Embarrassing story for anyone in Detroit (Going to UN for help) but I can understand why the paying customers are upset. The water bills in Detroit are similar to ours here in Silicon Valley... which have doubled in the past 10 years even as we've cut use to conserve because of soaring fixed costs to cover lavish pensions. A VERY Liberal writer for the San Jose Mercury news gave the water district the nick name "Golden Spigot" as even he got fed up with the money the district spent on lavish trips in addition to the pensions and salaries.
BTW, my water bill for one person in a home with a big yard was $76.80 last month! It would be over $100 if I didn't conserve by not having a lawn in my back yard (all on drip) and only half a lawn in the front yard....that is almost dead from getting just enough water for life support this summer.
Nearly Half Of Detroit Water Customers Can’t Pay Their Bill
June 23, 2014 7:33 AM
detroit.cbslocal.com
Garner said the reality is that nearly half of Detroit Water and Sewerage customers can’t pay their bills; and that has led activists to lobby the UN to step up and take action.
“If they do contact us we are willing to speak with them,” she said, adding “We owe it to the customers that are paying to collect from those that aren’t. Somebody has to pay for the water.”
And while Garner says water is “a God-given right,” she says there is a cost to move water from the water resource to the customer and that the infrastructure costs money.
According to the Free Press, the average Detroit water bill is now $75 a month — much higher than the nation’s average rate of about $40.
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Posted Kathy Ward, “This is just insane. If someone is that destitute that they truly cannot afford their water bill, there are already welfare programs in place for that. I’m guessing those same people not paying their water also have a TV, cable, I-phone, etc. People need to get their priorities straight, not expect another government handout.”
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Yes, there are able bodies out there abusing the system. And those individuals should be sought out. But before we go after those people, how about we go after the real welfare abusers. The elected officials, oil companies, insurance companies, banks, Wall Street. Because those abusers are the biggest beneficiaries of our hard work and tax dollars. Stop kicking those who are already down.” Yeah, when all else fails, blame the oil companies... The truth is there are so many abandoned properties that the fixed cost (pensions, infrastructure, etc.) has to be spread over fewer paying customers. |
