Friday, October 12, 2007
Fact Checking With the Mayor
Are the City’s sanitation workers better than their counterparts in the private sector hauling business? The Mayor certainly thinks so. Because, according to him, not only did the City best private bidders to pickup garbage in the City, they have extended their reach to the neighboring borough of Wilkinsburg.
There is some truth to the Mayor’s statement: the City’s in-house proposal did beat out two private sector proposals. But it was not the kind of even-handed competition one might expect. Under Act 47, there was supposed to be a two-step evaluation. In stage one, private haulers only were allowed to bid, followed by a wide-open competition with public and private proposals. The first step was to allow for “an opportunity to evaluate contracted services”. But this plan did not come to pass. Instead, there was a combined bid that, by no surprise, the City won. The bid required the winning bidder to try and hire as many City employees as possible: think that drove any prospective bidders away?
On the Wilkinsburg issue, it is true that after being served by Waste Management that the borough instead opted to go with then City, saving about $250,000. But as the City’s public works director pointed out, the City’s refuse division does not pay taxes or worry about making a profit. Add to that the fact that a private hauler is still handling dwellings over 5 units, commercial pickup, and the borough is handling recycling and it is not the all-encompassing picture the Mayor paints.
Sure, the City refuse division has had some recent wins. But this is the same division that almost went on strike during the 2006 All-Star game, too. They possess some clout that other haulers do not. Maybe these successes will lead to an all-out, Citywide bid someday.
There is some truth to the Mayor’s statement: the City’s in-house proposal did beat out two private sector proposals. But it was not the kind of even-handed competition one might expect. Under Act 47, there was supposed to be a two-step evaluation. In stage one, private haulers only were allowed to bid, followed by a wide-open competition with public and private proposals. The first step was to allow for “an opportunity to evaluate contracted services”. But this plan did not come to pass. Instead, there was a combined bid that, by no surprise, the City won. The bid required the winning bidder to try and hire as many City employees as possible: think that drove any prospective bidders away?
On the Wilkinsburg issue, it is true that after being served by Waste Management that the borough instead opted to go with then City, saving about $250,000. But as the City’s public works director pointed out, the City’s refuse division does not pay taxes or worry about making a profit. Add to that the fact that a private hauler is still handling dwellings over 5 units, commercial pickup, and the borough is handling recycling and it is not the all-encompassing picture the Mayor paints.
Sure, the City refuse division has had some recent wins. But this is the same division that almost went on strike during the 2006 All-Star game, too. They possess some clout that other haulers do not. Maybe these successes will lead to an all-out, Citywide bid someday.
