Jews United for Justice and other members of the Right to Water Coalition held a press conference with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund regarding their new report entitled, “Water/Color: A Study of Race & the Water Affordability Crisis in America’s Cities.” Council President Brandon Scott and Councilwoman Sharon Green-Middleton spoke alongside Rianna Eckel of Food and Water Watch, Charly Carter of the NAACP Baltimore Branch, Rev. Dr. Alvin Gwynn Sr. of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Metropolitan Baltimore, Zafar Shah of Public Justice Center, and the report’s author, Coty Montag, calling for water justice and the passage of the Water Accountability and Equity Act (WAEA). The report highlights that water injustice is racial injustice – that Black families and neighborhoods are disproportionately impacted by unaffordable water bills and a lack of due process. The WAEA would address both of these concerns – creating an income-based water affordability program and an independent office of the water customer advocate. Email the City Council and Mayor Young in support of the bill.
Here is the full round-up of press coverage:
The Real News Network, “Rising Water Rates Hurt Black Baltimore Most, Study Shows”
Baltimore Fishbowl, “Black Baltimoreans are particularly hurt by soaring city water rates, report finds”
The Baltimore Sun, “New study urges Baltimore to act against rising water rates that disproportionately affect African Americans”
WBAL-TV 11, “Report says water affordability is race issue in Baltimore”
Maryland Reporter, “State Roundup, June 12, 2019”
WCBM, “Baltimore City Water Bills are Racist According to New ‘Study’ and Brandon Scott”
WMAR/Yahoo News, “Study: Baltimore’s water crisis has detrimental impact on black residents”
WYPR, NAACP Study Says Baltimoreans Who Face Most Impact of Growing Water Bills are Predominantly Black
