The United States searches for planets that have water. Scientists predict disaster for continents with insufficient water. Disease and epidemics spread in countries without clean water, as the U.N.'s public health workers know all too well. And kids here can be sent into foster care if they live in a house without clean water, regardless of the reason.
Clearly, and universally, clean water is the source of life and should not be held hostage by anyone, let alone our elected officials. How can Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake sleep, knowing that her administration is withholding water from its citizens ("Protesters call on mayor to stop water shut-offs over unpaid bills," April 16)?
Public Works Director Rudy Chow told The Sun, "Standard industry practice is to turn off those customers who do not pay." If so, why hasn't the city shut off services to the commercial property owners who owe more than half of the uncollected amount? Instead, the city is stopping the flow to an average of 150 households a day, including renters with no control over landlords, the ones responsible for paying the bills. Mr. Chow says tenants should "be in communication with their landlords to get them to pay." Really?
My proposal: Public Works should shut off water at the homes of delinquent landlords. That might produce results faster than "communications" from tenants.
Mayor Rawlings-Blake, please stop the cut-offs. Make a plan to protect, rather than punish, the tenants who are victims of irresponsible landlords. Collect from scofflaw businesses. And ensure every homeowner behind on payments is contacted personally to establish a workable payment plan or get aid from a Water Fund.
Mary Jo Kirschman, Baltimore