Detroit Water & Sewerage 10 Point Plan

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Water & Sewerage Director Sue F. McCormick, along with a team of community partners today announced a 10-point plan that would allow DWSD to collect on overdue water bills while making it easier for customers to make payments, enter into payment arrangements and access financial assistance.

1. Waive turn on fees and late payment penalties
During the moratorium, which ends August 25th, the DWSD will waive turn-on fees for customers whose water has been shut of, as well as payment penalties.
2. Cut red tape
To simplify getting into a payment plan, customer only need to present a valid state ID. Once payment is made, service will be restored within 48 hours.
3. Extend hours at DWSD Customer Care Center
The DWSD has expanded hours at all of its CUstomer Care Centers, from 8a-6p Monday-Friday and 8a-3p on weekends to make sure customer service agents area available at all times. The DWSD has also added staff to reduce wait times.
4. Increase staffing at call centers and extend hours
DWSD has also expanded hours at its Call Center to 8a-7p daily and 8a-3p on weekends. Starting August 18th, the Call center will have 50 percent more staff and new phone technology to better serve customers.
5. Cobo Water Fair August 23rd
A Water Affordability Fair will be held at Cobo Center on Saturday, August 23rd. to give customers one last opportunity to connect with all of the DWSD and community resources available to them before the moratorium ends August 25th.
6. Improve notification for customers in danger of shut off
The DWSD is expanding its efforts to communicate with customers who are late on their payments or may be facing shut-off. Bills will more clearly explain their status and assistance information will be included with the bill. Workers also will hand-deliver notices to all homes in shut-off status one week before their scheduled shut-off to give them time to enter into a payment plan.
7. Implement an affordable payment plan
Any resident with a delinquent account can enter into a 24-month “10/30/50” payment plan by coming to their local DWSD Customer Care Center, showing a valid state ID and paying down only 10 percent of their past-due balance. (The previous down payment requirement was 30 percent of the past-due balance.) If a customer misses a payment, they can reapply for the program by putting down 30 percent of their past-due balance. A second missed payment will require a 50 percent down payment of their past-due amount. Any customer who misses a third payment will no longer be eligible for the payment plan.
8. Provide financial assistance for low income Detroit customers
Starting August 11th DWSD Customer Care Centers will begin processing applications for the Detroit Water Fund. By paying down only 10 percent of their past-due balance, eligible city residents will receive up to 25 percent assistance with their bill from the new Detroit Water Fund. DWSD has partnered with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan, which will prequalify residents. To be eligible for Detroit Water Fund assistance, customers must be Detroit residents who:
• Have an outstanding balance between $300 and $1000; AND
• Maintain Average Water Usage for their household size; AND
• Are either enrolled in DTE’s Low Income Self-Sufficiency Plan (LSP); OR,
• Have income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level (for example, a family of 4 must have an annual income below $35,775).
9. Build neighborhood partnerships
DWSD customers are not alone. We’ve established a support network to assist individuals who may not qualify for some of the DWSD assistance programs. Our partners include United Way 211, THAW, WAVE and Wayne Metro.
10. Provide a clear way to give
Many people have offered to help Detroiters who are struggling to pay their water bills. There are several ways to donate to the Detroit Water Fund: online, by text message, by check or by phone. Details are available at www.DetroitWaterFund.org.

Light up District 2 by 2015 - A Three year plan for City of Detroit residents by the Public Lighting Authority

View the Plan by (Clicking on this City of Detroit Link) to see when your lights will be changed out by the PLA in Zip Code order.

Sights and Sounds of District 2

Changes in District 2 coming right at you..  

From the PLA:

The Public Lighting Authority of Detroit (PLA) has launched its aggressive three-year plan to relight the city of Detroit. 
Following the completion of two pilot areas, one on the east side and one on the west side of the City, the PLA has initiated its zip-code-by-zip code construction schedule to be completed by the end of 2016.

The PLA is replacing all old High Pressure Sodium lights with Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights with brightness the equivalent 
of 150 watts, more than twice as bright as the sodium lights.

Lighting Plan
• Blocks 300ft and below in length, will have a light on every street corner.

• Blocks  between 301ft and 700ft in length will have a light on every street corner and one light in the middle of every block.

• Blocks between 701ft and above in length will have a light on every street corner and two or more lights in the middle of every block.

As the PLA completes installation of the new lights in a ZIP Code, it will take over responsibility for maintaining those lights, with a commitment to repair a broken light within five days of being notified of the outage.

For more information, to see the updated schedule by zip code, details on alley light replacements or to report an outage of a new LED light, residents can log onto www.pladetroit.org or email us at info@pladetroit.org or call the Public Lighting Authority at 313-324-8290.

A VIP reception for Marc Emery at Detroit City Airport in August? Who is Marc Emery and the Importance of Voting

"Marc Emery is coming through Detroit after spending 5 years in Jail for being a florist."

By Richard Clement 

Marc and Jodie Emery

Marc Emery is a Canadian Citizen that has spent the last 5 years in a Federal Jail in Mississippi and Louisiana for selling cannabis seeds in 2005.  His country’s leadership does not want him to come back. However the citizens of his home province dearly want him back.  This man was extradited to the United States at the request of the US Drug Enforcement Agency because he had a lot of American customers that wanted his products.   Now that he is almost home, he will be leaving America via the Detroit/Windsor Tunnel Tuesday August 12th in the morning. 

(Who is Marc Emery)

(Marc Emery News))

(Marc Emery's Final Blog from USA)

He is leaving an America when we the people declared an end to the war on weed since the time that he has been incarcerated. Since 2005 31 states have either legalized or have pending legislation on removing Marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. Therefore “weed the people” of the City of Detroit, State Of Michigan and United States of America would like to give Marc Emery a chance to say goodbye and apology from the People of the United States for; Wasting our monetary resources on the pain that bad policy on Cannabis inflicted on Marc and Jodie Emery. 

We would like the US Marshals to fly Mr. Emery into Detroit City Airport on August 12th where an Official Welcome to Detroit gathering awaits him as he steps off the plane.  This is before he is given a motorcade to Canada via the Detroit/Windsor tunnel. He will be “processed” by the Canadian Security Agency and allowed to go home to Vancouver British Columbia via friends, supporters and, a chartered flight home.

We hope that the Emery family can come back to Detroit and party with us sometime soon. If they do come back, it will be over the new international bridge from Windsor or, purchased duty free cannabis seeds at the duty free shop on the Ambassador Bridge and bringing them to the USA.  When he comes back there will be some fine Sativa waiting for him. To make this change you have to take your bud with you to the ballot box. (Early voting in Detroit until Aug for the primary and October for the general election).. Industrial Hemp grown in Michigan to manufacture products like building materials for homes will create 10,000 jobs for citizens further stimulating the economy. Jails will have to close down because of the removal of prisoners for small drug crimes and, redirecting resources to reduce violent crime and shootings through the teaching of conflict management.

Ryan Basore #16645-040 - Left
Jeremy Duval #46344-039 - Center
Lance Forsberg #16646-040 - Right
FCI Morgantown, Federal Correctional Institution, P.O. Box 1000 Morgantown, WV, 26507

Now that Marc Emery is leaving, we have to work to Free the Lansing Michigan 7 and other drug war prisoners from the same fate.  Before the end of Barack Obama’s term as President, he will remove Marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and make sure that it never reappears again.

(Read the Story of the Lansing/Okemos 7)

Flying KDET will soon be a reality!

Back To School Rally

Q: What's going on?
A: Back to School Rally

Q: Who's invited?
A: All ages invited from Pre-K to 12th Grade

Q: When is it?
A: August 2, 2014 8am-1pm

Q: Where is it?
A: Oak Grove A.M.E. Church 19801 Cherrylawn Detroit, MI 48221

Important Notes:
1. First come, first serve
2. Registration is from 8am to 9am.
3. Sign in required by parent or guardian upon arrival
4. Backpacks/Supplies will be distributed at the conclusion of the event
5. Children MUST attend all workshops to receive backpacks

FEATURING: Food, fun, games, and free school supplies to the first 450 students to register

Online Absentee Voting and Early Voting in person at Wayne County Community College with Free Parking!

DETROIT CITY CLERK WINFREY ANNOUNCES ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTS

Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey and Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson have announced that for the first time in history, Detroit will accept online applications for absentee ballots. Winfrey and Johnson called the project historic, saying it would result in increased access to the ballot in Detroit in 2014. 

There are two ways in which voters can request an Absentee Ballot: beginning Thursday, July 17, they can go to www.detroitballot.com; and starting on Monday, July 21, they can go to the App Store and search Vote for Detroit to download the App.

"This is a proud day for Detroit and a historic day for Michigan," said Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey. "I'm thrilled to announce as clerk that I'll be broadening ballot access for Detroiters through this new program." 

"For the first time ever, Detroiters will be able to request absentee ballots online," said Lon Johnson, Michigan Democratic Party Chair. "Clearly voters of Michigan are adopting absentee voting as a way of casting their ballot - as evidenced by the fact that more than 27 percent of votes cast in Michigan's 2012 election were absentee ballots.”

Once residents request the ballot online the ballot will be mailed.  The last day to request a ballot is Saturday, August 2, at 2 p.m.

Currently it is common practice for many clerks across Michigan to receive requests to vote absentee through a number of secure options, including fax, mail and hand delivery.

Detroit Absentee Walk In Voting Information.

Dates: Monday July 21st until Aug. 4th

Time:  8-4pm Monday Through Saturday

Location:  Wayne County Community College:

5901 Conner  Detroit MI 48213   (313) 922-3311

8200 W. Outer Drive  Detroit MI 48219  (313) 943-4000

Parking: Free.

Cast your ballot in person or take it home with you and mail in.

You can drop off your filled out absentee ballot there also.  Save a stamp!

Water Access Volunteer Effort (WAVE) Fund Assistance

The Water Access Volunteer Effort (WAVE) Fund provides assistance to low-income families during a crisis by ensuring uninterrupted access to safe drinking water and sanitation services. Since established, WAVE has assisted over 9,100 families and households and has distributed over $2 million toward water bills in the area to help retain services.

Funds are earmarked specifically for payment of water and sewer bills. Contributions are tax deductible and no water and sewer revenues are used.
The maximum allowance for assistance is 50% of the bill up to $500. Customers may receive WAVE Fund help only once in any calendar year. The WAVE Fund assistance must restore service or assure service continuation for at least 30 days. To find out if you qualify for assistance from this program, call (313) 366-8535 or (313) 964-9094.

Detroit Recreation Department Swimmers fight Breast Cancer by doing laps around Belle Isle July 9th, 2014

Councilman Cushingberry Supports the Detroit Recreation Department Swim Team in the 15th Annual Motor City Mile race around Belle Isle to fight Breast Cancer

A swimming team based at the Coleman Young Recreation Center will participate in the 15th Annual Motor City Mile sponsored by the Different Strokes Swim Shop in Livonia Michigan. This is a 3.5 mile swim around Belle Isle for the purpose of help fighting Breast Cancer.

The July  9th, 2014 event will feature 6-10 swimmers from the Coleman Young Recreation  Center swim program representing the City of Detroit neighborhoods.  Current City of Detroit lifeguards are strongly urged to participate in this event.  Upon presentation of your credentials (Red Cross Lifeguard Card), all entry fees will be waived.

Registration starts at 7:15am.

The entry fee is $25 to swim and $15 for dinner at the Detroit Yacht Club.

Proceeds will go to fight Breast Cancer.  

If you can donate any monetary support to the team please contact:

Ms. Carolyn Green at (313) 891-3652, (313)450-3650, or Coach Peterson at the Coleman Young Rec Center.

Female team members stated that they could swim across the width of the Detroit River to Canada and back. All of these swimmers are from Detroit and, this is a moment to be proud of them. Team Members have competed against schools like Cass Tech and come in first place without a lot of effort. These students will be able to pursue careers that require water skills like underwater rescue and research.

Your support is greatly appreciated and thank the Detroit Recreation Department  for their good work.