The beleaguered city says a water shutoff is essential to recoup $89m in overdue bills. But the decision has outraged thousands of Detroiters – who have taken matters into their own hands.

When the coast is clear, and the trucks from the contractor shutting off water for the city of Detroit have rolled away, the men with water keys come. 

They offer residents whose supply has just been shut off a tempting deal. For $20, they will use their tools to turn the water main back on immediately, and illegally, sparing the household the agonising days spent without showering, cooking or flushing that have already been endured by at least 16,000 of their neighbours so far this year.

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It is only the most desperate action being taken in response to the beleaguered city's aggressive campaign to recoup $89m in overdue water bills by abruptly cutting the supplies of people behind on their payments. Amid growing anger, Detroit officials agreed in court on Monday to a two-week pause, to allow poor customers to come forward and show that they genuinely cannot afford to pay. But then the shutoffs will resume.

“You're going to do what you have to do to get water back on in your home,” said Valerie Blakely, a community organiser and mother of five whose overdue bill stands at more than $1,000. “As far as I'm concerned, what the city is doing is the illegal activity. You're not going to come and put us in a life-or-death situation and not have us act like we are fighting for our own survival.”

Some physically obstruct the contractors. Others leave cars parked over their mains at night. A guide circulating online instructs people how to lock the main back on and seal it in concrete. “If anyone from the city or water department asks what happened: the shutoff is outside your home,” it says. “Who knows what some radical did while you were asleep?”

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Though I am sympathetic to their problems, I also know they caused their own demise by continually voting in incompetent democrats. sure, the "white house"...see Hussein/Jarrett/Czars...are working on a tax payer $$$$$ number to send up to the give them what they water/sewer.  2 thirds of their water bill is one even knows that is the case. 20 dollars for water in a month....bill is 80 dollars when you include their sewer costs. Probably more than this. Same will happen for the "bail out" of the wasted $$ in the bankruptcy.....we all will pay for it.  Jarrett want us all to stop paying what we owe.....Communist government we now have will pay all our bills.....only one Democrat. 

Absolutely Mr. Sprague, there doing the exact same thing with the illegals coming across the border now, they think we don't know what's going on, but all it takes is one amnesty bill to be signed into law, then they start advertising that they were the ones that brought these people over, and they are required to vote Democrat, as far back as I can remember the Democratic Party has never been able to tell the truth, run an honest campaign, or stay out of trouble once they get in the White House, now with billionaires backing him up, George Soros to name one, and the liberal media, they got a good chance of keeping their lead in the Senate, this cannot stand, granted, I don't want Christie representing the Republican Party, or Bush, or Perry, and we need to continuously contact the Republican national committee and let them know we do not want these people representing the Republican Party!!!

Thanks!!  Only one thingy......THERE ARE NO DEMOCRATIC DEMOCRATS. You could call most of them today COMMUNISTS....not all...but most in DC...that would be more accurate. 

the repub party is in on it all the way with o.bonner is in o's back pocket so contacting them is a waist of time!TREY GOWDY IS OUR GUY WE NEED TO START A CAMPAIGN TO GET HIM TO RUN AND THEN EVERY TRUE RED BLOODED AMERICAN VOTE FOR HIM NO MATTER WHO THE REPUB PARTY PUTS UP!Hell they are trying to get romnbey to run again LOOSER!

100% Correct!  There are consequences for electing lying thieves and welfare minded politicians that handed out promises that the City couldn't deliver. The chickens are home and roosting! It's hard to believe that this can happen in the USA but corrupt and power hungry politicians that sucker the low income voters into believing their BS have brought this upon Detroit and other major cities will follow suit soon. Welfare and other handout programs are unsustainable. Jobs are the answer but politicians can't create jobs other than to make policies that enable the private sector to expand , instead of policies that create more handouts. The poor have been suckered and it's a shame but elections do have consequences. Too bad that this is the result. Now the voters see how little their heros really care about them by cutting off a  life  necessity like water, creating a dangerous and life treatening situation.

Yup you reap what you sow ! You elect the liberal snake you get bit !!!

I have to agree Christine.


Someone please tell me how in the hell can a city be responsible for it's citizens water bills ?

look the people have sold there votes to the Democratic party and now it's time to pay up good job Detroit keep voting Democrat and see what you loose next

Sadly, Cynthia is right. The water department has to at least break even or the city budget will suffer. Detroit city budget is already in trouble. Sorry, pony up or drill your own well.

Most of these folks are gaming the system hoping that they can get away with it by doing exactly what they are doing.  "It's in humane, yadda, yadda, yadda.   I have never known anybody in my life that hasn't paid their water bill.  Don't even tell me they do not have the money with all of the assistance they get.




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