Should city shut off water if you can't pay?

**Bill inGA** · 08-17-2008, 01:20 PM

And the answer is no!

There are some who say it should be free and paid for from property taxes!!! Stupid DUmmie!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com...812053#3812099

NNN0LHI (1000+ posts) Sun Aug-17-08 12:35 PM
Original message
Should city shut off water if you can't pay?
Advertisements [?]http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/1111232,CST-NWS-brow...

It's almost immoral to turn off the tap, says heat wave expert

August 17, 2008

BY MARK BROWN Sun-Times Columnist

When people don't pay their water bills, it stands to reason that the city should be able to shut off their water service, otherwise some customers would never bother paying.

Right?

I certainly never questioned that line of reasoning -- before I met Eric Klinenberg.

Klinenberg is an earnest young sociologist whose well-received book, Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago, dissected the shocking July 1995 weather calamity that left hundreds here dead.

While doing his research, Klinenberg came to believe there is something almost immoral about government shutting off somebody's water, in essence denying them one of the staffs of life.

demwing (1000+ posts) Sun Aug-17-08 12:45 PM
Response to Original message
5. Fundamental necessities should be paid for like schools
Edited on Sun Aug-17-08 01:00 PM by demwing
out of property taxes. And that revenue can be augmented by a metered fee for individuals who use those resources beyond a certain cap. Also, those who use the water for expansive yards, landscaping, and goldf courses, should pay a high premium to help underwrite the normal water reuirements of the rest of their community.

madeline_con (1000+ posts) Sun Aug-17-08 12:44 PM
Response to Original message
4. I agree. It's a basic concern to aid foundations in the 3rd world.
Providing safe water, I mean. However, there are many who would take advantage of that belief and never pay. The condemning of properties due to a lack of water to clean with is another problem. But the city would have that power, also. Kind of a catch 22 for the billed.

It could be "free" after a hike in property taxes. This might be considered by the ruminators.

Eyelids · 08-17-2008, 01:26 PM

I dont think you fully understand the scope of the '95 heat wave.

**LibraryLady** · 08-17-2008, 01:33 PM

blinky, you mean Chicago didn't create a wonderful free lake where all its happy residents could get water? I thought things were PERFECT there.

"When people have difficulty paying, we are eager to work with them, and we honor any good faith effort to work with us," said Water Department spokesman Tom LaPorte, who calls shut-offs a "last resort" and notes they are always preceded by a posted notice at least 10 days in advance.

"If a shut-off comes, it is not a surprise," he said.

Almost any place has emergency funding for utilities ( if you apply).

**SarasotaRepub** · 08-17-2008, 01:56 PM

Hmmmm...water service should be paid for by property taxes.

Sooooo what happens to renters? Ahhhh...the apartment owners property tax
will pay the water bill. And when the apartment owner jacks up the rent to cover
that expense what will the DUmmies say then???

**lacarnut** · 08-17-2008, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by Eyelids

I dont think you fully understand the scope of the '95 heat wave.

And you would know because you were barely out of diapers.

**LibraryLady** · 08-17-2008, 03:18 PM

Naturyl (1000+ posts)
Response to Original message
34. No. The necessities of life should NEVER be denied

For any reason.

Food, water, shelter, basic clothing, and basic medicine need to be entitlements to which no American citizen can lose access. After all, even incarcerated criminals are entitled to all of these things. Why not someone who simply can't make ends meet?

WinkyDink Donating Member (1000+ posts)
Response to Original message
20. THIS? Is why I think billionaires, and any system that allows them, are evil. EVIL. That they can

ALLOW such distress and hardship while being obscenely wealthy IS EVIL.

but then......

ProdigalJunkMail (1000+ posts)
Response to Original message
19. only if...

the debtor will not shut off their cell phones...cable/satellite...hi-speed internet...trips to the salon...nights out at the club... you get the drift... if you cannot pay for basics...heat/cool/water/food/basic shelter...it should be covered...but only when non-necessities are eliminated.