Water shutoff in Detroit

Today we're going back to the great American city of Detroit and to share this latest drama

After Detroit turned off water for thousands of residents, activists are calling on the United Nations for help in what they've called a "massive human rights atrocity."

The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department said in March that they would begin shutting off service to more than 150,000 customers who were behind in their bills, according to the Detroit Free Press. With 323,000 total customers, nearly half are late on their bills, or cannot afford water. A water department report states the utility sent 44,000 warnings in April and 3,000 customers have had their water shut off.

A coalition of groups including the Detroit People's Water Board, Food and Water Watch, Blue Planet Project and Michigan Welfare Rights Organization submitted a report to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation last week, saying they are "outraged about the violation of the human right to water and sanitation in the City of Detroit and call on the authorities to take immediate action to restore water services and stop further cut-offs."

We already know Detroit is a struggling city and certainly could use the cash from water bill payments. Certainly we all sympathize with those who definitely could use the water whatever their situation might be.

I think I understand going to the UN regarding this action. When people complain they want to go as high as possible. At the same time I sometimes have found the UN to be a useless organization.

Still here's hoping those affected Detroit residents get their water turned back on.

Had no idea the UN could've come to Chicago?

Well thanks to John Schmidt @ Unknown Chicago. They may well have their own complex on Northerly Island. Northerly was once home to a small airport called Meigs Field and now there is a park there. Here is a justification:

"We feel absolutely confident that Chicago ranks high in the running," said Corporation Counsel Barnet Hodes.  "We are more convinced than ever that Chicago meets every requirement."
...

The war had been over less than six months, and much of Europe was still devastated and poor.  UN officials were frankly worried about the high cost of living in the United States.  That was one area where Chicago had an advantage over other American sites.

"We impressed on these people that they can get more for their money in Chicago," labor leader William McFetridge said.  Housing, food, recreation, and education were cheaper than in any of the other cities.  Foreign diplomats could live very well in the Windy City.

The Chicago delegation had an inside man at the UN to help them secure the HQ:

Adlai Stevenson, an up-an-coming Chicago lawyer, was then serving in London as deputy U.S. delegate to the UN.  Stevenson wanted to get into politics.  Helping make Chicago the Capital of the World would also help young Adlai's career.

Well just like Chicago lost the bid for the 2016 Olympic we lost our bid to become the "Capital of the World". The Rockefeller family gave a generous donation of land and that's all she wrote for Chicago. If only Chicago had some Rockefellers we'd have Rockefeller Center instead of its knockoff we called NBC Tower.

I meant nothing by that because NBC Tower is a nice building. Not as high as Rockefeller Center and I already have little interest in being in a very very tall building. Although Rockefeller Center isn't bad itself.

Schmidt just had to take a parting show at recent history:

Hey, since we couldn't get the UN, should we try to land the Olympics?

The UN isn't likely to leave New York anytime soon but for as long as there will continue to be Olympic competitions, Chicago will always have a chance. ;)