The judge overseeing Detroit’s historic bankruptcy case set a Monday hearing on a request to reinstate a moratorium on water shutoffs in the city, an initiative that has drawn international criticism.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes reportedly said during a hearing today that the record was “not adequately developed” to issue a ruling on the motion from attorney Alice Jennings, who’s representing a number of residents in the case.
The judge instead scheduled an evidentiary hearing Monday at 9 a.m. on the matter. Among other things, residents in the case want Rhodes to implement a “water affordability plan,” unlike the one installed my Mayor Mike Duggan last month.
The hearing follows an announcement this month of a new regional water authority that would pay Detroit $50 million a year for the next 40 years to use regional aspects of the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department. The $50 million a year would be used solely to pay for infrastructure improvements to the water and sewer system. Detroit would retain ownership of the current system.
Related Stories
Duggan introduces revamped efforts to address Detroit water shut-offs
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2014.
