Why are the shutoffs happening now, when the city is undergoing bankruptcy? The Emergency Manager wants to decouple the department from the city and regionalize it. To do that, he needs to take a hard line against “deadbeats” (a code word for poor Blacks), thus convincing three county boards it will be an attractive deal. By mid-August the media revealed that such a regional authority is being finalized. The proposal will require state assistance to refinance the department’s debt, to cut the 5-6% annual interest rate to roughly half. Presumably the state wouldn’t think of intervening to provide aid to the city!... The answer cannot be found in the austerity measures being imposed by Detroit’s bankruptcy. In fact, it can’t even be found in a generous water affordability plan that is certainly necessary. The issue is much broader, as the storm brought home. It requires an acknowledgement that access to water and sanitation facilities is a human right and a precious asset. An equitable program requires an end to shutoffs and adoption of a process that protects, not penalizes, low-income residents. It means a commitment on the part of the state and federal governments to update infrastructure and insure public health standards for all residents. Only in this way can we guarantee a sustainable life in our cities and on this planet.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 15:19:53 +0000
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