Detroit Greens a local of the Green Party of Michigan

DEMONSTRATION at the Detroit Water Board right before their meeting
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1 p.m.-2 p.m.
735 Randolph St. (between Fort and Lafayette)

Detroit, MI – The People’s Water Board Coalition hosted a demonstration outside of Detroit’s Water Department building today. “We are surrounded by 20 percent of the World’s fresh surface water supply, yet we continue to see water rates increase, water shutoffs in homes, and pollution impacting our drinking water quality. This needs to come to an end,” explained Melissa Damaschke with Sierra Club.

The People’s Water Board Coalition formed last year and presented a number of concerns at November’s Detroit Water Board of Commissioners meeting. Ann Grimmett with Michigan Welfare Rights Organization explained, “We still haven’t received any response from the Detroit Water Board. This is unacceptable. As a Coalition, we plan to host a demonstration before every Water Board meeting until the Water Board implements the following:

* Moratorium on water shut-offs
* Full implementation of the original Water Affordability Plan
* Televise Water Board Meetings
* Publish meeting agendas and minutes on website (minutes need to include: number of shutoffs, pending shutoffs, volume of combined sewage overflow, water main breaks, contracts, illicit connections or illegal dumping occurrences that were found and penalized)
* Stop conservation penalization through rate hikes
* Stop outsourcing city jobs
* Involve the public in creating demonstration projects that engage and educate the community on how to protect and save water (i.e. rain barrels, rain gardens, green roofs, community workshops, etc.), and
* Provide a public update on the Federal Consent Judgment.”

Coalition members include AFSCME Local 207, Detroit Black Community Food Security Network, Detroit Green Party, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Matrix Theatre, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice, MI Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO), Rosa Parks Institute, and Sierra Club.

The mission of the People’s Water Board is: “Water is life. The People’s Water Board advocates for access, protection, and conservation of water. We believe water is a human right and all people should have access to clean and affordable water. Water is a commons that should be held in the public trust free of privatization. The People’s Water Board promotes awareness of the interconnectedness of all people and resources.”

Melissa Damaschke – Sierra Club, (248) 990-1688

Ann Grimmett - MWRO, (313) 221-3882