Karen Weaver's Fight for Clean Water November 2017 | Page 5

11-POINT PLAN FOR WATER AFFORDABILITY
When asked how the public health issue of water affordability could be improved
he had 11 ideas:
1. Corporations need to pay their water bills.
2. The 83/17 cost allocation needs to be changed to 50/50 or completely
eliminated.
3. Improve infrastructure and eliminate leaking pipes. Paying for water leaks
shouldn’t exist. When buildings are torn down, the leaks need to be fixed then
rather than months later.
4. Solve storm drainage issues to stop overflows and floods.
5. Work with non-profits and the ecumenical community to make sure people can
pay their bills.
6. Get serious about redlining in Detroit. Refusing insurance to someone because
of where they live, their credit, their sex, their occupation or whether they are a
property owner needs to stop.
7. Fertilize the “Educational deserts” which have been created, with population
decline and decreasing revenues.
8. “We need to put Detroiters back to work”. Billions of dollars put into
downtown and Detroiters are not working those jobs. New projects need to have
a legally binding mandate to put Detroit people to work, and sue if they don’t.
9. Raise minimum wage to $15 an hour. It’s proven that working people
stimulate the economy, not t rickle down economics.
10. Explore ways to keep people healthy. Detroit’s infant mortality rates and
issues with other health concerns are serious.
11. Be inclusive and transparent. Detroit isn’t just for one group of people, we
can create a Detroit that is a great place for everyone to feel welcome, again.