Parking rates immediately soared and meters malfunctioned, causing an uproar from local residents and businesses.

  • Felton Water System

    Facing repeated rate increases of up to 78%, residents of the small town of Felton, California, organized to buy back their water system from a subsidiary of a huge German corporation.

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