Page 10 - The Indian EYE 051923

COMMUNITY OP-ED MAY 19, 2023 | The Indian Eye 10

Why we are extending

amnesty for unpaid water

bills till May 31

We don’t want to shut off anyone’s water, so we encourage all New Yorkers with unpaid water bills
to check in with the Department of Environmental Protection and find out what their options are.

By paying our water bills, we keep costs low and our wonderful water flowing for everyone

ERIC ADAMS

ater is a precious resource,
and New York City has
Wsome of the best munic-
ipal drinking water on the planet.
Our water comes from reservoirs in
the Catskills and beyond, and travels
hundreds of miles to reach our taps.
New Yorkers pay just one cent per The Water Bill Amnesty program is part of our working people’s agenda. It was launched in January and has brought in $80 million from over-
gallon for our exceptional drinking due accounts so far, and allowed New Yorkers to save more than $12 million in interest (File photo)
water. And we use that money to
maintain and improve the critical Department of Environmental Pro- Bill Amnesty program is part of And already, four have paid or en-
infrastructure that keeps our water tection’s water amnesty website: nyc. our working people’s agenda. It tered into payment plans.
flowing and keeps New Yorkers hy- gov/dep/amnesty. was launched in January and has But we don’t want to shut off
drated and healthy. brought in $80 million from overdue anyone’s water, so we encourage all
However, we know that some
accounts so far, and allowed New
New Yorkers have trouble paying We want to work with you. We Yorkers to save more than $12 mil- New Yorkers with unpaid water bills
to check in with the Department of
their water bills, so we are extending helped the residents of the Shore- lion in interest. Environmental Protection and find
our Water Bill Amnesty program to At the same time, we’re not out what their options are. By pay-
May 31st. If you pay the principal of haven affordable housing commu- going to look the other way while ing our water bills, we keep costs low
your water bill in FULL, all of the nity in the Bronx save $400,000 millionaires and billionaires who and our wonderful water flowing for
interest will be forgiven. That is cor- can afford to pay their water bills everyone.
rect: you won’t have to pay any inter- on their unpaid water bills. This choose not to – and drive up your Please take advantage of the
est. If you are not able to pay in full, will allow the community to invest water rates as a result. Last week, extension of the Water Bill Amnesty
we will help you set up a payment five properties – all valued above and pay any unpaid bills. Remem-
plan, and depending on the amount in other important upgrades.
that is paid, a portion of the interest $4 million, and all with unpaid wa- ber: you have until the end of this
ter debt above $100,000 – were in-
month, May 31st to sign up.
may be forgiven. We are constantly looking for formed that if they didn’t pay within
You can find out more by calling ways to make your life easier and Eric Adams is
(718) 595-7890 or you can visit the more affordable, and the Water two weeks, we’d shut off their water. the Mayor of New York City, NY

www.TheIndianEYE.com