Spirits Of Resistance: Water Bills Take Center Stage At Live Radio Town Hall Event

By Ralph Heibutzki & Nicholas Gunn

Water is a human right, but it won't mean anything, unless it's affordable. That was the message from Benton Harbor residents joining “Redline” host Bankole Thompson, of 910 AM Superstation of Detroit, MI., for a live broadcast and town hall last week in Benton Harbor. Thompson and his partner, Tina Patterson, spent two hours delving into Benton Harbor's long-standing water crisis, where some residents vented their frustrations with a system that's mainly known for high levels of lead, and equally high rates to match.

Thompson is a journalist, author and founder of the PuLSE Institute (Institute for Public Leadership and Social Equity), a nonpartisan think tank that is focused on economic equality and poverty issues “that will drive conversation toward an inclusive and equitable Detroit,” according to the organization's website. 910 AM (WFDF) is a talk station in Farmington Hills, where “REDLINE” airs 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Benton Harbor City Commissioner MaryAlice Adams and activist, Reverend Ed Pinkney, of BANCO (Black Autonomy National Community Organization), joined Thompson and Patterson for an extended panel discussion of the issue, as well. The event was held at Pinkney’s location at God’s Household of Faith, 275 Pipestone Road.

“Now, people are waking up – because people wanted to know what we can do,” Pinkney said, after the event. “Bottled water is nice, but why not go door to door? Why shouldn't someone have to come and pick up water, stand two hours in a line to pick up water? That doesn't make sense to me."

Bobbie Clay was among several residents who freely vented frustration with what they consider unacceptably high levels of water bills – for which she's currently on the hook for $1,800, according to Thompson's post-event writeup on PuLSE's website, https://thepulseinstitute.org/.

Clay's situation has prompted her to stop paying water bills for now. Resident Caroline Gray voiced the same point in blunter terms, suggesting that residents of one of Michigan's poorest cities shouldn't have to pay any water bills – until the problem is fixed.

Pinkney agreed that officials should definitely put financial justice at the forefront of any long-term solution to the city's water issues. “The next step is to cancel all water payments,” Pinkney said. “Not one single person should pay a water bill here. As a matter of fact, they should go back three years, and refund their money, because all of these years, they've been drinking contaminated water – that's a problem. Somebody needs to be held accountable.”

Governor Gretchen Whitmer made a personal visit to Benton Harbor last week where she discussed with Benton Harbor officials how to help water customers with their water bills. As part of the process, she is reviewing the City’s water bill history, that dates before she took office.

Adams appreciated 910 AM's efforts for probing past headlines that have focused mainly on the lead issues, and less on the financial and management issues plaguing the system. “I love the fact that it was shedding a lot of light on how communities of color are just discriminated against, when it comes to moving dollars so fast,” Adams said. “It shed a lot of light on the process in which things should have been taking place, and informing the residents.”

The event marked the first time that a southeast Michigan radio station hosted a live town hall event in Benton Harbor, to Thompson's knowledge. He said the event was intended “to force the issue of Benton Harbor into this southeast Michigan conversation, because so much of what happens across the state is centered around southeast Michigan.”

“The things that I do, I push for issues around black Michigan – racial justice, economic justice issues. These are issues that are important,” Thompson added. “Benton Harbor is a part of the state, and must not be treated as a stepchild of some sort. I wanted to come here, to sound some urgency of why the water crisis here needs to be dealt with, in the same way it would have been dealt with, if it was in the rich suburb and city of Bloomfield Hills, in southeast Michigan.” Patterson rated the town hall as a success, based on the responses to the program. “They haven't done anything to fix the issue they have known about all along, so it's time for black folks to stand up for their rights with people,” Patterson said. “Anyone who is living and breathing knows that. This issue has continued to be raised to the forefront, until it's resolved, and the people of BH have clean, safe access to water. It's really that simple.”