[mobglob-discuss] FW: [G & H] MASSIVE WATER CUT-OFFS IN DETROIT

[Graeme Bacque]

-----Original Message-----
From: Sara Grusky [mailto:sgrusky at citizen.org]
Sent: Thursday, January 09, 2003 8:19 AM
To: globalizationandhealth at topica.com
Subject: [G & H] MASSIVE WATER CUT-OFFS IN DETROIT


ACTION ALERT!   ACTION ALERT!    ACTION ALERT!

Detroit Residents Cut-off from Heat, Water and Lights!
DTE Energy and Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) show greed
-- no holiday spirit.

Please call or fax the Chief Executive Officer of DTE Energy, and the
Mayor of Detroit to demand a moratorium on the cut-offs. (See contact
information below)

Background: In the last several months thousands of Detroit residents
have had their utilities cut!  Hundreds have marched in front of the DTE
Energy building demanding a moratorium on the cut-offs.  More marches
are planned in January.

Seniors, those with disabilities, women with young children, ex-welfare
recipients and many others struggling for their livelihoods face the
lack of heat, water and lights. "The average salary is less than $7.50
an hour," said MaureenTaylor of the Michigan Welfare Rights
Organization.  "You can be working fulltime and you're still poor.  I
get 20 to 30 calls a day from seniors, women and single men, and from
those disabled physically and emotionally [whose utilities are being
shut off]."

While many Detroit residents are facing the holidays without adequate
heat or water, the CEO of DTE Energy, Anthony F. Earley, Jr., sits warm
and cozy having earned more than $3.3 million in salary, cash bonus,
cash stock awards, stock inventory payouts and other cash compensation
in the last year alone.

The new director of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD),
Victor Mercado, introduced an aggressive plan of debt collection with
subsequent disconnection of services if residents are unable to pay the
charges.  Michigan Citizen News Service reported that DWSD workers
cemented the areas around the shut-off valves to prevent residents from
turning their water back on.

In November, the same month that DWSD decided to cement shut the water
valves, the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights adopted a new amendment on water stating that: "The human right
to drinking water is fundamental for life and health. Sufficient and
safe drinking water is a precondition for the realization of all human
rights."  The new "aggressive" debt collection policies of DWSD defy
United Nations standards. Detroit water rates rose 15 percent in 2002.

Making matters worse, the Family Independence Agency recently
discontinued a program where a small percentage of grants were paid
directly to recipients' utility charges. This has increased the
vulnerability of low-income families who rely on such grants. And,
former welfare recipients are receiving bills from the utilities
demanding payment in full for arrears due to DTE Energy that accumulated
during the time the client's bills should have been covered by the
Welfare Department.

President Bush stands poised to exacerbate the crisis with his refusal
to release $300 million in emergency federal funds to assist low-income
consumers to pay their heating bills.

Figures cited by the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization state that
9,800 Detroit residents lacked gas and electricity (as of August 1,
2002).  20,000 residents were on probation and threatened with cut-offs.
 According to DWSD, between July 1, 2001 and June 30, 2002 there have
been 40,752 water cut-offs in the Detroit area. The DWSD reported they
have cut-off the water of 4,523 residences during the last 79 business
days.

Call the CEO of DTE Energy and the Mayor of Detroit today and demand a
moratorium NOW on the heat, water, and electricity cut-offs.  STOP THE
CUT-OFFS.  Restore heat and water to everyone!  Access to heat and water
is a human right!  Demand more state, federal and city funds to provide
relief to low-income families.

DTE Energy, Chief Executive Officer
Anthony F. Earley, Jr.
Phone:  313 235-4000 (stay on the line through the recording and then
you will get a real person.  Ask for Mr. Anthony F. Earley.  It is
likely that you will then be directed to his assistant, Bernadette
Wilson.)

Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave, Ste 1126
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: 313 224-3450
Fax: 313 224-4128

Also, Michigan residents call your U.S. Congressional representatives
and demand increased funds for energy assistance to low-income people.
Demand funds for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
 Bush has failed to release $300 million in emergency funds for LIHEAP.

U.S. Senator Carl Levin
477 Michigan Avenue, Suite 1860
Detroit, MI 48226-2594
(313) 226-6020

U.S. Senator Debbie A. Stabenow
243 W.Congress, Suite 550
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 961-4330

U.S. Representative John Conyers, Jr
669 Federal Building
231 W. Lafayette
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 961-5670

U.S. Representative Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
1274 Library, Suite 1-B
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 965-9004


Sara Grusky
International Water Working Group
Water for All Campaign
Public Citizen
Phone: (202) 454-5133
Website: www.citizen.org/cmep/water

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