Residents in the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico face losing the right to basic utilities if they fail to pay traffic fines.
The city government has made an addition to the municipal code stating that, "The city may decline, fail or cease to furnish utility service to any person who may be in debt to the city for any reason." This means that many families could have their access to water, sewage facilities and gas cut.
During a period of economic crisis, when many families are struggling to pay their basic bills, it is inhumane to cut off their access to these basic necessities. This act will impact more heavily on the low-income community and further the divide between rich and poor. Moreover, it will create an unnecessary health and safety risk in what is predicted to be one of the hottest summers on record.
If you agree that water is a human right and that the treatment of the Las Cruces residents is wholly inappropriate please sign and share this petition.
Dear Mr Udell Vigil,
We, the undersigned, send you this petition in response to the recent addition to the municipal code stating that families will have their basic utilities cut off if they fail to pay their traffic fines.
Access to clean water and sanitation is a human right (UN, July 2010), as representatives of the community you should be responsible for ensuring that such utilities are distributed fairly and completely.
Furthermore, targeting low income families who are struggling through this economic crisis as a way to reduce the city government’s deficit is an abhorrent practice which will further inequality in the city.
Finally, the health and safety risk of taking away water and sanitation from residents is huge and could result in the spread of disease, again, amongst the poorest communities.
Therefore we ask the Las Cruces city council to cease and desist from enforcing this policy.
Thank you for your attention.
