Water Shut-off Protest Marches Through Downtown Detroit [Pics]

[Lowell]

A demonstration protesting aggressive delinquent water shut-offs by the cash-strapped City of Detroit that has left many of the city's poor without water filed through the streets of Detroit. The protest ended up in Hart Plaza.

Bolstered by attendees of the ongoing NetRoots Nation Convention the crowd of around 2,000 protesters make their way down Larned toward Woodward.


Protesters streams past the Spirit of Detroit statue in front of the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center in downtown Detroit.


...and past the controversial Joe Louis Fist Sculpture.


...to rally in Hart Plaza.












Democracy and protests - A Detroit Tradition.

[Honky Tonk]

A demonstration protesting aggressive delinquent water shut-offs by the cash-strapped City of Detroit that has left many of the city's poor without water filed through the streets of Detroit. The protest ended up in Hart Plaza.

Bolstered by attendees of the ongoing NetRoots Nation Convention the crowd of around 2,000 protesters make their way down Larned toward Woodward.

Was there a collection bucket @ the end where people could donate to make up the $180 mil deficit? They should have kept marching down to Hart Plaza, plenty of free water @ the River's edge.

[sumas]

Just saying!!! A Jefferson vacant business property is just gushing water. So please excoriate citizens for not paying bills and ignore obvious waste due to negligence on the city's part.

Saw that a neighbor on the next block got shut off . Pompous stuff, they blocked the street even.

[jt1]

Interesting: Detroit is about 80-85% black but a quick glance at the pics looks like the protesters were about 80-85% white.

[Bham1982]

Interesting: Detroit is about 80-85% black but a quick glance at the pics looks like the protesters were about 80-85% white.

Probably clueless "progressives" from the burbs who think this is an issue of economic injustice rather than one of moochers and deadbeats.

[Vic01]

Interesting: Detroit is about 80-85% black but a quick glance at the pics looks like the protesters were about 80-85% white.

This might explain it; I noticed the OP said the march was "Bolstered by attendees of the ongoing NetRoots Nation Convention..." I wasn't sure who they were, so I hit the link and read this on their site -

The big picture: We amplify progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Through our annual convention and other events, we strengthen the community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.
The big event: The ninth annual gathering of the Netroots will be held July 17–20 in Detroit, MI. Netroots Nation 2014 will include 80 panels, 40 training sessions, inspiring keynotes, film screenings and other engaging sessions designed to educate, stimulate and inspire the nation’s next generation of progressive leaders.
Each year, thousands of bloggers, newsmakers, social justice advocates, labor and organizational leaders, grassroots organizers and online activists come together to make new connections, hone their organizing skills, share best practices and build stronger relationships with others working on the issues they care most about. And each year, some of the brightest minds in progressive politics come to Netroots Nation to speak with—and hear from—our community.

Past conferences have featured a Presidential Leadership Forum that drew seven Democratic candidates including then-Senator Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton; a surprise visit from Al Gore; interactive Q&A sessions with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid; an appearance by President Bill Clinton; and a chance to hear from three Nobel laureates. As The New York Times said, Netroots Nation is “becoming as much a part of the Democratic political circuit as the Iowa State Fair.”
Think of it as a giant family reunion for the left. And while we’re this country’s largest progressive gathering, we’re also expanding overseas. We held the first Netroots UK in 2011 and the first Netroots Sweden in 2012. A second Netroots UK was held in June 2012.

[Vic01]

Also, I question the 2000+ protesters number. The 11am news said between 100-200 people... and then out of the blue another 2000 show up?! I don't buy it for a second. Look closely at the pics and TV reports and you'll see quite a bit of concrete in between the people. 2000+ bodies in a mass protest [[even a peaceful march) equals not much concrete visible. But I guess "Thousands came out to protest..." makes for better news instead of "100-200 people marched..."

[mwilbert]

Also, I question the 2000+ protesters number. The 11am news said between 100-200 people... and then out of the blue another 2000 show up?! I don't buy it for a second. Look closely at the pics and TV reports and you'll see quite a bit of concrete in between the people. 2000+ bodies in a mass protest [[even a peaceful march) equals not much concrete visible. But I guess "Thousands came out to protest..." makes for better news instead of "100-200 people marched..."

I don't know how many people were there, but if you look at the first picture in this thread, there are far more than 200 people in that picture.

[Zacha341]

Distortions of numbers is common for that kind of thing. It's 20 or 2,000 depending on the agenda desired...

"Thousands came out to protest..." makes for better news instead of "100-200 people marched..."

[Zacha341]

Nah, more like 65% white from my estimation... Perhaps some members of BAMN! Jokes aside I am certain many people outside of Detroit feel strongly about this situation.

Interesting: Detroit is about 80-85% black but a quick glance at the pics looks like the protesters were about 80-85% white.

[Danny]

Interesting: Detroit is about 80-85% black but a quick glance at the pics looks like the protesters were about 80-85% white.

because they march for poor black and white Detroiters for free lunch. Keep your eyes on the prize.

[248lurker]

Just saying!!! A Jefferson vacant business property is just gushing water. So please excoriate citizens for not paying bills and ignore obvious waste due to negligence on the city's part.

Both need to be addressed promptly.

Back in 2007, there was a water main leak at Livernois & Buena Vista. Even though I called DWSD about it at the beginning of the summer, the leak was still gushing a couple of months later in August. The only change: a barricade on the sidewalk -- 10 to 15 feet away from the actual leak.

My general thoughts on the issues at hand:

- Water main leaks should be fixed promptly.
- Those who can pay their water bills, but choose not to, should be subject to collection.
- Those with true financial hardship should contact DWSD to make some sort of payment arrangement. I can't speak for the present, but in years past, many utilities would encourage customers to call them if they couldn't pay their bills to avoid shutoffs. It's easier to address a $100 past due bill than to wait until it's ballooned beyond that and now subject to collection/shutoff.

[Wesley Mouch]

I must really be as dumb as some think. Can't understand at all this issue.

There's plenty of water all around. We can say the river, sarcastically, but certainly at every church on every corner. Every community center. There's just nobody here who is deprived of necessary water for life.

What's being debated is whether some people should get free water delivered to their residence.

I think the protesters are just unhappy people who feel better when they have someone to pity. Their self-worth is improved if they fight for rights.

I just don't get it, it seems.

[DetroiterOnTheWestCoast]

Just saying!!! A Jefferson vacant business property is just gushing water. So please excoriate citizens for not paying bills and ignore obvious waste due to negligence on the city's part.

Saw that a neighbor on the next block got shut off . Pompous stuff, they blocked the street even.

Have you called the water department about this? I saw on the DWSD website that they have introduced a smartphone app to report things such as this.

[sumas]

Have you called the water department about this? I saw on the DWSD website that they have introduced a smartphone app to report things such as this.

Odd... I responded to your comment but it doesn't show. My comment was of course I reported it.

[Scottathew]

Just saying!!! A Jefferson vacant business property is just gushing water. So please excoriate citizens for not paying bills and ignore obvious waste due to negligence on the city's part.

Saw that a neighbor on the next block got shut off . Pompous stuff, they blocked the street even.

It's weird that those things don't just fix themselves. Doesn't the building know that water is a right? Therefore it should just fix itself!

Problem solved!

[cla1945]

I heard that people are leaving their homes because they didn't pay their water bill. Where do they think they will go that won't require them to pay for water? They say water is a human right...well, so is shelter, heat, food, the basics of life to stay alive. Maybe the gas company is next on the list of companies that people will picket, demanding free service because heat is a human right. Or maybe Consumers Energy, because after all, electricity should be a human right, too.

When you don't pay your bills, the creditors come calling. Don't pay for your mortgage, the bank forecloses; don't pay for your car, it gets repossessed. Because of the "lax" enforcement by the City of Detroit, many people have perpetuated this problem for years, but the money is still owed. It's all about complacency, irresponsibility, and priorities.

I am so sick of these whiners trying to place their responsibilities on other peoples shoulders because the ones who scrimp and save to pay their bills will be the ones who ultimately end up paying for these irresponsible people. I understand that some people just can't pay and need help and they should make the effort to get it. But I also understand that many many people pay for their smartphones, their cable service and the things they deem important. It's high time that people take responsibility for themselves instead of always blaming someone else for their misfortunes.

[Zacha341]

I think the human rights issue has become twisted into a responsibility issue here, but not just from the users of the utility. Don't pay most of your bills and consequences are swift: cable will go off, car will vanish eventually, heat goes off, etc. Yet the water company did NOTHING for years. And we now have the days we have: PAY DAY NOW!

I agree, the 'rights' emphasis of the protest is sending the wrong message to some. Some of the same folks who have their priorities distorted may use the 'rights' focus as justification to continue in that.

HOWEVER, the water department ALSO needs to get it's priorities together. How do you run a public utility at such a loss, allow arrearages such as this? No name on the bills, confusion as to who pays in the rent context, variations of bills that in some case question actual use, etc.

Some of those protest placards should heave read "REFORM DWSD BILLING!". The 'rights' issue while emotive, and therefore a position many feel passionate about [[which is why the protestors blend is so diverse) does not full address to the problems in paying and billing.

If this is not carefully resolved with a long term sustainable solution we're looking at another run of uninhabitable, abandoned property and ruin here in the Detroit. Winter is coming.

I heard that people are leaving their homes because they didn't pay their water bill. Where do they think they will go that won't require them to pay for water? They say water is a human right...well, so is shelter, heat, food, the basics of life to stay alive. Maybe the gas company is next on the list of companies that people will picket, demanding free service because heat is a human right. Or maybe Consumers Energy, because after all, electricity should be a human right, too.

When you don't pay your bills, the creditors come calling. Don't pay for your mortgage, the bank forecloses; don't pay for your car, it gets repossessed. Because of the "lax" enforcement by the City of Detroit, many people have perpetuated this problem for years, but the money is still owed. It's all about complacency, irresponsibility, and priorities.

[mkhopper]

I understand that some people just can't pay and need help and they should make the effort to get it. But I also understand that many many people pay for their smartphones, their cable service and the things they deem important. It's high time that people take responsibility for themselves instead of always blaming someone else for their misfortunes.

Just starting tying the water bill to the smartphone bill. I bet you see this problem go away in a hurry.

[sumas]

The news reported this morning that DWSD announced there is a 15 day moratorium on shut offs. There is a fund to help the truly needy and they want to get that news out. Certainly people who can should pay.

[Vic01]

The news reported this morning that DWSD announced there is a 15 day moratorium on shut offs. There is a fund to help the truly needy and they want to get that news out. Certainly people who can should pay.

here's a link -
http://www.freep.com/article/20140721/NEWS01/307210102/Detroit-water-shutoffs-lawsuit

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is suspending its water shutoffs for 15 days starting today to give residents another chance to prove they are unable to pay their bills.
“In case we have missed someone who has legitimate affordability problems this will allow them to come to us to see if they can work out payments,” department spokesman Bill Johnson said. “We’ve always maintained that what we were doing was a collection effort — not a shutoff effort.”

[Danny]

I heard that people are leaving their homes because they didn't pay their water bill. Where do they think they will go that won't require them to pay for water? They say water is a human right...well, so is shelter, heat, food, the basics of life to stay alive. Maybe the gas company is next on the list of companies that people will picket, demanding free service because heat is a human right. Or maybe Consumers Energy, because after all, electricity should be a human right, too.

When you don't pay your bills, the creditors come calling. Don't pay for your mortgage, the bank forecloses; don't pay for your car, it gets repossessed. Because of the "lax" enforcement by the City of Detroit, many people have perpetuated this problem for years, but the money is still owed. It's all about complacency, irresponsibility, and priorities.

I am so sick of these whiners trying to place their responsibilities on other peoples shoulders because the ones who scrimp and save to pay their bills will be the ones who ultimately end up paying for these irresponsible people. I understand that some people just can't pay and need help and they should make the effort to get it. But I also understand that many many people pay for their smartphones, their cable service and the things they deem important. It's high time that people take responsibility for themselves instead of always blaming someone else for their misfortunes.

I agree with you. In America, you get free-dom, but no free lunch. There is no word 'free lunch' in the U.S. Constitution.

[Scottathew]

I pay for the things that I need and want, in that order.

If DWSD isn't allowed to shut off freeloaders, then there is no reason to pay.

[Zacha341]

BINGO. This is why a percentage of folks became accustom to not paying. BUT, DWSD WAS COMPLICIT IN THIS AS THEY DID NOTHING... until now! We don't see Comcast commiting mass shutoffs after months or 'years' of unpaid services, do we? Nope. They've never allowed no payment for services. No pay over a month, no cable.

I pay for the things that I need and want, in that order.

If DWSD isn't allowed to shut off freeloaders, then there is no reason to pay.

[Wesley Mouch]

BINGO. This is why a percentage of folks became accustom to not paying. BUT, DWSD WAS COMPLICIT IN THIS AS THEY DID NOTHING... until now! We don't see Comcast do mass shutoffs for months or 'years' of unpaid services. Nope. They've never allowed it. No pay over a month, no cable.

DWSD just did what was askied of them.

Comcast? They operate like a business.

DWDS? Worried about Detroit Residency. Making political patronage jobs. Run by the inmate in between Horseshoeing work.

If we want an efficient operation, let's demand that -- and stop sweating union-created work rules, residency, friends & family hiring.

Until now, we've preferred that later.