Lila CabbilCOURTESY PHOTO[/caption]
Clergy members call on Gov. Snyder to create effective affordability plan
Staff report DETROIT — A group of Detroit pastors held a press conference July 3 calling on Gov. Rick Snyder to put a stop to Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr’s aggressive water shutoffs in Detroit. “We have three demands,” Pastor Maurice Rudds told the Michigan Citizen. “One, create an effective affordability plan (for low-income residents); two, place a moratorium on the water shut offs; and three, restore service to those residents whose water has already been turned off.” Rudds is pastor of Greater Mount Tabor Church. The press conference was held at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church on the city’s east side. [caption id="attachment_12995" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Maurice Rudds and Louis Forsythe, pastor of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church ZENOBIA JEFFRIES PHOTO[/caption]
Lila Cabbil, People’s Water Board, shared information on the impact of the shutoffs to the pastors following the conference.
“One of the things that’s important is we want the water affordability plan implemented but community accountability so that we’re monitoring it,” Cabbil said. “Since 2006 when a plan was adopted, it has not been utilized and implemented in the way that would give people the kind of affordability rate they need.”
The pastors have organized a rally that will take place at Hart Plaza, July 18 at noon. Participants will march from that location to the governor’s Detroit office at 3042 W. Grand Blvd.