Why do Harlem and the South Bronx pay more for water and sewer usage than the Upper East Side of Manhattan or Northeast Queens? Why does a building in which the median household income is $25,000 pay a higher water and sewer tax than a building in which the median income is $55,000? Why do residential buildings pay more in water and sewer costs than commercial, industrial or government buildings? Why is the water rate being increased 14% this year and every subsequent year? Why do water rates include lease payments to the City that are hundreds of millions of dollars more than the cost of the water system’s infrastructure provided by the City?
If your head is spinning right now, so was ours - until we started learning more about the way the NYC water and sewer system is run and how rates are set. The more we heard, the more we realized that this complicated and discriminatory system needs to be better understood and reformed. Of primary concern is how this system negatively impacts the City's stock of affordable housing, and why incentives are needed to encourage conservation.
To broaden the public's understanding of these matters, we have gathered a group of experts who have examined the issues, will outline the problems in easy to understand terms, and recommend reforms.
OUR WATER COMES FROM "SOMEWHERE" UPSTATE –
BUT HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT?
BUT HOW DO WE PAY FOR IT?
Date: THURSDAY, JANUARY 29th, 2009
Time: 12:30 pm - Program; Noon - Registration
Venue: League of American Orchestras, 5th floor conference room, 33 West 60th Street (between Broadway & Columbus Avenue)
Registration: No charge members of WCC and Housing First! No charge students; $15.00 non-members.
Advance registration requested: contact Raolat Abiola, WCC 212.353.8070 x. 204.
Panelists:
- Jim Buckley, Executive Director, University Neighborhood Housing Program
- Lisa Deller, NY Regional Director of the National Equity Fund, an affiliate of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation
- John McCarthy, Exec. VP, Chief Operating Officer, Community Preservation Corporation
Harold Shultz, Senior Fellow, Citizens Housing and Planning Council - Representative from the NYC Water Board (invited)
- Moderator: Ann R. Loeb, Co-Chair, WCC Housing & Planning Committee
The Women’s City Club of New York (WCCNY) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit civic organization that shapes public policy through education, advocacy and citizen participation.
For more background on the issue, check out UNHP's website or read more on the West Bronx Blog.
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