What a sunny day in Bay Ridge. The geezers are cranky, the teenagers are playing hooky and the Colonial Ave Milf Parade continues its summertime excesses unabated.
But alas, a cloud in our sky. Get ready for a water bill increase of 14 percent. Now I know water isn’t nearly as expensive as say heating, but in these tough economic times, every penny counts.
Here it is from Gotham Gazette (<–currently this writer’s favorite nyc news source)
Costs for that system are rising as revenue declines, so the price of water is likely about to go up once again. The Water Board will vote on a 14 percent rate hike on Friday. If approved — as is all but certain — the new rate will go into effect July 1. Together with past increases, the latest hike means the cost of water in the city will be 60 percent higher than it was four years ago. More increases are also expected.
But elected officials and activists argue that the water rate hike isn’t fair and that the Water Board, which sets those rates, is in need of reform. They say the board could spend its money more efficiently. Furthermore, its efforts at recouping bills from those who have not paid have been condemned as anti-consumer by some. The board itself is also lambasted as insular and too close to the mayor.
Nice to see someone trying to fight back.
Here’s our homeboy Vinny Gentile giving the Water Board a tongue-lashing.
“Revenue has fallen in this recession because people are using less water and because residents are struggling to pay their bills as it is,” said Councilmember Vincent Gentile. “I would suggest that raising rates in reaction to residents’ proven financial hardship is not just nonsensical and insensitive. It’s cruel.”
I hear ya Vinnie. I hear ya.
[...] one deli owner on 3rd avenue told us, “water bill just went up, electricity is up… if i told you how much I have to make a month just to not go bankrupt and [...]