Posted on 09/22/2014 12:32:51 PM PDT by BradtotheBone
DETROIT (AP) — Detroit's water department defended its shutoff policy Monday and warned that free service to people with unpaid bills could be "very devastating" to the bottom line.
Judge Steven Rhodes set aside Detroit's bankruptcy trial to hear evidence in a controversy that has been boiling all summer. A coalition representing low-income residents is asking him to suspend water shutoffs and restore service to people who have lost it.
The water department would be violating Michigan law and breaking agreements with bond holders if forced to supply water and ignore overdue bills, attorney Sonal Mithani said.
The "humanitarian concerns are very compelling" but fairness is critical, too, Mithani said, noting that 60 percent of Detroit residents are paying for water on time.
Opponents essentially are arguing that "every resident has the inherent right to free water," she said.
The water department stepped up shutoffs in March, and about 15,000 customers had service cut from April to June. Criticism and protests followed, even appeals to the United Nations.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Easy solution.
Leave their water service turned on, but plug their sewer line.
“Opponents essentially are arguing that “every resident has the inherent right to free water,”
I had to deal with a water district years ago for my employer. The district manager told me “the water itself is free, but you have to pay us to deliver it to you.”
So they need to tell these deadbeats, yeah, the water is free, but if you don’t pay us for the delivery service, get a bucket and take a very long walk. We will even give you the directions to the our source. And of course, you will have to treat it yourself too.
Well there you have it. The water is free. What costs is the delivery system.
LOL
Maybe they can’t afford water, but look at how cheap the imports from China are. /s
Then it should be free for all! I will welcome free water!!!!!!
Right. They won’t get it though.
Hand them the map, buckets and even a one-time free Britta filter.
They will never fill it once.
As long as people don't live in California, they won't be charged for collecting rain water.
Paging Ayn Rand. Ayn Rand, white courtesy phone...
The guy actually seems proud that 60% of his customer base are paying for his services.
I can’t imagine another business that could operate on those terms.
Most water districts are a flak racket anyway. If the district can’t pay it’s over paid, underworked political hacks, what do I care?
WOW
If this works out for the leeches, maybe we should all try it. And try it with electricity, cable TV, phone bills, property taxes.... just don’t pay, and get some judge to say it is okay.
And their delivery system is a bucket and the nearest lake. Or use their EBT card to get water at their local 7/11
Solution: sell water at the local liquor store. Each purchase of liquor must be accompanied by an equal or greater purchase of water.
That’s the de facto way it has been for many years now. Since Detroit filed for bankruptcy all of those dirty little secrets are seeing the light of day instead of being shoved off into some dark corner.
CC
This is a prime example of the judiciary being controlled by the left. Why would it ever be in question that someone has to pay for services recieved?
“They will never fill it once.”
Just like here in CA in the 1950’s when the “Holder’s People” complained that the Mexican “guest workers” brought in under the “Bracero Program” were taking farm jobs that belonged to them as citizens. So the government stopped allowing Mexican Nationals come here legally to work in the fields, and guess what, not a single Black showed up to pick anything! Even 65 years ago, they were the same shiftless bunch who had become quickly addicted to welfare right after the defense plant jobs went away with the end to WWII.
Point Five: Every establishment, concern, corporation or person engaged in production of any nature whatsoever shall henceforth produce the same amount of goods per year as is, they or he produced during the Basic Year, no more or no less.
The judge is just carrying out what Rand foresaw 60 years ago.
Bada-bing! Winner!
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