squinney wrote: And, "a fear of foreigners"?? There's a legitimate concern and argument in recent years for selling off / privatizing our water supply. I don't think it's a fear of foreigners as much as a fear of taking publically owned property and making it "for profit." If things intended for the benefit of citizens is no longer in control of government or the public, I think it's fair to ask where that may lead us.
(1) Bakers benefit the public. They are baking for a profit. I either don't understand your distinction between "for profit and "for the benefit of citizens", or you are presenting a false choice.
(2) When a city sells municipal works to a private operator, the buyer pays for it, presumably a fair price. Thus, the transaction shouldn't change the total amount of public property -- only the composition of it.