Grimm Fights “Ludicrous” Water Fees

Representative Michael Grimm expressed outrage at a press conference this past weekend, slamming the city for charging Superstorm Sandy homeowners large water bills for homes that they aren’t even occupying. CBS News is reporting that Grimm wants the city to waive the fees.

According to Grimm, the city has been charging a minimum of $1.19 a day to homeowners regardless of them not actually living in their homes. As a result, people have been receiving “suspended” bills totaling as much as $535.

Grimm proposed a simple solution to the problem that has yet to be implemented.

“All the city needs to do is take all the people who were deferred and check their status,” Grimm told CBS. “If they are not in their homes and they haven’t been able to rebuild yet – for whatever reason – and they can look at the meter, there’s been no water usage whatsoever – then instead of deferring those payments, they should simply waive them.”

Grimm also noted that many displaced homeowners are being charged twice over water bills, a fact that could subject the city to future lawsuits.

“Most of them are still living here on the surrounding areas in Staten Island, and they’re using the water, and that water at another home is being paid for, so the family of four that’s not at home on Midland Beach may be down the road a bit in New Dorp, and they’re paying for their water at that residence,” Grimm told CBS. “So the city shouldn’t get paid, for the same family of four, be paid twice.”

The water bills seem especially unfair for homeowners whose homes are about to be demolished because of Sandy damage. SI Live is reporting that this is the case for Stephanie Argento-Beharovic, who received a $320 bill for a home she will never live in again.

“I have no water, no toilet and no shower. I really want [the city] to consider waiving [the fees],” Argento-Beharovic told SI Live.