In March, the city of Flint issued shutoff notices to about 31 residents who owed between $2,000 and $5,600 in water bills. This week, the city threatened to terminate water services for more than 8,000 people who haven’t paid their bill in over six months. The city has said it will place tax liens against people’s homes (or throw thousands of people into foreclosure) if they don’t pay by May 19.
This is happening because Flint is no longer receiving financial assistance from the state to help pay its water bills. Thus, city officials are transferring costs to residents.
See an example of a resident's bill below:
I find this very unfair to ask people to pay for a service that is still dangerous to their health. While officials claim the amount of lead is at the minimum level to put off state subsidy, the debt that was accumulated should be not be covered by residents.
Is this matter being handled the right way? Should Gov. Snyder be doing more for the residents? Thoughts?
Full article here: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/5/4/15529346/flint-michigan-water-bill
Wow! I don't believe they should have to pay for a service they are not even using, especially since in this case, using the service could cause them harm. I'm guessing they are being made to pay this bill based on the contract they signed. Water providers are still technically providing water, even if it is still toxic. Perhaps provision was their only obligation, and not quality.
ReplyDeleteThe state should definitely be doing more. There might even be an argument for the feds stepping in on this one. This incident was an example of Americans being stripped of a basic human need (clean water). Something I believe they should be able to rely on their government to provide.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I am not sure what kind of power the city/county itself has in a situation like this.
It is ridiculous. I agree with Chido that Flint people are being made to pay this bill based on the contract they signed, yet still it is so ridiculous making these people paying for the toxic water. I don't know how the local government could handle this, since they almost have done nothing.
ReplyDeleteThis is so sad...and ridiculous too! It's interesting that they would threaten to cut off water that people are actually better off not having.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this is utterly ridiculous. The people in Flint have constantly been going through these problems and it is sad to see that they have to pay the water bill that poisoned them in the past.
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