Good morning! I was reflecting this morning about conversations had yesterday during lunch and dinner. The City of Tokyo is divided into wards and government services are provided via the ward. Recyling is mandatory here. If a resident’s trash is not sorted correctly the government does not pick it up! The resident is not fined, as we would do in Muncie, but the penalty is the embarassment of the neighbors knowing that your trash was not picked up because you failed to recyle correctly. That alone makes residents compliant. Amazing!! I think of the neighborhood cleanups and the time and energy and money it costs to complete those. Imagine Muncie with residents that had that much pride in their community.
The government of Tokyo is receiving less tax revenue-sound familiar!!?? Employees have been laid off or attrition has been used. Services that have traditionally been provided by the City of Tokyo are being privatized and businesses are benefiting. In the example given last night the private sector can provide the same services at 60% of the cost of government, ultimately costing the taxpayer less. The business owner is appreciative of the business, the employees are happy to have employment and the taxpayer benefits. Food for thought.
I forgot to mention this yesterday and I have to ask if would this have happended in Muncie or any other city? We are staying at the same hotel we stayed at when we traveled here last June. As I was unpacking someone knocked at my door. An employee confirmed who I was and then handed me an envelope. In that envelope was two pieces of cosmetic jewelry I had left behind last year! I thought I had misplaced them at home or I had loaned them to a family member. I am fascinated that none of the hands that had contact with the necklaces kept them and instead they were held anticipating I would someday return to the hotel. Fascinating.