General Discussion

KamaAina

(78,249 posts) Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:22 PM Jul 2014

Canadian Group Will Bring Water to Detroit Residents Who’ve Had Water Shut Off

http://breakingbrown.com/2014/07/canadian-group-will-bring-water-to-detroit-residents-whove-had-water-shut-off/

In 2009 Detroit’s unemployment rate was reported at 50 percent and now draconian budget cuts and a nine percent rate increase have led to thousands of residents having their water shut off. A group in Canada hopes to assist Detroit residents who aren’t able to pay their delinquent water bill in full.

CBC News reports that Council of Canadians are planning to help the 3,000 Detroit residents per week who are having their water shut off.

Maude Barlow, chair of the Council of Canadians, calls the plan to shut off the water to Detroit residents appalling and says it’s common in failed states, but not developed countries.

“I’ve seen this in the poorest countries in the world,” Barlow said. “This is what we call failed states, but to see this in North America, it’s a disgrace.”

Beauty, eh?

29 replies

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Highlight:

Canadian Group Will Bring Water to Detroit Residents Who’ve Had Water Shut Off (Original Post) KamaAina Jul 2014 OP

Looks like they are somehow going to supply water instead of just fattening the djean111 Jul 2014 #1

That's what I was thinking, too. KamaAina Jul 2014 #2

Water company? former9thward Jul 2014 #13

I assumed a water company because I could not imagine a city charging so much. djean111 Jul 2014 #15

I only know what I read in the news. former9thward Jul 2014 #17

100 plus year old Duckhunter935 Jul 2014 #26

That makes sense. former9thward Jul 2014 #27

That story is not getting much play in Detroit media. Octafish Jul 2014 #3

This is what we call failed states PowerToThePeople Jul 2014 #4

This country is failing in so many ways it's hard to keep track of it all ... RKP5637 Jul 2014 #6

I'm embarrassed... joeybee12 Jul 2014 #5

Thank you, Canada KamaAina Jul 2014 #7

Hands Across the Border? Many thanks to saidsimplesimon Jul 2014 #8

wow angrychair Jul 2014 #9

Excellent. geardaddy Jul 2014 #10

Well, in the case of the state government, KamaAina Jul 2014 #11

Yeah, I kind of figured that. geardaddy Jul 2014 #12

The city supplies the water. former9thward Jul 2014 #14

But the state runs the city KamaAina Jul 2014 #20

No, the state has appointed a manager to deal with the bankruptcy. former9thward Jul 2014 #23

They really are good neighbors! No Vested Interest Jul 2014 #16

K & R !!! WillyT Jul 2014 #18

Thank you Canadians. For those of you who do not understand how the city can charge this much jwirr Jul 2014 #19

Thank you Canada! Rex Jul 2014 #21

We Democrats used to care about issues like this.... KoKo Jul 2014 #22

Thank you, Canadians! You understand we are the victims of an out of control, Enthusiast Jul 2014 #24

So are they, actually. KamaAina Jul 2014 #25

Maybe Detroit ought to make a bid to join Ontario Scootaloo Jul 2014 #28

Some Michiganders do refer to their state as "the Lost Province" KamaAina Jul 2014 #29

djean111

(14,255 posts)

1. Looks like they are somehow going to supply water instead of just fattening the

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:26 PM

Jul 2014

water company's coffers? I wonder if they will get sued for depriving the water company of profits.
Looks to me like the main idea is to force people out of Detroit so it can be bought up cheaply and then re-developed for a profit. Wonder if overdue water bills result in a lien against property.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

2. That's what I was thinking, too.

Reply to djean111 (Reply #1)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:35 PM

Jul 2014

former9thward

(32,025 posts)

13. Water company?

Reply to djean111 (Reply #1)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:16 PM

Jul 2014

Water company profits? It is the City of Detroit that supplies water.

djean111

(14,255 posts)

15. I assumed a water company because I could not imagine a city charging so much.

Reply to former9thward (Reply #13)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:20 PM

Jul 2014

I keep reading that the bills are twice as high as other places - who sets the rates, and what is the criteria, i wonder. My assumption is that a municipal water department should not turn a profit.

former9thward

(32,025 posts)

17. I only know what I read in the news.

Reply to djean111 (Reply #15)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:22 PM

Jul 2014

I don't know why their rates are so high.

Duckhunter935

(16,974 posts)

26. 100 plus year old

Reply to former9thward (Reply #17)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 07:26 PM

Jul 2014

infrastructure built for a lot more people than are currently in Detroit. Much less people but the area is the same to maintain and add the numbers that do not pay the bills and it goes up for the rest.

former9thward

(32,025 posts)

27. That makes sense.

Reply to Duckhunter935 (Reply #26)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 07:31 PM

Jul 2014

I live in an expanding metro area (Phoenix) that is relatively young. Our water rates are practically nothing compared to other cities (Chicago, Portland, OR) that I have lived in.

Octafish

(55,745 posts)

3. That story is not getting much play in Detroit media.

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:37 PM

Jul 2014

A dozen water shut-off protesters arrested got a blip, but as far as the Big Picture goes...zip.

PowerToThePeople

(9,610 posts)

4. This is what we call failed states

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:37 PM

Jul 2014

They are correct about that.

At least one country north of Mexico cares more about people than money.

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)

6. This country is failing in so many ways it's hard to keep track of it all ...

Reply to PowerToThePeople (Reply #4)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:48 PM

Jul 2014

joeybee12

(56,177 posts)

5. I'm embarrassed...

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 01:41 PM

Jul 2014

Amazing that this country can't do it on its own...props to these Canadians, though.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

7. Thank you, Canada

Reply to joeybee12 (Reply #5)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 02:25 PM

Jul 2014

Remember the movie Argo? It was based on a true story of Canadians helping rescue U.S. hostages from Iran.

saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)

8. Hands Across the Border? Many thanks to

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 03:56 PM

Jul 2014

our Canadian friends in Windsor and Toronto

angrychair

(8,702 posts)

9. wow

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:06 PM

Jul 2014

We continue to spend billions to fight wars in other countries while other countries are deploying humanitarian aid to our own citizens in our country.

geardaddy

(24,931 posts)

10. Excellent.

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:06 PM

Jul 2014

Where is the city, state and national government on this? Why are they sitting on their hands?

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

11. Well, in the case of the state government,

Reply to geardaddy (Reply #10)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:09 PM

Jul 2014

because it wants Detroit to fail.

geardaddy

(24,931 posts)

12. Yeah, I kind of figured that.

Reply to KamaAina (Reply #11)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:14 PM

Jul 2014

former9thward

(32,025 posts)

14. The city supplies the water.

Reply to geardaddy (Reply #10)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:18 PM

Jul 2014

They are the ones cutting off water.

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)

20. But the state runs the city

Reply to former9thward (Reply #14)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:49 PM

Jul 2014

see post 19 below.

former9thward

(32,025 posts)

23. No, the state has appointed a manager to deal with the bankruptcy.

Reply to KamaAina (Reply #20)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 05:10 PM

Jul 2014

He controls the city's finances but the city is still running its departments and doing the work. According to news articles I have read say the city has had high water rates for a long time.

No Vested Interest

(5,167 posts)

16. They really are good neighbors!

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:22 PM

Jul 2014

WillyT

(72,631 posts)

18. K & R !!!

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:30 PM

Jul 2014

jwirr

(39,215 posts)

19. Thank you Canadians. For those of you who do not understand how the city can charge this much

Reply to KamaAina (Original post)

Mon Jul 14, 2014, 04:43 PM

Jul 2014

for water remember that the elected city government was replaced by a manager appointed by the governor. And then to get book "The shock Doctrine" by Naomi Klein and read up on the fall of Argentina and other South American countries. Detroit is our biggest example of this in the USA.