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KoKo

(84,711 posts)
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 07:46 PM Jun 2014

DETROIT Resumes Cutting Off Water to 150,000 Residents, Prompting Appeal to UNITED NATIONS for Help

Detroit Resumes Cutting Off Water to 150,000 Residents, Prompting Appeal to United Nations for Help



Desperate calls for help from the United Nations aren’t just for war-torn and developing nations anymore. The city of Detroit—a city that has been on the brink in many ways—in an effort to balance its books, has begun shutting off water access to city residents behind on their payments. While that may seem like what happens to anyone when they don’t pay their bills, Detroit is a unique case—nearly half of the 323,900 residents who use the utility are delinquent, according to the Detroit Free Press. To make matters worse, Al-Jazeera America reports, Detroit’s average monthly water bill is nearly double the national average of $40. The Detroit City Council approved a 9 percent hike last week.


Photo by J.D. Pooley/Getty Images

162579823-graffiti-covers-an-abandoned-building-february-24-2013 Graffiti covers an abandoned building February 24, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan.

In response, a coalition of activist groups in the city have appealed to the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights for relief. Here’s what they’re hoping for via Think Progress:

“We are asking the UN special rapporteur to make clear to the U.S. government that it has violated the human right to water,” said Maude Barlow, the National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians and a key member of the coalition that put the report together. In addition to creating international pressure to stop the Detroit shutoffs, Barlow said, the UN’s intervention could lead to formal consequences for the United States. “If the US government does not respond appropriately this will also impact their Universal Periodic Review,” she said, “when they stand before the Human Rights Council to have their [human rights] record evaluated.”


http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/06/23/detroit_shuts_off_water_for_residents_united_nations_asked_to_help.html

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MORE LINKS DISCUSSING THIS:

Activists Beg United Nations For Help After Detroit Shuts ...
www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/24/detroit-water-shut-offs-human...

Jun 24, 2014 · ... activists are calling on the United Nations for help in what they ... UN Asked to Stop Detroit From Shutting Off Water. Groups Appeal To UN to Stop ...
Groups Appeal to UN for 'Humanity' as Detroit Shuts Off ...
Common Dreams6 days ago

Jun 18, 2014 · Groups Appeal to UN for 'Humanity' as Detroit Shuts ... to the United Nations to ... by the Detroit Water and Sewerage ...
Detroit Water Fight: Activists Ask United Nations To ...
www.inquisitr.com/1316799/detroit-water-fight-activists-ask-united...

Nearly half of Detroit water customers cannot pay their bills, so they are turning to the United Nations for help. Activists on the Detroit People's Water Board.
Detroit citizens appeal to UN after city raises rates and ...

www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/20/detroit-citizens-appeal-to-un-after...

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DETROIT Resumes Cutting Off Water to 150,000 Residents, Prompting Appeal to UNITED NATIONS for Help (Original Post) KoKo Jun 2014 OP
Sickening, absolutely sickening !!! SamKnause Jun 2014 #1
They raised the price so those who choose to pay their bills cover those who don't? Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #2
Yeah. it's all about the money. Never mind that you need water for drinking, cleaning dishes, neverforget Jun 2014 #4
So what's the solution? Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #17
Have the state step in or the federal government. It's a basic human right as you need water to neverforget Jun 2014 #18
So how is that fair to the working families who do pay their bill? Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #19
Where are they supposed to get water to cook and drink? Where should they use the bathroom? neverforget Jun 2014 #20
I see your point, it's a mess. You make an excellent suggestion, that we need a national living wage RKP5637 Jun 2014 #58
First, all water should be free, basic common sense... randys1 Jun 2014 #77
at least it will reduce the surplus population….. dhill926 Jun 2014 #29
Those who use the same water supply and can afford it. Easy answer. morningfog Jun 2014 #42
What's to stop everyone from simply not paying Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #53
I've not seen any evidence of that happening. Nor does it worry me. morningfog Jun 2014 #54
I am for a national living wage so everyone can afford life's necessities Michigander_Life Jun 2014 #56
Great. How does that keep the water on NOW? neverforget Jun 2014 #57
This is why we need socialism - TBF Jun 2014 #85
Try: FOR LIFE. WinkyDink Jun 2014 #25
Well that was what I was saying to that poster about the uses of water just neverforget Jun 2014 #27
Why should there be property taxes at all even?... n/t PoliticAverse Jun 2014 #79
We'll see what happens when 150,000 people can't cook, clean and flush the toilets soon enough neverforget Jun 2014 #81
Do you think these people can pay their property tax bills? PoliticAverse Jun 2014 #83
Welcome to the Shock Doctrine. Corporations that aren't paying their water bill are not neverforget Jun 2014 #88
I think you are correct that corporations shouldn't be treated differently than individuals. n/t PoliticAverse Jun 2014 #90
This is 150,000 people who've had their rates increased over and over and have no money KoKo Jun 2014 #21
True. Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #33
This is just the beginning. Unless we get the gross inequality of wealth turned around rhett o rick Jun 2014 #76
The cost in health problems would be much higher csziggy Jun 2014 #22
They won't be able to. Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #34
Exactly - people are going to die unless their water is turned back on csziggy Jun 2014 #40
This is horrible...It reminds me of Katrina when people died of THIRST! whathehell Jun 2014 #78
+1000 theHandpuppet Jun 2014 #41
Your use of choose ohheckyeah Jun 2014 #23
Because cruelty isn't a decent response. WinkyDink Jun 2014 #26
And what is your solution? You certainly dont sound very empathic. nm rhett o rick Jun 2014 #75
But were helping other countries get water... SummerSnow Jun 2014 #3
yep...Bringing Democracy to Countries so that we live in the Dustbin at Home! KoKo Jun 2014 #11
We shouldn't have rebuilt Iraq's water--we shoul;d have rebuilt Detroit's water. Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #36
They don't need to rebuild their system. They need people to pay their bills so they can operate it badtoworse Jun 2014 #45
the people cannot afford to pay noiretextatique Jun 2014 #60
We shouldn't have Caretha Jun 2014 #69
If they hadn't spent trillions on 2 unjustified attacks on other countries arikara Jun 2014 #74
kick Liberal_in_LA Jun 2014 #5
What do other cities do in this situation? n-t Logical Jun 2014 #6
K & R !!! WillyT Jun 2014 #7
5th Rec Hekate Jun 2014 #8
Call in the National Guard. MineralMan Jun 2014 #9
You can't live in a structure without a water connection. elehhhhna Jun 2014 #10
Third world states is what they will be callled SummerSnow Jun 2014 #12
You can't have sanitation or survive without Water......It's a basic HUMAN RIGHT. KoKo Jun 2014 #13
Well said. Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #37
Cholera in Detroit. elehhhhna Jun 2014 #16
Good point. n/t ohheckyeah Jun 2014 #24
My immediate thought was just this JustAnotherGen Jun 2014 #70
Uh huh atreides1 Jun 2014 #80
Some of the accounts may be for homes and businesses that are already abandoned. amandabeech Jun 2014 #31
Exactly. Louisiana1976 Jun 2014 #38
Americans calling the UN for help? What a damn shame. SummerSnow Jun 2014 #14
This is not the first time DFW Jun 2014 #62
Exceptional! phantom power Jun 2014 #15
Soak the rich. They can pay for everything. badtoworse Jun 2014 #28
What's your solution for people that can't pay for water because they don't have a job? neverforget Jun 2014 #30
If they're that poor, they probably can't pay their mortgage or taxes either. badtoworse Jun 2014 #35
Just because I don's use the federal subsidy for heating doesn't mean I'm not going to pay neverforget Jun 2014 #39
Water doesn't treat and pump itself - it costs money to do that. badtoworse Jun 2014 #44
If you cut off the water, where do these people use the bathroom? have you thought of that? neverforget Jun 2014 #47
My point is that Detroit can't provide free water and that is indisputable. badtoworse Jun 2014 #50
and the end result is still the same: no water. neverforget Jun 2014 #52
Why assume these people have mortgages? thesquanderer Jun 2014 #49
what an idiotic statement noiretextatique Jun 2014 #61
And empathy extends as far as the wallet to some. neverforget Jun 2014 #63
So where would you get the money to operate the system? Detroit is broke. badtoworse Jun 2014 #66
the difference between you and me is this: you are neverforget Jun 2014 #67
The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department is also thinking about the money - they have to. badtoworse Jun 2014 #68
and you never answered me about giving them neverforget Jun 2014 #72
Yeah, so this is TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS, is it? MrMickeysMom Jun 2014 #32
Kicking. nt littlemissmartypants Jun 2014 #43
The US always seems to find the money spartan61 Jun 2014 #46
Governor of Michigan is Rick Snyder, this problem is on his watch. He mismanages his states revenue. Sunlei Jun 2014 #51
IMO its past time for some civil disobedience, though it is illegal to bypass a meter or tamper with Sunlei Jun 2014 #48
K&R DeSwiss Jun 2014 #55
for what it's worth Takket Jun 2014 #59
This whole thing just SCREAMS "third world country" Triana Jun 2014 #64
Would love to see freeper heads explode if the UN acts. What about our "national sovereignty"? pampango Jun 2014 #65
Is the American Empire at the point of destruction yet? raccoon Jun 2014 #71
As one other poster pointed out, time for some civil disobedience...... socialist_n_TN Jun 2014 #73
This is shameful RainDog Jun 2014 #82
The trolls don't get it cap Jun 2014 #84
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Jun 2014 #86
"Detroit water department to begin payment aid program after rate hikes, UN complaint" redqueen Jun 2014 #87
Detroit is right on one of the Great Lakes. KamaAina Jun 2014 #89
 

Michigander_Life

(549 posts)
2. They raised the price so those who choose to pay their bills cover those who don't?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:00 PM
Jun 2014

Why should the people who pay their bills pay for those who don't? I've never lived in a town where I could get free water. If I don't pay my bill, my service gets shut off. And my water bill is about 3 times the national average.

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
4. Yeah. it's all about the money. Never mind that you need water for drinking, cleaning dishes,
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:11 PM
Jun 2014

cooking, flushing the toilet, showering, etc. But it's the money that is the most important part here. Never mind that Detroit's poverty rate is nearly 40%. fuck'em. The money is more important than helping people get water.

 

Michigander_Life

(549 posts)
17. So what's the solution?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:36 PM
Jun 2014

It does cost money to get clean water from A to B. Who pays for it if these people can't?

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
18. Have the state step in or the federal government. It's a basic human right as you need water to
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:38 PM
Jun 2014

survive. What's your solution?

 

Michigander_Life

(549 posts)
19. So how is that fair to the working families who do pay their bill?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:41 PM
Jun 2014

If not paying your water bill results in the federal government paying the bill for you, then what's to stop everyone in Detroit from saying screw it and getting free water?

Note: I think we need a national living wage mandated, which would largely alleviate such problems. But in the mean time we have a very sticky situation here.

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
20. Where are they supposed to get water to cook and drink? Where should they use the bathroom?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:45 PM
Jun 2014


The federal government helps people all the time. Just because I don't use the federal subsidy for heating doesn't mean I stop paying my heat bill.

RKP5637

(67,008 posts)
58. I see your point, it's a mess. You make an excellent suggestion, that we need a national living wage
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:20 PM
Jun 2014

mandated. Financial institutions, worker productivity, what it means to have a job have changed drastically over time. Often, survival is becoming more of a hit or miss affair.

We need a national conversation on how the economy should be structured for the 21st century. Current models are going to fail and already have. I have no idea how this will happen. Our congress is not mature enough to do this and is far too divided.

This is neither a knock at all about Obama nor toward him, but we have a void of leadership in this country. Many individuals in political office local, state, nationally lack the skills for the job and moreover are sometimes there not for the interest of a unified country, but often their personal fame and fortune, and their cronies. It is not a good recipe for the future of this country!

randys1

(16,286 posts)
77. First, all water should be free, basic common sense...
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:44 PM
Jun 2014

In an intelligently run Democratic Socialist state ALL necessities would be free or would be regulated so no for profit company is making a profit from their sale.

The real rich pricks that are killing this country are hoping people with money, who can pay their bills, will TURN on those without money who cant pay their bills.

It is called divide and conquer.

You might want to watch for that...

 

morningfog

(18,115 posts)
54. I've not seen any evidence of that happening. Nor does it worry me.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:10 PM
Jun 2014

I consider water a basic human right. If someone can't afford it, the state should facilitate that they get it. I am for socialized water anyway.

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
27. Well that was what I was saying to that poster about the uses of water just
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:07 PM
Jun 2014

explaining it in more detail.

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
81. We'll see what happens when 150,000 people can't cook, clean and flush the toilets soon enough
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 05:04 PM
Jun 2014

A major American city is cutting off water supplies to 150,000 people and your concern is about property taxes? Maybe the US government can find $118 million from the savings from Afghanistan to help Detroit.

Detroit's poverty rate is nearly 40% and their water bill is nearly double the national average of $40/month. Detroit needs help not a kick in the groin.

PoliticAverse

(26,366 posts)
83. Do you think these people can pay their property tax bills?
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 05:12 PM
Jun 2014

What do you think eventually happens to people that don't/can't pay their property taxes?

They lose their home as well as any water service that goes with it.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130221/METRO01/302210375

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
88. Welcome to the Shock Doctrine. Corporations that aren't paying their water bill are not
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 06:01 PM
Jun 2014

getting their water cut off, just families. It's an effort to privatize the water supply.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/true-north/2014/jun/25/detroits-water-war-a-tap-shut-off-that-could-impact-300000-people

Denying water to thousands, as a sweltering summer approaches, might be bad enough in itself. But these shut-offs are no mere exercise in cost-recovery.

The official rationale for the water shut-downs – the Detroit Water Department's need to recoup millions – collapses on inspection. Detroit's high-end golf club, the Red Wing's hockey arena, the Ford football stadium, and more than half of the city's commercial and industrial users are also owing – a sum totalling $30 million. But no contractors have showed up on their doorstep.

The targetting of Detroit families is about something else. It is a ruthless case of the shock doctrine – the exploitation of natural or unnatural shocks of crisis to push through pro-corporate policies that couldn't happen in any other circumstance.

The first shock has been the slow, largely man-made disaster that has struck Detroit over the last four decades: the flight of corporations toward cheaper, overseas labour; the movement of white, wealthier Detroiters to the suburbs, draining the city's tax base; toxic Wall Street deals and predatory bank lending resulting in massive foreclosures; and the deliberate starving of the city of funds owed them by the Republican state legislature.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
21. This is 150,000 people who've had their rates increased over and over and have no money
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:46 PM
Jun 2014

to pay the bills and the rate increases. This is not just a few people. This is because Detroit is shutting off these folks because they want the Water System Privatized because the City Management never made improvements to the infrastructure which is failing and now they blame it on the poor in a devastated city in the USA who lost jobs which wasn't their fault when Detroit went into decline as manufacturing moved to other countries and the Non-Unionized Southeast of the USA.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
76. This is just the beginning. Unless we get the gross inequality of wealth turned around
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:31 PM
Jun 2014

we will see the Second Great Republican Depression. I am not seeing H. Clinton doing anything to help this.

csziggy

(34,115 posts)
22. The cost in health problems would be much higher
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:53 PM
Jun 2014

If you want to get down to just dollars and cents - and forget the humanitarian concerns - cutting off water to thousands of people in an urban environment WILL lead to massive problems with sanitation and disease. Who's going to pay for that? We will, the people of Detroit, of Michigan and of the United States will pay. And it will cost billions more than subsidizing water for people who can't pay for their water.

Have you ever tried to live in a modern house with no water? If so, what did you do about your toilet? How did you wash your hands, your dishes and pots and pans? How about showers or baths? What about drinking water? Detroit is heading into a hot summer - how are people going to make it without water?

csziggy

(34,115 posts)
40. Exactly - people are going to die unless their water is turned back on
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:28 PM
Jun 2014

I really don't understand what the city manager is trying to do with this tactic. Force the evacuation of Detroit? Do to Detroit what happened to much of New Orleans without a hurricane to tear up the infrastructure, just take the benefits of the city infrastructure away from the bottom tier of the population that is left?

It does seem to be a deliberate plan beginning with the destruction of democracy in Detroit. I just can't see what the end result is intended to be.

whathehell

(28,941 posts)
78. This is horrible...It reminds me of Katrina when people died of THIRST!
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:45 PM
Jun 2014

Freaking A...Are we a third world country?...I know we were going

in that direction, but ALREADY?!?

ohheckyeah

(9,314 posts)
23. Your use of choose
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:54 PM
Jun 2014

and don't is interesting. Has it occurred to you that they CAN'T pay their bills and they don't choose to be poor?

SummerSnow

(12,608 posts)
3. But were helping other countries get water...
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:10 PM
Jun 2014
http://iraqwaterproject.org/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/much-of-60b-from-us-to-rebuild-iraq-wasted-special-auditors-final-report-to-congress-shows/



Shortly after the March 2003 invasion, Congress set up a $2.4 billion fund to help ease the sting of war for Iraqis. It aimed to rebuild Iraq's water and electricity systems; provide food, health care and governance for its people; and take care of those who were forced from their homes in the fighting. Less than six months later, President George W. Bush asked for $20 billion more to further stabilize Iraq and help turn it into an ally that could gain economic independence and reap global investments.

To date, the U.S. has spent more than $60 billion in reconstruction grants to help Iraq get back on its feet after the country was broken by more than two decades of war, sanctions and dictatorship. That works out to about $15 million a day.



KoKo

(84,711 posts)
11. yep...Bringing Democracy to Countries so that we live in the Dustbin at Home!
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:23 PM
Jun 2014

That's the American Dream!

noiretextatique

(27,275 posts)
60. the people cannot afford to pay
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:32 PM
Jun 2014

Bills that have doubled or tripled when they the same income....or no one income.

 

Caretha

(2,737 posts)
69. We shouldn't have
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:43 AM
Jun 2014

destroyed Iraq's water & electric structures to begin with.

Think Haliburton & KBR.

Damn the War Mongers to HELL.

arikara

(5,562 posts)
74. If they hadn't spent trillions on 2 unjustified attacks on other countries
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 03:28 PM
Jun 2014

they would have enough to fix things in the US.

 

elehhhhna

(32,076 posts)
10. You can't live in a structure without a water connection.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:22 PM
Jun 2014

It will be Mumbai, Michigan. Theses folks will be told to leave their uninhabitable homes and then what?

Violence. Bank on it.

KoKo

(84,711 posts)
13. You can't have sanitation or survive without Water......It's a basic HUMAN RIGHT.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 08:26 PM
Jun 2014

The CRUELTY of this is beyond what I can imagine as a citizen in the USA.

And you think "Violence" is what will result? What would YOU DO in their situation?

JustAnotherGen

(31,631 posts)
70. My immediate thought was just this
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:46 AM
Jun 2014

I read upthread that there is a 40% poverty rate in Detroit.

We'll deal with income inequality, fairness about who pays bills and who doesn't, jobs - later. Blah blah blah - those aren't points to be made to me today.

Right now - we have a pending health crises never mind how we looked totally f*cked up as a country when a large city in America is turned into a third world wasteland.

Totally f*ucked up - and a pending health crisis.

atreides1

(16,039 posts)
80. Uh huh
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 04:57 PM
Jun 2014

And then they'll call out the National Guard and place Detroit under quarantine...at which time the GOP controlled state government will go with hat in hand to the federal government for support!

 

amandabeech

(9,893 posts)
31. Some of the accounts may be for homes and businesses that are already abandoned.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:13 PM
Jun 2014

I don't doubt that a lot of people are hurting in Detroit, but I wonder if the number may be a bit less than the number of accounts that will be closed.

I spend a considerable of time in Michigan with my elderly Mom, but on the other side of the state.

The problems are overwhelming in Detroit. Without bringing the jobs back or bringing in a whole lot of federal money, I just don't know how Detroit can continue.

You can write off the state government. Snyder's bad enough, but the R-dominated legislature is among the worst in the country. The R's appear to have absolutely no conscience, and won't send a dime for a thirsty child.

My guess is that a lot of kids will get sick drinking contaminated water before anything gets done. Maybe calling in the UN would not be a bad idea. It couldn't make things worse, that's for sure.

DFW

(53,930 posts)
62. This is not the first time
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:38 PM
Jun 2014

I think it was back in the Reagan years when some American town was getting shafted by the government (state or Federal, I don't recall) and they applied to the Soviet Union (!) for foreign aid. That made for some interesting headlines.

 

badtoworse

(5,957 posts)
35. If they're that poor, they probably can't pay their mortgage or taxes either.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:19 PM
Jun 2014

It seems unlikely to me that you can remain in a house and not find the money to pay for your utilities. How long will Detroit Edison keep the lights on if you don't pay your bill?

Detroit is in rough shape, but if you don't shut off utilities to people who don't pay, why would anyone pay?

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
39. Just because I don's use the federal subsidy for heating doesn't mean I'm not going to pay
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:24 PM
Jun 2014

my heating bill. Water is needed for life. It's needed for cooking, washing dishes, washing your hands, flushing the toilet, etc. So they cut off the water and what are they supposed to do? Move? If they're broke, how are they supposed to do that?

Maybe it'll take a cholera outbreak in Detroit to make people realize that water is a basic human necessity.

 

badtoworse

(5,957 posts)
44. Water doesn't treat and pump itself - it costs money to do that.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:34 PM
Jun 2014

If people don't pay for the service, the Water Department won't be able to run the system and no one will have water. The money has to come from somewhere, but you refuse to deal with that. You can't just say "keep the water on" without identifying a way to pay for it. How would you cover the costs?

Maybe FEMA can bring in tanker trucks and people who get shut off can line up with containers.

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
47. If you cut off the water, where do these people use the bathroom? have you thought of that?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:43 PM
Jun 2014

FEMA is a band aid solution to a gaping chest wound. BTW, that costs money too! The State of Michigan and/or the federal government need to step in to keep the water flowing. I'd rather pay taxes for people to have water than to fund our next Iraq incursion. It's about priorities and if we don't take care of our own citizens, we're a cruel nation.

Why is the cost in terms of money more important to you than the cost of cutting water off to people who need it to survive?

 

badtoworse

(5,957 posts)
50. My point is that Detroit can't provide free water and that is indisputable.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:53 PM
Jun 2014

If the state or the feds step in, Detroit can keep the water on, but absent that, it has no choice but to shut off the accounts that don't pay.

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
52. and the end result is still the same: no water.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:01 PM
Jun 2014

Oh well. Money is more important than water for survival.

thesquanderer

(11,937 posts)
49. Why assume these people have mortgages?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:46 PM
Jun 2014

Sometimes renters pay the water bill.

Sometimes houses are owned free and clear of any mortgage, i.e. the people have lived in the house for dozens of years and already paid off the mortgage, or the house originally belonged to their parents, etc.

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
67. the difference between you and me is this: you are
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 07:52 AM
Jun 2014

thinking of the money while I am thinking of the effects of people not having water is far greater than the cost. I don't give a fuck what it costs, people need water to survive and remain healthy. It's a basic need to survive. If we can supply foreign countries with weapons we sure as hell can find the money to fix a water problem in Detroit.

 

badtoworse

(5,957 posts)
68. The Detroit Water & Sewerage Department is also thinking about the money - they have to.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:20 AM
Jun 2014

BTW, you didn't answer the question. If they run out of money, they won't be able to buy water treatment chemicals, pay employees or buy electricity to run the pumps. When that happens, no one will have water.

Water is certainly a basic need for survival, but just saying so doesn't solve Detroit's problem. If the state or the feds, don't step in, what would you do if you were running Detroit's water system?

neverforget

(9,433 posts)
72. and you never answered me about giving them
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 08:57 AM
Jun 2014

water to survive. How are they supposed to survive? Where are they going to use the bathroom? Cook? Clean their clothes and dishes?

I gave you my answer: the feds or the state have to step in to bail them out. Detroit doesn't have the resources to solve it on their own.

MrMickeysMom

(20,453 posts)
32. Yeah, so this is TRICKLE DOWN ECONOMICS, is it?
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:15 PM
Jun 2014

Oh, yes… just let the private sector and free market level all markets…

Pretty soon, after all the trickling down, the value of all taxable income will enable scooping up economics, which then will allow all those will a full bladder to acquire property for pennies on the dollar.

That's a brilliant plan. Thanks, Reagonomics!

spartan61

(2,091 posts)
46. The US always seems to find the money
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:37 PM
Jun 2014

to give aid to people all over the world and yet we can't help our own citizens with something so basic as water???? Unbelievable!!

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
51. Governor of Michigan is Rick Snyder, this problem is on his watch. He mismanages his states revenue.
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:54 PM
Jun 2014

Rick Snyder signed on the "emergency manager".

Sunlei

(22,651 posts)
48. IMO its past time for some civil disobedience, though it is illegal to bypass a meter or tamper with
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 09:44 PM
Jun 2014

I can understand why the UN is needed in Michigan.

Probably need UN help in a lot of other states as more and more people are shoved below the poverty level everyday. Local utilities, local businesses keep raising their prices and that shoves more people into poverty faster.

An audit on that water company should have been done by that new mayor they put in charge last year? Better be a non-profit water company and not some private business with high paid CEOs and profits earned.

Takket

(21,353 posts)
59. for what it's worth
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 10:23 PM
Jun 2014

I live in the Detroit area. Just saw a media report on this. The City has sent out 40000 shutoff notices (warnings to pay your bill) and has shut off water to 8000 residences. The rate hike and double the $40 national average are accurate.

 

Triana

(22,666 posts)
64. This whole thing just SCREAMS "third world country"
Tue Jun 24, 2014, 11:39 PM
Jun 2014

And here we are.

Hey AMERICA! This is your country under GOP rule! Hope ya like it.

pampango

(24,692 posts)
65. Would love to see freeper heads explode if the UN acts. What about our "national sovereignty"?
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 06:17 AM
Jun 2014

They hate the UN and want the US out of it. This would really set them off.

socialist_n_TN

(11,481 posts)
73. As one other poster pointed out, time for some civil disobedience......
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 09:01 AM
Jun 2014

In Greece during situations like this, there were teams of workers who cut the utility back on for the poor. And then did it again when it was cut on again. Detroit needs this kind of action.

cap

(7,170 posts)
84. The trolls don't get it
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 05:25 PM
Jun 2014

People cAnt pay their water bill because of a man made economic disaster the size of Katrina . People can't pay their water bill thAt the city has doubled because they have no job or because the one they have pays below subsistence wages.

Just wAit for cholera, etc to reappear in this country. One slight problem for the one per centers or tea baggers is that cholera can become an epidemic not limited to the poor.

redqueen

(115,085 posts)
87. "Detroit water department to begin payment aid program after rate hikes, UN complaint"
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 05:37 PM
Jun 2014
DETROIT, MI -- An $800,000 program to help low-income Detroiters pay their water bills will be put in place in July after services were cut off from some residents in recent months and complaints were made to a United Nations representative, officials said Tuesday.

With about 90,000 city residents and businesses behind on their water bills, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department in March began more aggressively collecting debt.

In May, about 46,000 notices were delivered to non-paying customers and water was cut off to about 4,500 of them, said DWSD spokesman Gregory Eno.

With 24 hours of the shutoffs, 2,700 of them paid or made arrangements to make payments and had services restored, Eno said.

...
http://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/index.ssf/2014/06/detroit_water_department_to_be.html
 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
89. Detroit is right on one of the Great Lakes.
Wed Jun 25, 2014, 06:14 PM
Jun 2014

One-fifth of the world's fresh water.

I smell a massive land grab in progress.

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