Houston mayor says residents' high water bills 'will be actively dismissed'
HOUSTON - City of Houston Water bills - gigantic, debilitating and inexplicable, triggering painful anxiety for far too many middle and working-class households.
"It's an insane amount of money," said Elizabeth Ruiz of the $21,000 balance the City claims her parents owe.
For the growing legion of Houstonians blindsided by four and even five-figure water tabs, Mayor John Whitmire says he'll be offering rapid, unconditional relief that's long overdue.
"You can call it an amnesty if you want to, I call it a dismissal. It's going to be proactive," said Whitmire at City Hall.
The new Mayor says he's ordered a deliberate, aggressive reckoning for the water department's flawed billing process.
"We are going to have a computer run. It's our desire to notify folks to disregard. We are going to come back and do a fair average amount from your previous months. It's going to be user-friendly. We are going to remember and demonstrate who we work for," said Whitmire.
It's the kind of lasting relief that for many familes, can't come soon enough.
"This is extreme and ridiculous, and I don't think it makes sense," said Ruiz.
In what could be seen as "proof of performance," Elizabeth Ruiz's family received word from the City that their $21,000 outstanding water bill has been reduced to a total of $203.
Houston residents slammed with massive, unexplained water bills were announced some welcome relief.
Mayor John Whitmire addressed the issue "head-on" after telling reporters the "outrageous bills will be actively dismissed."
Whitmire also stated the city will be running a computer analysis of the impacted households and issuing a new bill based on average consumption.
The Houston mayor says he's preparing to release details of his water bill relief plan later this week.