Plusquellic's Sewer Plan Sets Right Course for Akron

Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic has announced a plan to sell the Akron City sewer system to finance a plan to send Akron high school students to college for free-specifically to area institutions of higher learning such as the University of Akron. According to city estimates, the sale could bring in anywhere from $100 million to $400 million.

It's encouraging to see Ohio Democrats finally coming around to the innovative idea of selling or leasing infrastructure to generate the funds necessary to rebuild Ohio's future. Remember the 2006 gubernatorial election when Ken Blackwell proposed leasing the Ohio Turnpike for 99 years and Democrats acted as if it would the equivalent to proposing beating baby seals to death? For all of Blackwell's numerous faults, that turnpike leasing plan would have provided a much needed $6 billion revenue stream to rebuild roads, interstates, and bridges. Strickland opposed that plan basically because Blackwell was the first to propose it. Strickland claimed he feared higher tolls but of course higher tolls are inevitable for the Ohio Department of Transportation to maintain the turnpike currently.

How far we have come in less than 2 years. Cheers to Plusquellic. Hopefully more Ohio Mayors follow his innovative example.