[Communications] Please Support Water-for-All

[Autumn McGowan]

Hi there,

I’m reaching out about a recently introduced Water-for-All ordinance in
City Council. This ordinance does the following:

1. Creates a Water-for-All Program to provide financial relief for
low-income households by increasing rates on commercial and industrial
water users;

2. Prohibits water privatization;

3. Requires a plan to ensure equitable implementation of capital
improvements;

4. Improves transparency on shutoffs, liens and water debt; and

5. Bans water shutoffs and tax foreclosures to collect household water
bills.

Can your organization sign-on in support of this ordinance? You can find
the organizational sign-on letter here.
<https://forms.gle/v28Uj6ruqv6TMof39>

Some context around this campaign is that Chicago water and sewer bills
have tripled in the past decade and now 14% of Chicagoans pay unaffordable
water bills according to the United Nations affordability standard. When
the pandemic began we were told to practice social distancing, wear a mask,
stay home, and wash our hands. However, for tens of thousands of
Chicagoans, washing their hands at home was not an option. Since 2007,
Chicago has sent out over 150,000 water shut off notices.

Pointing to a grim trend, the latest research from Duke University
estimates a national moratorium on utility shut-offs from March until
November of 2020 would have reduced COVID-19 deaths by as much as 14.8
percent, saving thousands of lives now lost.

Currently, the Water-for-All ordinance is now in the City Council's
Environmental Committee, and it will need to pass there before it can be
considered by the entire City Council. We are aiming for the ordinance to
have a subject matter hearing in June, and then to hopefully move on to the
entire City Council.

The city needs a long-term solution for the looming water affordability
crisis. Our water and sewer rates continue to increase to pay for
improvements necessary for our water to be safe and clean, the burden of
which falls disproportionately on low or fixed income residents. Working
families, seniors and other low-income households are unable to pay their
bills. Universal access to safe water is essential for public health and
community wellbeing.

You can find the ordinance factsheet here
<https://drive.google.com/file/d/17Jnl5j49gsycDGLlu1grd3UZh0vRqvx5/view>
and the ordinance co-sponsors and language here.
<https://chicago.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4764326&GUID=81E4E656-126B-4259-B936-23AE7F29C6D1&Options=Advanced&Search=>

If your organization is interested, we’re open to meeting with you or your
group to further a discussion on Water-for-All.

Thank you!

Autumn McGowan

she/her

Intern with Food & Water Watch + Food & Water Action
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