Oh FFS: Detroit activists call for UN help as city shuts off water for thousands

[TFOGGER]

Detroit has too much of some things – stray dogs (http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/22/stray-dogs-becomevictimofdetroitseconomicwoes.html), abandoned houses (http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/2/3/how-do-you-decidewhattobulldozeindetroit.html) – and not enough of others, such as residents who pay their water bills.
The latest sign of Detroit’s decline came from the city’s water department, when it said in March it would begin shutting off water for up to 3,000 homes and businesses a week in an attempt to stop the utility from sliding even further into debt.
The announcement sparked outrage among activists groups, who say the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) is going after the city’s most vulnerable citizens to shore up its bottom line.
Now those groups have called on the United Nations to intervene. In a letter sent to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation (http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/WaterAndSanitation/SRWater/Pages/SRWaterIndex.aspx) last week, local nonprofit Detroit People’s Water Board, Food and Water Watch and Canada-based Blue Planet Project pleaded for the world body to weigh in on the shut-offs.
"What we see is a violation of the human right to water," said Meera Karunananthan, an international campaigner with the Blue Planet Project. "The U.S. has international obligations in terms of people’s right to water, and this is a blatant violation of that right. We’re hoping the U.N. will put pressure on the federal government and the state of Michigan to do something about it."


Wow...the FSA is appealing to the UN...[facepalm]

[vossman]

Sounds like a good plan to me.

[merl]

Fine, the UN can pay their water bills.

[Great-Kazoo]

Fine, the UN can pay their water bills.

With what, KRONY Bucks ?

[merl]

With what, KRONY Bucks ?

Maybe the UN can come put in a public well in the center of Detroit. The people petitioning can spend 6 hours a day waiting in line to use it.

[Great-Kazoo]

Maybe the UN can come put in a public well in the center of Detroit. The people petitioning can spend 6 hours a day waiting in line to use it.

I like the way you think.


#thirstyface
46469

[Bailey Guns]

"most vulnerable citizens"...liberal-speak for deadbeats who don't pay their bills. "...a violation of the human right to water." Really?

[Bailey Guns]

I like the way you think.


#thirstyface
46469

That pup has an animal right to an ice cold beer. Fetch, Kazoo. Good boy!

[cstone]

Visit Detroit...See the future!

I don't expect the Canadians will be sending any humanitarian relief or peace keepers to Detroit any time soon.

http://www.canadians.org/blogs/meera-karunananthan

[BPTactical]

My SIL lives in a Detroit suburb, River Rouge. About six years ago she called my wife crying and whining that their power was about to be shut off. The wife asks her how much they owed.
$7,000!
She then asked her how long it had been since they paid anything.
5 years!
WTF?
How do you go for 5 years and not pay your electric bill?

I think this plea tells us what the population of Detroit is, a slew of immigrants that came from whatever shithole and the UN was the only source of government.



But if the UN responds to this it sets a very scary precedent. How long until a law enforcement agency pleas for their help collecting firearms?

[Irving]

But if the UN responds to this it sets a very scary precedent. How long until a law enforcement agency pleas for their help collecting firearms?

Ummm, four days ago?

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/134081-UN-hiring-for-Disarmament-Officers-in-NY?highlight=Hiring

[BPTactical]

Ummm, four days ago?

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/134081-UN-hiring-for-Disarmament-Officers-in-NY?highlight=Hiring

I know Stu, the same thought went through my mind.

[Irving]

Oh, I missed your tone. Carry on.

[Dave]

Sad part is how much they charge those who can pay their bills because of this. They've let so many go for so long without paying they jack up the rates on those who do pay. Now they are running out of people that can or will pay. Some have seen their neighbors get months behind but still have the same water flowing as they do, so they figure why keep subsidizing other people's water?

[Great-Kazoo]

Sad part is how much they charge those who can pay their bills because of this. They've let so many go for so long without paying they jack up the rates on those who do pay. Now they are running out of people that can or will pay. Some have seen their neighbors get months behind but still have the same water flowing as they do, so they figure why keep subsidizing other people's water?

That's the progressive redistribution of wealth program. Once the well runs dry, so to speak, they tap in to what ever source of supply they can.
IF YOU LIKE YOUR WATER, YOU CAN KEEP IT. Just pay a little more each time you use it.

When the cities are in flame, they'll migrate to more accommodating pasture. Each time the plea of we need to do something will rally the downtrodden and less fortunate. Same shit they are doing down rio grande way with them "kids"

We don't have a line in the sand up this a way. We have a trench , with rebar.

[Bailey Guns]

Detroit...progressive liberalism in action. Ain't it great?

[merl]

Sad part is how much they charge those who can pay their bills because of this. They've let so many go for so long without paying they jack up the rates on those who do pay. Now they are running out of people that can or will pay. Some have seen their neighbors get months behind but still have the same water flowing as they do, so they figure why keep subsidizing other people's water?

This is true but there is more to it in the case of Detroit. Detroit is a huge sprawling city with large vacant sections. The pipes all have to be maintained over that huge area so just the monthly connection fee is going to be high. It may well be the case that people cannot afford to pay the base fee before any per gallon is tacked on. Of course that means that those people need to find a roommate to help with the cost (or any of many other things), not stop paying the bill.

[GilpinGuy]

She then asked her how long it had been since they paid anything.
5 years!
WTF?
How do you go for 5 years and not pay your electric bill?


I accidentally missed a power payment (United Power). They sent me an email saying pay by XXX day or we WILL shut off your power. I had 2 WEEKS to pay it but paid it immediately, of course. 5 years? [facepalm]

[Aloha_Shooter]

Funny how certain liberal members seem to be avoiding this thread ...

[Coffee]

[Bailey Guns]

Funny how certain liberal members seem to be avoiding this thread ...

[Coffee]

Fine with me. Less chance I'll get pissed off. I can't even stand to read the "sheriff's lawsuit" turned "abortion" thread. We have a lot more members that tend to lean to the left, especially on social and economic issues, than I think would admit to it. But it's glaringly obvious.

[Great-Kazoo]

Funny how certain liberal members seem to be avoiding this thread ...

[Coffee]

They haven't figured out how to spin FACT, in to name calling........................................... .............................YET.
Detroit is the pinnacle of Democratic, Liberal failure. D controlled .gov for decades, D entitlement policies, 1 after the other. The result, a wasteland for a city. Fortunately for them, the media machine ignores detroit too. Or the emperor would realize he has no clothes.

To quote Baghdad Bob. There are NO American Troops in Iraq.

[roberth]

Funny how certain liberal members seem to be avoiding this thread ...

[Coffee]

Ain't it. :)

It is one thing to advocate for the events the led to the downfall of Detroit, to accept responsibility for those events is a different thing apparently.

[hatidua]

My SIL lives in a Detroit suburb, River Rouge. About six years ago she called my wife crying and whining that their power was about to be shut off. The wife asks her how much they owed.
$7,000!
She then asked her how long it had been since they paid anything.
5 years!

[Shock]