I like to start off with. I am a resident of city, Detroit, northwest side. I worked for the Detroit Water Institute for 34 years. In fact, during the 34 years I worked for them, I paid into a system that they was using a water rate to help pay for my pension. But yet, my pension was cut. I was wanting to do the Great Lakes wild authority and DWSD. Should they be given back money to the Detroit residents for the money that was taken off to help pay for my pension that was cut also separately part of my duties as I started as a help, I ended up managing the wastewater treatment plant I used to do a director's report that went downtown to the director four days a week. I was off on Sundays and months that, you know, gave a status of equipment. It appears to me that we're not getting proper information for the city of Detroit as it relates to the availability of our equipment, of the stuff that we are still supposed to own, and that y'all, in my personal opinion, are not managing very well, also in so much that I my pensions was cut, and I haven't had an increase. You know, in fact, I have a 33% loss of purchasing power over the last 11 years. But yet I want to go up on my water and sewage. I think, you know, if y'all want to grow up on the rates, y'all should be giving back money to all the money that many you know, retirees paid into the system but have not received off. I think the system needs to be broken apart, because the city Detroit is not benefiting from this. You know, the city of Detroit is, you know, operating as a deficit, because the amount you got paid for the least is insufficient. You know, this whole thing was a fake bankruptcy. Suburbanites, mostly white people, instill our assets, and it still looks to me like y'all still stealing our assets and taking advantage of the city of Detroit, you know. So I think this whole thing needs to be revisited. And you know, a possible 10% rate increase for people that have not had an increase in our pension in over 10 years is unbelievable. Y'all should be on federal court. Thank you.
Thank you. Next up we're going to try a second time for Mr. Miko Williams, oh, he's in the room. Okay, we'll get you when we get to the people in the room, we're going to do those that are there. Thank you for letting me know you're here. Next up will be Rochelle Stewart,
okay, good afternoon. My name is Rochelle Stewart, and I'm a resident of Detroit 67 years. First of all, I want to start off by saying that 35% of Detroit residents, that's 200% poverty level, and 45% of the children, that's probably level. I do not see any reason for this increase. We have an increase in increase over these years to the point that nobody can afford this war. It's a dog on chain. People have to stop taking baths doing certain things in order to pay a water bill, which is the water is free. It's sitting out in the river. You have to sanitize and clean it for us to have it and take it back out, take the students and stuff out. But it's ridiculous, the prices that you are charging. I can't believe that we even gave you the authority to have a Great Lakes Water Authority to do the residents and the people that's under your guidance the way you're doing. Number one, this increase, we're already paying these high price and more than last year, the residents that are under this authority already are financially strict with housing, utilities, gas, etc, and they do not need any more financially burden to where they would have to pick up and choose between paying a water bill or not having enough food or not even having gas or money to ride a bus. I employ you this Great Lakes Water Authority. Stop doing these increases on these residents, on people who are already financially stressed. We are under a new administration, this federal government that is getting ready to strap up of a lot of things, and here you are trying to stop us again. Please listen to these people stop over charging us and do what you know you need to do, because I'm quite sure every last one of y'all sitting on that board, let's get you paid off very good salad, and the people that you're charging is not getting that same salad. So please take that hand before you sign that paperwork to increase our water bills to the point that we won't even have water. I need to take a bath every day. Like I said. I'm 67 years old, and I am on a very limited budget, and I am one of those 200% at the property level. Think about what you're doing. Wait before you do it and I thank you and have a blessed day.
Your comments pertain to the budget, so with your permission, we'll move them to that public hearing. You won't have a need to repeat Thank you. Next up is Tommy airy,
yeah, this is Tommy area. I'm moved to Detroit in 2014 I live in the Woodbridge neighborhood. And yeah, I'm just, I'm calling in, like all these other residents lined up in the queue to say the exact same thing. If, if you believe in love, compassion, truth, justice. You would not even dream of raising these rates. In fact, you would lower the rates so that water would be affordable. In fact, free for every resident of the city. Now is not the time to be raising rates and this absolute political disaster. Thank you. Thank
you. And again, your comments pertain to the budget, so we will move those to the public hearing on the budget. Next up is Uriah Sharif. Ms Sharif,
yes, I am Nair Sharif. I am a Flint resident and also the director of a nonprofit appear that deals with drinking water policy called Flint rising one. First of all, we ain't got it. We ain't got the money to be paying for these rate increases, and we don't know how you plan on using the money. A double digit salary increase is unconscionable, especially when you know folks are out here suffering, and then I want to just kind of pull on that and just talk about, like, a lot of times, people who do work, they want to talk about the beloved community. They want to talk about being their brothers keeper, especially people who are, you know, religious like, what does that look like in practice? What does that look like in policy and in this moment, I would suggest, if you feel like you're part of a beloved community, and you feel like you are your brother's keeper, why would you be out here make the folks suffering by doing rate increases, which those are, you know, like under this umbrella progressive taxation anyway, and that shouldn't be anything that you should be, you know, doing, and I would say, as someone who had organized experience, and, you know, still living under the throes of the Flint water crisis, which was like unconscionable water increases. You are really destabilizing neighborhoods with your practice and this proposed rate increase, which should not even be happening, you know, because you're not investing the money in the way that it should be investing, and you should be doing investments really benefiting neighborhoods instead of economic development and corporations, and stop subsidizing the corporations. And that's where the rate increase needs to be at to the corporations and not to residents. Thank you.
Thank you. And again, your comments pertaining to the budget, so with your permission, we'll move them to that public hearing. Next up is Cecily McClellan, you have three minutes to address the board.
Yes. Thank you very much again. My name is Cecily McClellan. I am a lifelong resident of City of Detroit over 70 years. I'm also a retiree of the city of Detroit, and I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Davis. I am also one of those persons that experience a stagnation in income because we do not get a cost of living increase as a result of the bankruptcy. So we as retirees can ill afford these constant increases in water rates. Detroit has some of the highest water rates in the country. I mean, the University of Michigan study indicated that the state of Michigan water rates increased by 188% while the city of Detroit increased by 285% the residents, we have over 60,000 residents that are eligible for assistance with their water bill. This type of increase will cause too much pain for too many residents in the city of Detroit, the city of Detroit, in my opinion, and has been any. Indicated did not receive the best benefit in the bankruptcy, the agreement to pay 50 million, and Detroiters are paying 17 million out of that 50 million is unfair and unjust. I think that Glee law should be able to take care of the infrastructure of the city of Detroit and the infrastructure of the suburbs with the amount of revenue that's being generated by the ratepayers, there's no reason to have an increase in the cost of water to the citizens of the city of Detroit. The City of Detroit residents have always been paying a retail rate, even when we were not up under Lee while we paid a retail rate when we totally had control and ownership of the system. This is not a consideration. I totally am opposed to a right a rate increase, and it is my hope that you reconsider this and do not increase the rate to the residents of the city of Detroit or the state of Michigan for that matter.
Thank you. Thank you. And as your comments pertain to the budget and charges, we'll move that to those that public hearing. Next up is Mr. Mark Ashley price. Price,
greetings. My name is Mark Ashley price. I'm a citizen district of fire suite Councilman bay from home, Frank. I was calling because one, I'm in agreement with all the previous callers who just made their comments. I'm in disagreement with the increase, because that will be hard on par, it will be hard in Detroit and everywhere else that have a great number of people who may not afford this increase. Um, and I'm an activist for hunger Park. I've been active in the community for years. Um, so this this increase, um, I think it's really be bad for home all right. And I hope you guys don't make this increase. It will be bad for Home Park Detroit and several other cities as well. And again, I'm in agreement with all the other previous colleagues as well. And I just want to send peace and love to Eddie vine, thank you.
Thank you. And again, as your comments pertain to the budget, we and charges will move that to that public hearing. Next up is Mr. Andy Andy
Andy godaris, hopefully I pronounced that correctly. Thank you. My name is Andy covidres. I'm a lifelong Detroit resident and rate payer. I'm here on behalf of Congresswoman to leave office in support of residents like Miss Stewart and everyone else who's spoken or unanimously opposed to water rate hikes that our communities just can't afford. I think everyone realizes this is especially egregious, as hundreds of Detroit families are sitting in hotels right now because their homes were flooded, in part due to Glee was negligence. It's especially egregious in light of the devastating cuts to the social safety net coming from the lawless Trump administration, I think everyone can see that this is a recipe for a massive spike in water shut off and an intensified public health crisis that comes with not having access to water in our communities. We want to reiterate support for a permanent prohibition on water shut off. We want to reiterate support for income based rate making that more actively meets people where they are, and just want to thank everybody for showing up and speaking out against this rate increase. Thank you. Thank you. And
again, as your comments relate to the budget and charges, we will move that to that public hearing. Next up is Miss Caitlin. Hope yours. And again, I apologize if my pronunciations on
sorry. Hello everyone. Hi. My name is Caitlin poplars. I am a resident of Detroit, Michigan. I'm also a community educator with we the people of Detroit, and a teacher educator at Oakland University. I. I'm calling to express my just deep, deep concern about the proposed increase in rates that are extremely unaffordable and honestly violent towards families and communities living in Detroit and around other municipalities and cities. We already know that Detroiters are covering the brunt of water costs for Michiganders throughout the state, and it's not sustainable, and it has only led to increased water shut offs. We also know that the United Nations has declared the water crisis in Detroit to be inhumane, so I am urging each of you to really reflect more on the systems at play here. Detroiters shouldn't be responsible for fixing infrastructure that should actually be on corporations and on our federal government and Detroiters should also not be covering the brunt of water bills for Michiganders. I'm currently three weeks postpartum with my second child, and I am a mother and a caregiver. I'm also just really deeply concerned and upset at the amount of mothers and caregivers, fathers, aunties, uncles, abuelas, abuelos, that are on calls right now, begging for mercy, that water is affordable when there are so many other things we could be doing with our time. Thank you very much for the time to speak, and I am just in agreement, in solidarity with everyone who's called, especially family and community members in southwest Detroit who are bearing the brunt of GL W A's negligence already with the flooding. Thank you.
Thank you. And as your comments pertain to the charges and budget, we'll move up to that public hearing with your consent. Next up is Mary Ann Santana.
Miss, Santana, you have three minutes to address the board. Oh,
good, good afternoon, everyone, the community, simply cannot afford higher water bills. Plain and simple, I received two recorded messages regarding high water usage at night in one of my southwest Detroit properties, ironically, on beard Street in southwest Detroit. This was the week before the Southwest Detroit water main break. There were no leaks at the property. A total of three people live in the house. Just how long was a water pipe in southwest Detroit broken before it got worse, and we've been paying for this leak all along. Question. I know for a fact, when the bridge was being worked on and digging was conducted, broken flowing water pipes were found, where is the money received from Lansing going besides downtown Detroit and Dan Gilbert's pocket? Put the people first. Do not increase the water. You all know. You can get this money elsewhere. Try the corporate subsidy bene factors beneficiaries, perhaps, thank you. Good afternoon.
Thank you. And again, as your as your comments relate to the budget and charges, we will move that to that public hearing. Thank you. Next up is the nurse.
Hi. How is everybody today? My name is Natalie Rivera. I am a Southwest Detroit resident, and I'm saying, do not increase the rates of water, while DTE is also increasing their rates over the city. We are staying in a population of 30% poverty. These hikes were hit. Um, struggling families the hardest. Many of us already struggling to afford food, rent, utilities, all of that you want our money, and you guys say it's for maintenance and flood studies, but why should we pay for years of mismanagement? The neighborhoods already deal with flooding, shut offs and poor service. Meanwhile, DTE hikes keep raising, and we still face power outages. Gentrification is also pushing the long time residents out of the out of their houses. Higher water and energy bills will only make it worse, forcing more of us out of our own communities. You guys need to find other funding and be honest where our money is going. Water and electricity are basic human rights, not luxuries. We need real solutions, not higher bills that drive us out of our homes. Thank you.
Thank you. And again, as your comments relate to the budget and charges, we'll move that to that public hearing. There won't be a need to repeat. Next up is Emma. Emma Mullins, Miss Mullins,
yes, my name is Emma Mullins, and I am a resident of Southwest Detroit. Right? I'm calling to ask you guys to please don't increase the water bills as they are, because right now and everything, I'm on three or four different medications. One of my medications is Eliquis, even though I have insurance and things in that matter, the co pay on that is $80 per month. And then I find myself saying, Okay, should I only take one pill a day, even though the prescription is for two pills a day, because of the fact I have to have that because of the blood clots, and I am a cancer survivor. And the thing about it is I have some of my relatives living with me because they cannot afford housing because they don't get enough money. Some of them are on SSI. They get $900 a month. They affordable housing is not available to them, because with $900 a month, you cannot pay rent or a mortgage and be able to pay the utilities. That's addressed to us. So I'm asking you to consider us that's trying to help our relatives and help the community and be able to live a comfortable, decent way of life. So put those things in consideration, put the community first. Look at the neighborhoods, rather than downtown Detroit for everything that is positive, and just help us out with not increasing this rate award, because we really cannot afford it. Thank you very much.
Thank Miss mullinson, as your comments relate to the budget and charges, will move that to that public hearing, and there'll be no need to repeat. Next up is Glenda McDowell, town.
Yes, good afternoon. My name is Mayor Glenda McDonald from the city of Highland Park. I am speaking on behalf of my citizens. As you know, we've entered into an agreement with clever contracts as of April of last year. Last February, we received an increase in our water rate, which doubled. Some people have tripled their their rate. Some of us went from $59 to $109 Some people went from $100 to almost $250 for water. 70% of that bill is ready to serve, sewage ready to serve, and water ready to serve. And so these increases that you're you're asking for, will not help Highland Park. We are over 50% under the property level, and at this moment, we have seniors trying to make decisions on how they're going to pay their water bill. So when you all ask for rates, think about those people. You just increase which was most of your customers. We are not able, and I pay a water bill. My bill went from 50 to 109 that's double, and most of it, again, was the ready to serve. And so those bills, that's, that's 70% of the bill, 70% for service. And so at this moment, I don't think you should be asking for a water rate increase. I don't think he should be asking for a sewer rate increase. I think he should be trying to figure out how to lower those ready to serve parts of the bill before you can ask anyone, because that that right there is really hurting the citizens of Highland Park and any other city. I don't know if there's as much we pay more now than we ever paid. And so please consider that I'm here for the citizens of my city. They can. They are concerned. They're worried, and so am I. Thank you. Have a great day. Thank
you, Mayor McDonald and as your comments pertain to the budget and charges, we'll move that to that public hearing. There's not a need to repeat. Next up is the Netta Smith,
can you hear me? Yes. Okay, good afternoon. Thank you for hearing me. The agreements made with Liwa and the city of Detroit are a direct burden to the citizens of Detroit, another rate increase of any amount for residential water service is unacceptable. As a resident, I should not be responsible for infrastructure repairs. The drainage and sewer rates of today are already too high with for citizens of the city of Detroit, we pay more water than we ever have in the past, and we've not seen the infrastructure repairs as promised. The rates continue to go up, and it is just it's very depressing, and it is a bad situation. I ask that you do not do a water rate increase for residents of the state of. Detroit, thank you, Premier, thank
you. Next up is Tahira Ahmad. Ms Ahmad,
yes, thank you taking my opinion. Please don't do this to us. I'm a front line I'm a disabled front line worker for the American Red Cross Blood Services, we've saved many, many lives. You're jeopardizing lives with this rate increase. Let me just remind you, Detroit citizens have been illegally overtaxed, 600 million to a billion dollars illegally, and they stand and and and the and and mr. Duncan said he's not going to get it back to us. So that's a billion dollars out of our pocket already. Now you want to do the rate increase. Also, 100,000 homes were illegally poor clothes. Here in Detroit, we have people who are living out of their cars, and it cost two of our young people lives. I wish you would have some mercy on people here in our city. Please don't do this to us. Also. I want to just keep, want you to keep in mind that when Mr. Duggan cut off hundreds and 1000s of people's water prior to the COVID pandemic, the sherry Ford Hospital did a study and found out that it caused a hepatitis A epidemic. So we were in the hectare epidemic prior to the COVID pandemic, and when mr. Duncan put all that water off, he was we had to implore Him, when the pandemic came to please put those people's water on. There's no way that we could prevent the pandemic from beginning worse in our community, and because our health were already was already compromised as a result of his cruel water shut off. It jeopardized our lives for the COVID pandemic, also when people have hepatitis A and they're working and in the fast food industry, don't you think they're casting that hep a on to the unsuspecting customers, your call, you will be potentially causing a disaster of health compromise for everyone in the city and anyone visiting this city. And people don't look at it that way, but you've got to look at it. It's a health crisis. The last thing is, we do not have a functioning, healthy Park. So how are we going to keep track of what? Because people are not going to use the water if they can't afford it, water is a human right, and it's also a health hazard to not have water in your homes, even with the so called pandemic being scaled back, it is there a new pandemic coming now we got the bird flu, and I don't know how to get the bird flu, but you get it all kind of different health compromises. So I can with you and with your intelligence to not do something that you know would cause a health effect and more harm to Detroiters who are still fighting these illegal foreclosures and these illegal Jim Crow laws against our community. Thank you for hearing me, and have a great day.
Thank you. And as your comments relate to the charges and budget, we'll move you to that public hearing. Next up is iPhone, iPhone.
Second call for iPhone,
yes, Megan knew, hi. My name is Megan, Luke, yes, ma'am. I live in the city of Detroit, east corner. I've been here all my life, and it's outrageous that they want to keep going up on the water and the lights and the gas people can't afford all of this. Britain is larger than you can even imagine people can't afford this. You running the folks out of Michigan, people leaving going to different states because of this. And I know you can find that money somewhere else, besides from the residents of Detroit.
And that's all I have to say.
Thank you. As your comments relate to the charge in the budget, we'll move back to that public hearing. Next up is,
I believe it would be Lisa M Rodriguez.
Hello, good afternoon. Thank you for having this meeting. So my name is Lisa Rodriguez. I am the Vice President of the springdo Women's block club and also co chair of the Detroit Health Equity Council. One of the things that we know
is that wire maybe about that long or strap
wire, wire. We have someone talking over Miss Rodriguez
down there. That was one to take that. But if that's okay with you, I will cut the hanger. Okay, yeah.
Can we mute the tape is on top of the freezer. Let
me know when I can
miss Rodriguez. We apologize to you. Just hold on for one second. You will want to continue your comments. I know your comments are very serious, and we you
No, thank
you. Good afternoon. Can I be very Yes. This is Rodriguez, yes. It is all right. We apologize for the interruption. Please go ahead. No
No problem. Thank you so good afternoon. Lisa Rodriguez, Vice President of Springdale blue club, co chair of the Detroit Health Equity Council. I reside in District Six, the spring world community. Been in this community for
over 24 years.
One of the things, one of one of the most like problem things that we do at the block club level, and this is a grassroot organization, and one of the oldest block clubs in the area is that we host meetings and dinner around people schedule. We make sure that we're inclusive of their working schedule, and we actually reached out to folks in the best time to be. And if there's any need to change that meeting, we do so by asking our community, what is the best time to meet? I have a problem with today's meeting. One of the things is the timing, how well meeting was announced, and I want to make sure that the community that was affected by that, by that breakage, is part of this meeting where I live, I'm about six minutes away from the devastation, and I like to see those residents who have been mostly affected by your infrastructure to be part of this conversation. And I'm not sure how many people on this call or in or in your room are able to address this board with questions, letting you know their quality of life, how, how this is disrupted, their community, their family network, how they go to school, how they practice spiritually, and what this is going to look like in the long term. So
I like to know in
the means that I hope that this is not the only public comment meeting that folks could have on this increase, but rather that we would have either an evening meeting and letting these folks come into this meeting by zoom or by phone call, and that future meetings would be inclusive and to make sure that the community, all of the community, is present for these very important hearings. So I just wanted to thank you for having a meeting right now that we can express ourselves. And my comment is reflective of all the comments that you heard earlier. And most, most importantly, but the burden. Of the cost that you are presenting is directly, really directly correlated to industry. So I think pays for less of the bill for infrastructure. I just want to thank you for your time and letting us have an openness to discuss our opinion. Thank you.
Thank you. Next up is Christina P,
Christina P, after that, we would have William Davis. Mr. Davis, I believe you've already addressed this board. You were our four speakers. That Correct?
That's That's correct.
So, so there's no need to repeat your comments. Okay? Well, you've already, you've already addressed the board during public comment. If you wish to speak again during the hearing, you're welcome to do that if your comments are different. Thank you. Next, next up is is bad.
Yes, it's bada. My name is Taylor. I live in Flint, Michigan. I have made comments with all of the money and the access that you have to technology, you're not exact on simply doing something as to mute and unmute. How do you think that is for those of us that always are not because of my age, 81 you're so friendly to this kind of technology. And what about the community people that can't even afford technology. At 81 years old, I pay $70 a month, pretty much, to just flush my water. I see you sitting there, fidgeting, looking at your phones, very bored, chewing on things. It's very disconcerting. So I'm asking you, those of you that are very uncomfortable in what you're doing, I think you should take turns bringing water to my house and paying for it. That will help you be busy, that will help you feel what I'm feeling, not that. I'm sure that that's something that you're interested in. So you're destabilizing me with these water rates, putting me in a position where I can lose my home, then you will actually have to be paying for me through your taxes. Which doesn't sound very smart. Are you sitting at the table with white males and two white females? What kind of love do you have for the community? Should I be loving on you or just very angry with you? Should I be wanting to use vulgar words to curse you out because of what you're doing to me? Cursing you out is what you're doing to me by raising these water rates, reduce the water rates in Flint. We, you're, you're in existence because of what happened in Flint. Is Glee, one, a creation associate associated with bullying and corrupting because of what happened in our in my community. How will we will show that they care. This entire state qualifies for poverty because people are leaving and what are you doing but pushing them away? How low does the population have to go in Michigan before you're completely out of business. How are you going to dare? Dare You to increase the water rates in a state like this? I want you to sit still in your swivel chairs. I want you to look at us. I want you not to move because you're not suffering like we are. So I'm putting you in penance, just sit there in your privilege. Don't move, don't use your cell phones, don't eat, don't drink, don't move, and you will and your name plates are all facing yourself. I mean, you're so about yourself, and you you take my time away, and y'all, you're gonna face the same routine. Shame on all of you privileged people threatening us with with water and we
thank you for your remarks. Next up is Ross Shaw. You
Hello. Have you heard
you have three minutes to address the floor.
Thank you. My name is Rasha. I am a resident of the city of Detroit. I'm calling to express my displeasure. With the proposed rate increases. The timings of these increases are particularly egregious considering the recent infrastructure failures in southwest Detroit. We, the residents, should not be on the hook for years of infrastructure negligence and poor planning. On Cleveland's behalf, the city of Detroit is disproportionately seeing higher water rate increases compared to the rest of the state. The proposed increases in rates will disproportionately affect residents, the low income residents of the city of Detroit under the current federal administration's clear that protections like clean water, clean air and social safety nets will affect will affect these low income residents. If you truly care about the residents you serve, and especially those that are in need, not move forward with these rate increases, these increases in water rates, I urge you all to to consider instituting income based residential rates, shifting these rate increases to industry and corporations and the cessation of water shut offs. Water is a human right, and we need real solutions. Thank you for your time.
Thank you as your comments relate to the budget and charges, we'll move that to that public hearing. Thank you so much. No need to repeat. Next up is Diane.
Hello.
I'm Diane Carls. I live in Livonia, and I'm opposed to the rate increases, I have a sprinkler system that I can't even afford to run now, because I have to pay sewage on that water. I'd like to have my yard look nice, but it's kind of difficult with with the rates, what they are, and I know I couldn't even afford to live here, if it wasn't for a roommate helping me out with all the bills, my suggestion is not to raise the rates, but also allow separate meters for sprinkler systems so I don't have to pay the sewage on water that's not going through the sewage system. Thank you for listening. Have a great day. Thank
you for your comments. Next up is crystal Bailey.
Thank you and good afternoon. Thank you for the board for the opportunity to speak. I am crystal Bailey. I was born in northwest Detroit, but I currently live in Oak Park, which is included within the district the house district five, and it has a large amount of northwest Detroit. And I stand in agreement with all those that spoke before me against this water increase for what is our human right water with the water affordability House bills that died during laying up, I urge the board to not increase the water rates, and you have my permission to move my comment to the charges and budget hearing, public hearing Section. Thank you very much.
Next up is Yvonne Jones.
Hello,
Miss Jones, you have three minutes to address the board. Okay,
I'm here concerning the water rate increases. This is so disturbing. I am a Detroit resident, lifetime retiree of the city of Detroit, and I have not had a pay increase in 10 years. We are dying. I can't afford eggs anymore, and I'm just a Paul. I work for the city of Detroit. When Detroit's Water Department was always financially sound, always had money in the country to do whatever was necessary, and the water bills were nowhere near what they are today. My water bill is as much as almost as much as my electric bill. This is absurd. I am so disappointed in the system. I am disappointed in Gary Brown, in this water runoff that we have to pay for water coming from God to be go through the system. If you going to charge us with that water, maybe you should pay us for the water that you put back into the system. There are so many things that that are wrong, that are wrong with this system, and it needs to be correct. We are hurt. You are hurting vulnerable people, and it's not necessary. Our water system makes enough money as it is, and we do not need another rate increase, if anything, we need to fall back on some of the increases that we've had in the past. Detroiters deserve that. Every people deserve that. And water is a human right. We live in a state within a. Abundance of water and these sewer rates and runoff are killing all of us. We have got to do better. Thank you.
Thank you, Miss Jones, and we will move your comments to the hearings on the budget and charges, and next up is James Parkinson,
Mr. Parkinson, per commission, yes. Can you
hear me? Yes.
I apologize for your name.
No problem. Thank you for letting me speak. I'm more than 40 years Near East Side Detroit, district five. I've been I teach at ecumenical Theological Seminary just outside downtown Detroit for more than 25 years, social ethics, I've been involved in the struggle pushing back on the water shut offs. When those began in 2014 including delivering water to people who had been shut off. And this is a struggle that's not going to go away. It's going to go on globally. Is going on globally, a time of emergency, and Detroit is strategically located. 20% of the Earth's fresh surface water flowing by the foot of this city in a century that many people are saying is already rapidly becoming the century of water wars. Banks and corporations are going around the globe, buying up water rights, and obviously, right now, we're in a moment where we are under assault to reorganize this society, the United States of America, even more radically in the direction of serving winners, the rich billionaires, corporations, at the expense of everybody else deemed to be expendable, a society of winners and losers, public officials, you all political actors, are one of the only remedies we have to push for greater justice and greater equality. And if you all do not step up to that. If you simply collaborate with the big powers and the reorganizing, in this case, around water, then you are abdicating. You are simply becoming agents there of water is free. It's not created by any of us, pumping it, treating it, making it available is costly. No question. We have to be concerned about expenses, but your role has to be to push back on the way you're constantly invited to just hive off people that are deemed expendable, not worth the effort living in areas that developers want to take over and reorient towards the winners in society. So please, along with all the comments that have been made before me, Listen people need to to advocate for them, resist these increases. Thank you. Appreciate you.
Thank you. And as your comments relate to the charges and budgets, we will move that to the that public hearing. Next up is Lottie.
Hi there. Can you hear me?
Yes, ma'am, yes. My
name is lot is Lottie. Sadie, I am a lifelong Detroiter. That's where I was born. I currently live in Clarkston, Michigan and Oakland County, and I think it's important that citizens such as myself weigh in on what is happening in Detroit. Has been happening in Detroit. I'm a long term activist of over 20 years, and it just the same thing over and over again. The cost of a system that is broken to start with, is always pushed onto the residents, residents that are already struggling to make ends meet, and it it doesn't make sense when you could investigate a water affordability plan where these costs are are shared in a more equitable way among those that are in our communities and in the numerous communities that this particular water system serves that have much, much more resources to pay for the infrastructure changes that are needed. These are companies that are probably engaging in environmental injustices to start with, and need to pay. They need to pay for what they're doing to the environment. How are they polluting the water? Why is it that it always gets pushed down to those of us who have the least that is a broken system and that's going to keep people from getting their needs met, taking care? Their children having adequate sanitation, they have to make choices. When you can't afford to pay your bills, you have to make some really hard choices, choices that I would go so far as to say I don't know that any of you have ever had to make such a choice. Water is a human right, and the humans are not being considered as part of this equation right now. They are not the ones to automatically bear the brunt of a broken, decrepit system that we just witnessed last week. Now we have residents struggling to stay alive at a time when our government is also tearing everything away from us. Why would now? I don't want the increase at all, but why now? Why would you do that to people who on earth would think this is a good idea? I wonder.
Thank you. As your comments relate to the budget and charges, they'll be moved into that meeting. Next up is mish Mish,
hello. Can you hear me? All right? Yes, we can. My name is Nicole Holman. I'm a resident of Southwest Detroit. Thank you for allowing me to visit the board today. First off, I would like to express concern with the choice in the timing of this meeting, as well as how the meeting was announced and how it was broadcast. I feel like it was in a way that was insufficient for community members to be able to join and to be able to participate in this meeting, and I'd like to remind the board that gluon, first and foremost, is in existence to serve our communities. This rate increase is not in the best interest of the communities that you are supposed to be serving. It is completely inappropriate to increase a rate at this time for a community that already is so heavily burdened at this advantage, and as was brought up earlier as a member of the Southwest community, I feel like Glee what has failed us, and I feel like glua is responsible for, first and foremost, showing us that you are capable of handling the funds that you already have before you continue to put the burden and the onus of this infrastructure on community members. So I urge you again to consider not moving forward with this rate increase, which is simply unacceptable, and remember that your sole purpose
is to serve our community. Thank you.
Thank you. Next up is Miss Tawana petty, Miss Patty.
Yes. Can you hear me? Yes, water is a human right. Without water, we perish for lack of hydration and the spread of diseases. The residents of the city of Detroit, who have a median household income of less than $40,000 per year are expected to consistently shoulder exorbitant utility rates above and beyond any other city to increase water rates at a time when Detroiters have suffered flooded neighborhoods, which ultimately turn into ice prisons for the second time This year, most tragically in southwest Detroit is unfathomable. If any human performed as poorly as the Great Lakes Water Authority has, they will be terminated, not receive a pay raise. I vote no to any rate increase imposed upon the already overtaxed and overburdened residents of the city of Detroit. We need to stop playing the water assistance and price gouging game and implement a true water affordability plan now, no to any more rate increases. Thank you.
Thank you. And as your comments relate to the budget and charges, they'll be moved to that hearing. Next up is Julia. Julia saw some.
Hello. Can you hear me? Yes,
ma'am, you have three minutes to cross the floor.
Hello. My name is Julia sauce, and I'm a resident of Hamtramck, Michigan, and I have a comment relating to the budget and charges section that you can move there. So I am a Glee well customer. I also have experience delivering water to homes affected by water shut offs in Detroit and Hamtramck. And I strongly oppose the rate increase proposal, because a hike of 10% or more is truly unacceptable. I. Really feel it's important to echo and repeat and really emphasize everything that has already been said that we live at a time where there's greater and greater gap between between rich and poor. Detroit has a housing crisis. We have a homelessness crisis, and water is tied often into housing security. We also live in a climate of federal funds dwindling and eroding away for low income people. So in the chance that there was a rate increase, I really don't know, we cannot expect any federal funds coming to save people. So please, I really see our local and regional politicians as our kind of last chance to care about social services and quality of life for all. And please consider if you have to increase heights, please make it income based and shift the burden to businesses and resource communities. Thank you. Thank
you. Next up is Raymond Bryce. Bryce, hi.
My name is Raymond Bryce, resident of Dearborn heights, who's a with Lee wall. So my concern is is Dearborn heights recently increased by 8.6% that was passed on to us as the customers, given that an additional increase would also be passed along to us as the customers, and to treat this Over the years from anywhere from 2.9 to 3.5% increase, with the cap coming off this year, to propose a seven to 10% increase is astronomical. I believe that that would create a burden on not only the residents of the city of Dearborn heights, but more on the residents of the city of Detroit, I'm sure it's easy to pay these right increases when you're making $275,000 like the CEO is. But for us who work, go to work, work hard every day for not nearly that much money, it's more of a challenge for us. I would like for you guys to take this into consideration and do not pass the rate increase of this high. I understand that there needs to be repair of infrastructure, but I do not feel a rate hike of 7% will do any of the residents good. Thank you.
Thank you. And if your comments pertains to the budget in charge until we move to that public hearing. Next up is Sarah R
Hi. Good afternoon. My name is Sarah Rob. I am a resident of Detroit. I am here to voice my opposition to the water rate increase with the median income of Detroit being as low as it is, Detroiters cannot afford an increase, as such, and residents should not be burdened with the cost of the failing infrastructure the city, I regularly see water leaks going unchecked in pipes in the public parks and other public areas. And as such, the public should not be forced to pay for the mismanagement perpetuated. Access to water is a human right. We should not impoverish our residents further with higher water costs. Thank you for your time.
Thank you as your comments relate to the budget and charges, they'll be moved as a part of the record for that public hearing. Next up is Reverend Turner Johnson. Reverend Johnson,
yes, good afternoon. My name is Charlene Turner Johnson, and I'm representing the Highland Park water advocates, which is a group of Highland Park residents who worked very closely with our mayor and our administration to arrange for the settlement agreement with Cleveland. We were advised that, because of the settlement agreement, that our water rates would actually go down. But in fact, the water ready to serve rates have increased. The sewer ready to serve rates have increased. And as you know, Highland Park is a very low income community. Many of our residents are living below the poverty level, and it's just unaffordable. Water has become unaffordable to many, many, many of our residents. I have lived in Highland Park since first grade over 70 years, my water bill has more than doubled because of the settlement agreement. With glee, what and I am joining in those voices, this chorus of voices who are opposing the water rate increase, we understand that money is needed for infrastructure repairs. We are still waiting on infrastructure repairs to continue here in Highland Park, but there must be some other ways that those funds can be obtained, other than trying to obtain them from low income residents in Highland Park and Detroit and other places. And so finally, I would just like to ask if the Great Lakes Water Authority would invest some time in creating a water affordability plan for those individuals that are not able to pay the water rates currently and definitely not to increase the rates again, because it's just unaffordable for too many people. So the Highland Park water advocates is a group of residents who've been in Highland Park for many, many years, and we are continually working trying to come up with ways that we can help our residents to afford the water bills currently. So please do not increase the water rates. Thank you. Thank you. Thank
you, Reverend. As your comments relate to the budget and charges, they'll be moved the record of that public hearing. Next up is Gwendolyn Howard. Ms Howard,
good afternoon. Thank you for allowing me to speak, and I echo and ditto the comments of my co chairs for we, the people of Detroit. I work in the water peeps division, which is the engagement part of that organization. And just to not be repetitions of what's been said, I definitely oppose the water rate increase. But think about it, water. What did you do this morning that did not involve water for you to even get to where you are. What if anybody that's that's the start of your day. That's the end of your day. So when you're talking about raising water rates on already over taxed citizens, you have to think about water justice for everybody we we sit in Michigan are surrounded by the five great lakes. We do need an affordable water policy, advocating for the policies that ensure everyone everyone can access affordable water and Detroit, the life plan program was an awesome thing, but then it fell by the wayside. So monitoring and enhancing that program and bringing it back, and now you're telling them we did this, and now we got to go here so the Community Voices you're not ensuring the residents that they have any kind of hope. This is ridiculous to say that at this point where we are right now, that you want to raise it, raise the water rate. Water is a human right, and everybody should be and have access to clean, safe and affordable water. You can't imagine a day without water. What would you do a day without water? You don't you wouldn't know how to function. You would definitely still be at home. So I worked for the state for 36 years. I've been working for our community my whole life. I started at 19 then when I retired, I found a project with we, the people, that help people continuously. I work for the state, and in the SEI program, the amount of $175 didn't increase the whole time I worked. I worked for 36 years. It never went up. So now you're trying to tax the water. My water bill was $18 the water and sewage. Part of it was $68
$68 time. Thank you. We'll move your remarks to the public hearing. Next up is LaTonya Bell.
Hello everyone. Good afternoon. I'm LaTonya Bell. I'm a resident of Auburn Hills. I'm also a co Executive Director of the wisdom Institute and a member of the We the people of Detroit Water peeps, we are African American woman and girl focused nonprofit in Detroit, Michigan that works to achieve reproductive justice at the intersection of access to clean, affordable drinking water and bodily autonomy, one of the most important reproductive justice issues facing black communities today, Our black community today is access to clean and affordable water. Hundreds of years of racist social structures, infrastructure neglect in low income communities for water regulations and the destruction of the EPA by the Trump administration has put this country at a breaking point for access to clean and affordable water, and now you are all wanting to raise the water rate so that they're even more unaffordable. I stand united with those who spoke before me, asking you not to increase these water rates. Water is a human right and should be affordable for all. Thank you.
Thank you. And as your comments relate to the budget and charges, I'll be moved to that public hearing and. Next up is Maya.
Hello. Good afternoon. My name is Maya Watson. I'm born and raised in Detroit. I am now a resident of Oakland County, and as other speakers have said before me, access to water and sanitation is an international human right recognized by the United Nations and international law. Others have eloquently spoken about the important need for water in every dimension of life. I also want to reference the $1.5 billion of federal money that came to Detroit in 2021 came to Wayne, Macomb and Oakland counties. 267 million was said to be allocated for infrastructure. That's on the City of Detroit's website right now. It said it was going to address infrastructure. So I'm wondering why people who are already overly taxed overly burdened, still have to shoulder the responsibility of the city's infrastructure and corroded pipes when that should have already been taken care of. It is not the responsibility of the people to address these issues. Thank you for your time.
Thank you, and your comments will be moved to the hearing on the rates and charges. Next up is Dr Jermaine Penfield,
good afternoon, everyone. My name is Dr Jermaine pencil I'm a community member and social activists and I strongly oppose this increase, as others have you know, so eloquently stated this is this will create an even more inequitable and inaccessible environment for those who are already struggling. And it is not a just increase for our community members to be impacted by Thank you.
Thank you, and your comments will be moved to the budget and targets. Hearing next up is pixel nine. Pro,
yes, my name is Claire McClinton. I'm calling from Flint, Michigan, and I'm quite sure you're all aware of the challenges we've had with being poisoned by our own government, and we are now after a big contest between the karagandy Water Authority and Detroit water and sewer department, and a big fight went on with that about who would service Flint Michigan, and now Flint is being serviced by Glee one. We find ourselves just appalled at how money is being hijacked out of our community, and we have to ask ourselves, why are we as humans, not being the stewards of our water? Home of the Great Lakes? We could not get clean water in Flint and now we too are among the highest charge rated water rates in the country. This is an outrage. It's inhumane. We need to call United Nations back up in here. We don't know what the purpose, if you're not stewards of our great resources needed for human needs, what on earth are you there for? Thank you. Thank
you, and your comments will be moved to the appropriate hearing. Next up is Bianca. Bianca windward, that's when word
Hi. I'm young when I'm a resident of Detroit, and I don't I'm not going to go on for very long, because I just want to echo everything from previous comments and I oppose this proposed I oppose this proposed increase. Water is a human right, as has been stated over and over. It is ridiculous at a time like this, when people are struggling financially, that we're going to continue to burden them with increased costs, especially in Detroit, where, as everyone has talked about before, they're already we're already facing these intense taxes and other unaffordable costs. And so I just I strongly oppose this, and you can move my comment to wherever it needs to be, but all I have to say, thank you.
Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up is Nicole Hill, Miss Hill.
Oh yes, good afternoon. Thank you for allowing me to see.
Can you hear me? Yes,
ma'am. You have three minutes to cross the board. Thank
you, sir. First of all, I would just like to loosely thrown around, uh, since the January. 20th, 2025, and that's where is the equity and the decisions that you make, where's your equity? Where your where is your equity? For the victims in southwest Detroit, where's your equity? Are suburbanized wholesale race while the city of Detroit paid into the Florida Department. Dwsock, where is your word? I know this might be more all of you at the table. Your humanity. People are living in times that they don't know where their next meal is coming from. They don't know if today is the day that something's going to get disconnected and their children are going to be removed, or the elderly residents they take care of are going to be removed from their home and Mister round to you. I heard I was on the call when the meeting when you spoke about your 81 year old mother in law. A lot of us have elderly relatives in the home, I understand, but I guess because we're rate payers, we're just simple enough to kill off our relatives as they die from dehydration and diseases that come from lack of water while everyone else is not. The fact that I am appalled that everyone that's sitting at that table, I'm not going to talk about your title, let's just break it down to the both common denominators you're also opposed to human beings and every living thing needs water to survive the fact that you think that people are dispensable enough to put a rate increase on and cause massive Shut up inability to pay bills. Wow, our big corporations in the city of Detroit, our commercial clients in the city of Detroit is break after break after break after break. We're not even going to go into the fact that, you know, the city of Detroit had a a payoff to a major mega churches for their straining scheme while people are break it off. It's unfair. It is.
Your comments will be moved to the hearing on the budget at charges. Next up is GD Weiss,
good afternoon. My name is Gabriel Jordan Weiss. I'm a resident and homeowner here in Detroit, District Four. I would like to go on record stating I vehemently oppose this water rate hike. It's quite frankly shameful. District residents continue to bear disproportionate financial burden while Great Lakes Water Authority supplies water to over 120 surrounded communities. These hikes need to be restructured so that the suburban municipalities paid their fair share instead of the cost falling so heavily on Detroiters, this inequity is well documented. Must be addressed. I urge you to reject this hike and implement a more a more just rate structure.
Thank you. Your comments will be moved to the public hearing on the budget and charges. Next up is Mike McDermott. Mr. McDermott,
good afternoon. My name is Mike McDermott. I'm the city council president for the city of Westland. Like everybody else said before me, water is a basic human right. And over the last four years, residents all across Metro Detroit and here in the city of Westland have dealt with a hard bout of inflation and rising costs. And now not only are they dealing with inflation, you're asking them to deal with a historic 8% water rate increase and an almost 6% sewer increase. And so on top of the inflation that we've been battling for the past four years and rising costs at the grocery store, the gas pump and everything in our daily lives, we're doing a beyond the norm, beyond the average rate increase for Great Lakes Water Authority, historically speaking, your water rate increases have been between 2.3 and 3% maybe 3.5% but they've been kept under 4% and it was my understanding that that was the stated goal of glwa in this board, to keep water rate increases under 4% historically, and now you're proposing an almost 8% water rate increase in an almost 6% sewer increase. When you're asking people who are living on fixed incomes, you're asking people who are living paycheck to paycheck, you're asking people who barely have six months or years worth of savings and the bank to try to swallow and deal with an almost 8% water rate increase and 6% sewer increase. I oppose that. I think that's unfair. I certainly understand that inflation, not as has not only affected folks here in Westland and all across Southeast Michigan, it has affected the glwa and your operating costs as well. But the fact of the matter is to go. Above and Beyond historical averages of you know, three to three and a half percent rate increases, and doing your 8% water rate increase is unfair, and I don't know how you ask residents here in Westland and all across Metro Detroit to have to deal with that in their daily budget, in their daily life. Thank you. Thank
you. Then your comments will be moved to the to the hearing. Next up is Lori's iPhone.
Hello, good afternoon. Board members, community leaders and fellow residents, I stand before you today as an advocate, a resident and a voice for those struggling to afford their basic needs, and I urge you to do not move forward with this rate increase. This is the largest water and sewer hike in a decade, and yet, wages haven't kept up. Detroiters already pay some of the highest water rates in the country, far beyond what is considered affordable. Many residents are forced to choose between water, food, rent and medicine. This isn't just the financial burden, it's a crisis, and here's what makes it worse, if you can't afford your water bill in Detroit, you could lose your home. Unpaid water bills become a lien on the property and can lead to tax foreclosure. That means a missed water payment doesn't just risk shut off, it puts home ownership at risk. That's unacceptable. I understand that glwa has financial obligations, but instead of raising rates on struggle with families, let's consider real alternatives. Do W A's own financial reports show that a significant portion of the budget goes towards capital improvement projects and debt service, while infrastructure upgrades are necessary, some projects could be rescheduled or restructured to prevent immediate financial harm to residents. Beyond that, we must address the disparities in race structures. Detroit's fixed monthly water charge $10.50 cent with a commodity rate of 3.75 per CCF. Meanwhile, nearby communities like Allen Park are only $7.82 cent per month, and Hamtramck pays $12.30 even though some areas such as Bruce township have higher rates, the residents often have greater financial stability. In contrast, Detroit, where household incomes are significantly lower, it bears a much greater burden in terms of affordability. Affordability, excuse me. Go W A must take affordability into account and restructure its rate system so that communities with higher financial burdens are not forced to pay disproportionately for a natural resource. But it's not just about water rates. The proposed increase is yet another financial blow to a city that has already paid more for basic survival than its wealthier neighbors. Detroit's effective property tax rate is 2.83% one of the highest in the nation, more than twice the national average of 1.38% homeowners here pay more in taxes for lower value homes than residents in wealthier suburbs. Detroiters pay the highest car insurance rates in the US, with an average annual premium of $5,300 a cost that makes essential transportation out of reach for many we pay a premium for basic time piece.
Thank your comments. The public hearing, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Chairman. At this point, we have taken callers for an hour and a half. We still have more to go, but I'm wondering if you would like us to shift to the people that are down in the room. We have nine callers, nine callers to go, What's the pleasure of the board?
There's a big difference between hearing the public on a public hearing, and what we have been doing is time well spent hearing the public, but by statutory requirements, we have to officially open a public hearing that requires certain steps. The first step to a public hearing is to have the issue at hand presented for responses from the public and from the board, which we have not done yet. So thank you, Mr. Wilson, for the opportunity to calibrate what's next corner of Chairman's privilege. We want to take a five minute break, and when we return, we will open up officially the public hearing. I will call for the public hearing as required by statutory requirements for the budget and for the rate increases as proposed. We will start that public hearing with presenting the issues, presenting the budget and the proposed rate increase upon our return, Nikki will take the microphone our chief financial officer, and facilitate the legal requirements for public hearing. She will present both items, after which we will officially open public hearing, which will. Alleviate Mr. Wolfson from continuing to have to move comments to public hearing, which is where they legally belong. So with that, you now have our way forward. At this point, we will take a five minute recess, and at such time, we will open up public hearing upon return, thank you. We have an open public hearing yet. We're going to open it when we get back. Thank you.
We've gone through public comment, not public hearing as required by the law, please. We need order in the room. Let's take five minutes. We'll be back for public hearing. Thank you.