Great coverage on American Water

To the Editor:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Herald/Gazette for its continued coverage of the injustice our community is fighting with N.Y. American Water.  You have been there from the very beginning with the maintenance issue of the Glen Head water tower to the present in our ongoing fight for affordable water. Journalists Alyssa Seidman and her predecessor, Nakeem Grant, have done an outstanding job explaining the problems and outlining the critical points and solutions to our residents in the articles that they wrote. 

The Herald/Gazette truly comprehends the degree of this problem!  This fight for public municipal water at public municipal prices is a “sleeper” issue that will affect the entire United States if we, the people, do not stand up and say that this is not right. 

The Federal Government has slashed its budget for water infrastructure by 74 percent since 1977 (in real terms). Many cities and towns across this nation have opted to sell their water companies to private companies, like American Water, with the hope of balancing its budgets.  However, the loss of control over their water companies has shown in virtually every case that customers pay more for their water. They are also slapped with continuous, ridiculous increases in rates, taxes and surcharges.  Many cities and towns realize the huge repercussions of this privatization mistake and fight back to take control of their water. Some are successful, others are not.

With the Herald/Gazette by our side supporting our cause, I know that we will ultimately, win this war! 

Agatha Nadel

Glen Head