Oct 15, 2008 9:21 pm US/Eastern
Water Bill Price Hike Hitting N. Miamians Hard
NORTH MIAMI (CBS4) ―
As the economy turned south, many focused on what was happening to banks and businesses. But the most heart-wrenching aspects of the economic downturn are how it's impacting everyone else. For some North Miami residents, a hike in their water bills has many asking for mercy.
When Francisca Alcerro goes to wash her dishes, to cook dinner, or even to bathe, she doesn't reach for the faucet. Instead, she has to twist off a cap.
"These bottles of water, every day I buy them," Francisca said.
She and her family have gone without running water in their North Miami home for more than two weeks. Her daughter-in-law must bathe 5-year-old Michelle with bottled water. The city shut off their service because Francisca can't pay the bill. She is a widow and her 25-year-old tire business is on the verge of collapse. Her family can't help her either, as they too are out of work.
"Life is very difficult because the situation is very, very bad. The lights as much as the water, and the gas," Francisca said.
North Miami recently added a nearly 50 dollar fee to every quarterly water bill for residents. That increase has pushed Francisca's dreams of a shower at home again, even farther out of reach.
"I cry a lot, I'm always crying, asking God to help me keep moving forward," Francisca admitted.
Francisca is not alone in her plight; businesses are hurting from the fee hike in their water bills as well.
"I've gotten gray hair because of this, it's very stressful," said Beverly Hilton, the owner of a pre-school that serves lower-income families. Her water bills have tripled and the city has cut her service several times because she couldn't find the money to pay the bill.
Frank Burns, the mayor of North Miami, said the city had to raise water rates in order to expand and update a water treatment facility. "It's a tough time for everybody, but you can imagine where we would be without fresh drinking water every day," Burns said.
Francisca wants to understand that idea, but for her, it's hard to think of the greater good, when she's close to losing everything.
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