No-bid LED deal: It isn't smart for Cleveland

The city of Cleveland's plan to bypass competitive bidding on LED products has been the subject of much debate. On the one hand is the benefit of attracting a new employer, on the other is the benefit of competition. Not enough has been said about why competitive bidding is important. This is not as simple as bidding on copier paper or street paving. LED products show great promise for reducing lighting costs. They may cost more initially, but they save money over time.