Highland Park, MI residents have water shut off....VIDEO

[Holly_Hobby]

...because they can't pay. Their water bills went up 60% due to privatization. These are mostly poor blacks living in the Detroit suburb. The water bills are attached to thier property taxes - went they can't pay the exhorbitant bills, they lose their houses. Some of the bills are over $3,000 for 9 months usage. Watch the smackdown of the council members by the residents. "Do not lie!"

Don't think it can happen to you?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b1xPr7sH2C8

[Coexist]

1. Oh my gosh.

No water - people could die, for crying out loud.

Water privatized. Unreal.

[HereSince1628]

2. Welcome to the world of free-trade.

Is the private owner a foreign corporation?

[Holly_Hobby]

3. Can't tell from the video

but it sure wouldn't surprise me.

[HereSince1628]

7. I think there are cities in Illinois with foreign run water and sewage

facilities. Maybe someone from the Chicago area could tell us.

[bperci108]

4. Gee.....

"...(when) they can't pay the exhorbitant bills, they lose their houses."


Gee...I wonder if any council members who voted this insanity in have any real estate/developer connections?


Ya think?


:grr:

[Beelzebud]

5. In America, drinking water is a privelage not a right.

Ouch, after typing that I feel like beating myself up. :D

[madokie]

11. at least break a finger or two

[longship]

6. Highland Park is a city which is surrounded by Detroit.

It's right in the middle of Detroit, right next to another city, Hamtramck (which is the Polish enclave where Pope John Paul visited a few years ago).

Both cities are within the borders of Detroit but are separately encorporated municipalities.

[roamer65]

8. Everyone in the Detroit metropolitan area

got stuck with that increase, since just about all the suburbs are on the Detroit water system. Luckily I could afford it. There are many in the area who cannot. :(

[Oilwellian]

9. Welcome to the Republican world of privatization

Did you see that poor old woman's 9 month bill for over $2 thousand? Who, on a fixed income, could afford over $200 a month for water?

[madokie]

10. no words

[theHandpuppet]

12. The power company here just sent out a notice...

... that electric rates will increase by 11%. Just in time for winter! I don't know how some of my neighbors are going to make it. Property taxes have gone up, uitilities have gone up, food has gone up... the only thing that hasn't increased is their paychecks!

[Hobarticus]

13. That's well over $300 a month for water...

This is fair-market value for water?

Observe Reagan's beloved "invisible hand" choking the shit out of the lower and middle class. Trust the marketplace...

[donco6]

15. There's no way.

They must be charging them all for some infrastructure depreciation or something. I can't imagine these are homes with huge lawns and such. That's just robbery, plain and simple.

[donsu]

14. I'd look into who is buying up property in Highland Park (and their

connection to the water company CEOs)