Speaking of asset utilization

I have been writing about this on a school e-list given the latest proposal to close schools. I wrote:

DC is more like General Motors, making a manufacturing plant capable of only producing one model of car, whereas its most nimble competitors construct multiple car models using the same production line, getting a much greater ROI and far better utilization of assets and capital.

Arlington County utilizes public assets as augurs of community revitalization, and fully intends to accomplish more than one task with their public assets. A good example is the Thos. Jefferson Jr. HS, which also has a theater with at least one resident company, an exposition center (indoor track capable of being used for events), arts and fitness facilities, etc., in addition to the school facilities. I don't think we have one exposition center in the city comparable to the one at Jefferson, certainly not one that is open to the public. Or they reconstructed the Shirlington branch library to include facilities for the Signature Theatre. (Takoma Park has a combined library and city hall, maybe with other functions too, I think.)

But we don't have these kinds of discussions generally within the city. Each agency sees its public assets as its own property portfolio, not so much the citizens property of which it is the steward and charged with maximizing total public benefit to the citizens. The last thing on the agenda is maximizing return on investment and the use of capital.

But how about this:

The city [of Philadelphia] even got rid of 330 cars and started saving $7 million a year as a result [of using carsharing]

from "Is Philly the Carshare Capital of the Country" in the Commuter Page blog.

Of course, to really work, you'd have to be able to leave cars in different spaces from the one you started with, like Velib, the bike sharing-rental system in Paris.