Detroit water shutoffs continue as city’s decline into third-world status accelerates
by: J. D. Heyes
NaturalNews.com
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
The decline and fall of the once-great city of Detroit is continuing apace, as city officials have been given the green light by a U.S. bankruptcy judge to continue shutting off water service to residents chronically behind on their bills.
Judge Steven Rhodes ruled recently that the city can continue the process of shutting off water to any non-paying customers, Reuters reported. Rhodes added that his court does not have any jurisdiction over the issue, and that suspending the shut-offs for a period of six months would contribute to further depleting the city’s finances.
“Detroit cannot afford any revenue slippages,” Rhodes said in advance of continuing his ongoing hearing regarding the city’s plan to finally exit the largest municipal bankruptcy in American history.
“As it prepares to show the court its plan is feasible… the last thing it needs is this hit to its revenues,” the judge said, according to Reuters. Rhodes further stated that there was a very strong correlation between the disconnections of water service and city officials’ ability to collect bills that are late.
Reuters reported further:
Detroit’s bankruptcy plan includes a $4.5 million water affordability fund and a cap on rate increases. It also creates a regional water authority, which Rhodes said could be put in jeopardy by a revenue drop from unpaid bills.
One-month moratorium saw dramatic drop in bill collections
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