After enduring public wrath over the parking meter controversy, the topic of privatization has died down for the time being at City Hall. Consumer advocates, however, know Mayor Daley could move to sell off a major city asset at a moment's notice. To prepare, they've been busy looking into the hidden and delayed costs of privatization.

At a packed forum Monday night, Illinois PIRG and Food and Water Watch released the results of a new study examining the cost to taxpayers of selling off the city's water system. According to their research, consumers would pay $2 to $3 dollars for every $1 the city would receive in an up-front payment. On hand was Chicago Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward) who touted the Asset Lease Taxpayer Protection Ordinance he introduced last year. It's a measure that deserves attention.