The city of Detroit is sending out crews out to cut off the water to 4000 more residences! This is on top of the 45,000 residences who have already had their water shut off. People cannot pay their bills because Detroit, once the auto capital of the world, is now economically devastated with the job loss and resulting poverty due to globalization and automation of the auto industry.
A community struggle against the efforts to privatize Detroit's water has been going on for years. The community put together a Water Affordability Plan that passed the City Council, but which has yet to be implemented. The City is refusing to implement it because it cuts into profits and their plans to privatize all public water sources in the area.
Water today is a $100 Billion industry. The giant corporations are set to make mountains of profit by taking over the remaining 85% of our public public water companies. Detroit is a harbinger of the future for all of us, if we don't get involved in the struggle to make these giant corporations public.
According to the Michigan Citizen, debtors may now lose their homes if they do not pay the full amount due on their water bill within 14 days of receipt of the notice. A city truck started to shut-off water to a well-known homeless shelter. "We've got 65 homeless people here, trying to keep them off the street," said Martrilla Chatman. But after manager Lincoln Clark started making calls, and the Michigan Citizen began taking photographs, the water department worker drove away without shutting off the water. Chatman added, "I think it's devastating. If people don't have the money to pay their water bill, they still won't have it when it gets shut off. The Mayor of this city has no compassion for the poor and disenfranchised. He ought to be ashamed."
Maureen Taylor, president of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization, said families with children whose water was shut off are terrified to talk to the media because the Department of Human Services may remove their children from the home. "The department needs to go after corporations and municipal lackeys. It needs to set the Water Affordability Program in motion over the city like an umbrella. [DWSD Director] Victor Mercado needs to be run out of town on a rail." Her message for everyone is: "Get ready. They're coming to get your water too!"
Be sure to see "The Water Front," a new documentary by Liz Miller, about a community's struggle against water privatization in Highland Park, MI. "People need to see this film to see the plight and fightback of people to maintain their water. Show this film in your area to show people that you can build a movement for water. Water is today's oil," says Marian Kramer, one of the leaders of the struggle from the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization. Click here to see the film's trailer.
Contact Speakers for a New America for speaking availability at 800-691-6888.
