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<DIV><FONT size=4>I sent the following letter today to my city council
representative. I encourage others to send similar letters. City
email addresses are at <A
href="http://www.okc.gov/council/index.html">http://www.okc.gov/council/index.html</A> .</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Bob Waldrop</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Dear Councilwoman Simank,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I received a water cut-off notice in the mail yesterday.
In my particular case, it wasn't a big deal because it was an oversight on my
part that the bill went unpaid, and I took care of it today.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>However. . . </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The "Notice Date" printed on the notice is May 2,
2008.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The postmark on the envelope was May 5, 2008.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>It arrived on May 6, 2008.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>The notice says this must be taken care of "before" May 7th to
avoid shut-off.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>It seems to me that 24 hour notice is not enough. I do a
lot of work with low income people, the Oscar Romero Catholic Worker House which
I founded delivers food to hundreds of low income people who don't have
transportation every month. It seems likely to me that aside from the
occasional dis-organized rate payer like me, most of these notices are going to
low income people.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I understand the City needs to collect its bills, but I also
think that the City can afford to give a real ten day notice to people in this
situation, and the City should do this as a matter of social justice and public
health.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>My organization doesn't have the funds to help pay utility
bills, we used to do that until the food need overwhelmed our bank
account. But we run into people all the time who also request water
because their water is shut-off. We try to connect these people with
organizations that can help them, but as I am sure you are well aware, the need
is greatly in excess of the actual supply of private charitable
funds.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>I'm sure that the situation with water is similar to that with
electric and gas -- once the water is shut-off, additional fees apply and
perhaps an increase in the deposit, all of which can prolong the time without
water.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Increasing the misery of people in poverty does little social
good, and in fact, I think the research shows it does a lot of social
harm. No running water means no running water to flush toilets, and that
can become a serious public health hazard.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Establishing a real ten day notice period, similar to that
used by the other utilities, isn't a complete answer to this problem, but it
would be a start. I encourage Oklaoma City to establish a real ten day
notice period before water shut-offs.</FONT></DIV><FONT size=4>
<DIV><BR>Bob Waldrop</DIV>
<DIV>1524 NW 21</DIV>
<DIV>OKC, 73106</DIV>
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