Fair points about ownership models Mig, for sure. What I was addressing was those who say CityWest should be sold to a larger telecommunications company in order to keep up to date with technology while CityWest is slower to roll it out as an independent. If CityWest were to go to a coop model or small business or an owner-run model, I imagine a lot of the same complaints that are leveled against the company at the moment would continue to be in place as I don’t think the actual operation of CityWest would change that much.
In this case I would argue the City is not intervening in the economy, they’re dealing with the economy that already exists. As for buying into other businesses, I would argue there’s a difference between spending money to acquire something new and how you deal with something you already own. I certainly wouldn’t advocate the City go out and spend money on a business and pay that business’ employees, cover their benefits or cover that business’ overhead.
For instance, I wouldn’t go out and buy a product that was being discontinued, but if I already owned one that would be different. At the moment the City owns CityWest based on the history of the City- I’m sure if they didn’t they wouldn’t go out and buy a telecommunications company as it wouldn’t make sense. If they sell it to a bigger company I imagine a lot job losses. If CityWest went to a coop model or small business model the jobs would be there, the City would get a one-time infusion of cash but would lose a $1 million annual payment. If they kept CityWest then…
Just throwing it out there.
And totally loving the back and forth. Although to be clear, I don’t see my opinion changing and I’m not trying to change anyone else’s opinion.