Sept. 17, 2008 march on Lansing, Michigan demanding the passage of SB 1306, which would impose a two-year moratorium on foreclosures in the state. (Photo: Alan Pollock).
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Call Gov. Granholm at 517-373-3400
Action: Moratorium NOW! Coalition Wants Winter Halt to Utility Shut-offs--Group Writes Letter to Gov. Granholm to Impose Moratorium
Contact: Abayomi Azikiwe, 313.671.3715
Address: 5920 Second Avenue, Detroit MI, 48202
URL: http://moratorium-mi.org
Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop Foreclosures, Evictions & Utility
Shut-offs Calls for Winter Halt to Heating, Electrical and Water
Service Terminations
A recent meeting of the Moratorium NOW! Coalition decided to appeal to Gov. Jennifer Granholm to impose an immediate halt to utility shut-offs in Detroit and throughout the state.
The letter reads in part as follows:
"At our last meeting on Wednesday, November 18, we held extensive
discussions on the economic conditions prevailing in Detroit and
throughout the state. The unemployment rate in Michigan, over 15
percent, is still above what exist in other states around the country.
Despite efforts to stem the tide of rising unemployment, the overall
net job losses remain far too large.
"As a result of high unemployment and underemployment, Michigan's, and particularly Detroit's, foreclosure and eviction rates along with utility shut-offs, are astronomical. In a meeting last summer with executives at DTE Energy, we were informed that over 150,000 of the company's customers have had their services disconnected during the last year."
The Moratorium NOW! Coalition letter to Gov. Granholm continues by saying that:
"Therefore, we are requesting that you utilize your political and
legal authority to impose a moratorium on utility shut-offs beginning
before the Thanksgiving holiday and extening until at least May 1.
"With Winter approaching absent of a moratorium on utility shut-offs,
hundreds of thousands of people around the state risk imminent danger that could result in serious injury, sickness and even death. We only need to remind ourselves of the deaths that occured last year as a result of utility shut-offs. In July the Reed-Owens family of
northwest Detroit lost four members after their power was shut-off by
DTE Energy."
The Moratorium NOW! Coalition is a community-based organization that was formed during the early months of 2008. Since its formation the organization has worked tirelessly to win a moratorium on home
foreclosures, evictions and utility shut-offs in the state of
Michigan.
This group intends to pursue the demand for a declaration of economic emergency in Michigan through public meetings, demonstrations and other actions aimed at organizing people who are the most severely affected by the current economic crisis.
Please call Gov. Granholm to demand the imposition of a Moratorium on utility shut-offs immediately. Her number is (517) 373-3400.
To contact the Moratorium NOW! Coalition just reach out to us on the
numbers listed above.
Abayomi Azikiwe
Moratorium NOW! Coalition
Media Liaison
313.671.3715
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