Charging New York City has unjustly siphoned revenue from the city Water Board since 1985, Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer has filed a bill that will tie water rates only to the board's operation, maintenance and new construction projects, prohibit the city from imposing rent on the board and cap water and sewer bills for all New York City residents.
For the past two years, double-digit water rate increases were enacted by the Water Board.
Pheffer's bill would allow for relief of large water and sewer bills imposed on lowincome senior citizen homeowners, similar to programs which offer those seniors real property tax relief.
"We must insure that if we do face rising water and sewer costs, that our most vulnerable population is not without these basic needs due to an inability to pay these exorbitant costs," Pheffer (D- Rockaway) said.
