FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: “Cut Hair, Not Water!” Event at Brooks Barber Shop

 

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***

Detroit Water Brigade and Brooks Barbershop To Host “Cut Hair, Not Water!” Event

Community to unite in support of barber whose water was wrongfully shut off

Media Contacts:
AtPeace Makita, Spokeswoman
Peace@DetroitWaterBrigade.org, (313)-279-0608

Demeeko Williams, Political Director
Demeeko@DetroitWaterBrigade.org, (313)-279-0608

 

DETROIT –– The Detroit Water Brigade will partner with Brooks Barbershop to provide a day of fun, education, and back-to-school haircuts for Detroit residents this Saturday, September 6th, from 8am to 2pm. The Brigade will provide coupons for free haircuts to the first 50 customers in line at 8am, on a first-come-first-served basis, to help shop owner Antonio Wymes recuperate lost business when water was wrongfully cut off to his barber shop.

“Water is a human right. Especially don't cut anybody off that doesn't owe you. And I don't feel like you should cut anybody off. Let's set up a payment plan – people have to have water. If you don't get water, you're going to die” said Antonio Wymes, owner of Brooks Barbershop.

Wymes' water was shut off last Friday when Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) crews came to turn off the water on a neighboring business. When Wymes informed the crew that his water bill was paid, the crew insisted they had to continue the shutoff because both businesses belonged to the same outside line. Wymes appealed to Fox 2 Problem Solvers, who documented his case. The water was restored later that day. The Mayor's Office, which took control of the DWSD last month from Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr, contacted Wymes to apologize but did not offer compensation for the day of last business during the busy back-to-school season.

“Small businesses are struggling just to survive in the city of Detroit, and the last thing they need is to have their water shut off when they've paid all their bills. If the city is looking for additional revenue, it might begin by targeting the top 40 delinquent corporate accounts that actually owe millions to the Water Department,” said Demeeko Williams, Political Director for the Detroit Water Brigade.

The Detroit Water Brigade is a volunteer-led alliance of compassionate citizens of Detroit and their international allies working to bring emergency relief to families facing water shut offs while advocating for an income-based Water Affordability Plan in Detroit. To learn more visit DetroitWaterBrigade.org