Detroit Water Shut Off - Judge Rhodes, who is in charge of the shut off of water in Detroit cause, has refused today to stop it. There has been complaining, there have been people in the streets manifesting and even the UN has had a say in the matter, but the shut off stands strong.
The Detroit water shut off started in March and throughout August, where apparently 22,000 homes lost water and then 15,251 had then once again, according to the water department and noted by ABC News.
After that, a new payment plan was proposed and introduced, which consisted of a two-year plan in which there would be a 10% down of payment and it was designed especially for people who owed more than $150 dollars. Many people got enrolled but it's not nearly enough.
There are people who live in homes that include senior citizens and children who simply can't afford the water and that hasn't changed.
This point is part of what the UN had to say about the matter. In June 25th they even posted an article starting off in the first paragraph saying: "Disconnection of water services because of failure to pay due to lack of means constitutes a violation of the human rights to water and other international rights."
The main issue they analyze is that water is a right and a need. If a person can afford it but chooses not to, then there is a right from the government to do a shut off because it's not fair to the rest of the community. But if a person can't afford the water, then it shouldn't be cut off.
Rhodes in a way agreed to this when saying, "It cannot be doubted that water is a necessary ingredient to sustaining life, but that doesn't mean there is an enforceable right to free and affordable water."
The main concern for Judge Rhodes is that Detroit will fall into revenues if the water is provided for "free."
Until a new plan comes to hand and shows a complete answer to all the problems, it looks like Detroit shut offs will continue, with controversy or not.
