April, 2006

Detroit City Council votes for rate increase for water while 45,000 homes go without water

By Sandra Reid

The Detroit City Council voted in a rate increase of 6 percent for water rates. They did not pass the Michigan Welfare Rights Water Affordability Program. This plan would keep this basic necessity -- water -- on for Detroit households. Children are going to school without drinking water or baths because up to 45,000 homes are without water, unable to pay their water bills. Recently the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO) called for Detroiters to begin placing their water bill payments in escrow pending enactment of the affordability plan.

Sylvia Orduno of MWRO said some City Council members had previously voted not to increase water rates. "But they were pressured by the mayor and by people from the suburbs who said that if costs weren't raised, the water department could be under threat of a takeover. We told the council members that the issue is the 45,000 households who are without water and that many more families are in jeopardy of being cut off."

Sylvia said a long term solution like the Michigan Welfare Rights Water Affordability Program is needed. It scales rates to customer's income. Affordability plans like these have resulted in up to 80 percent decreases in disconnects. "But, all we got were promises from the mayor's office to look at it -- not a promise to implement it. It's been stalled for the last two years," said Sylvia. She said the pattern of raising rates, and the layoffs of city workers who maintain the water system, shows that the city is on the course of privatizing the water. This is because their base is the business community -- not the people getting shot. The director of Detroit water came from a private water company.

Sylvia said the MWRO will keep pressuring council members at their homes, but they will not rely on politicians. "The MWRO and Call-em-out co-organized a protest against Monica Conyers, Detroit City Council Pro Tem. She is the wife of John Conyers, who is supposed to be one of the most progressive Congressmen. She received the second largest vote in the last election. She was leading the vote to increase water rates. We also protested against Councilman Kwame Kenyatta, who had supported us but changed his vote in favor of the mayor. We are now protesting at the home of Council President Kenneth V. Cockrel, Councilwoman Shelia Cockrel, Councilwoman Martha Reeves, and Councilwoman Alberta Tinsley-Talabie," said Sylvia

She added: "Our hats are off to Councilwomen Joann Watson, Barbara Rose Collins and Brenda Jones. These Council members have fought to get the Michigan Welfare Rights Water Affordability Program implemented."

Sylvia said, "Every day there is a report of new job cuts or layoffs, and the politicians don't know what to do. We are reaching out to people everywhere and are going to Mexican Town to get them involved. We're hearing they are also struggling with these same issues, and with immigration harassment. We will be having a big community convention in Southwest Detroit after Cinco de Mayo and will be doing something on knowing your rights and gathering testimonials. We have to keep educating and getting more people involved."