Joliet Demands Affordable Water NOW

Over 500 people have signed our petition calling for Joliet to guarantee clean, affordable water to every resident.

The working families of Joliet have spoken out in solidarity, calling for an immediate cap on the price of water and a banning of residential water shutoffs.

Even before the City Council voted to increase the average cost of water to $138/month, the Guerrero for Joliet team was hard at work researching an innovative solution that would guarantee equitable access to clean, affordable drinking water for every family in Joliet.

What we proposed was an immediate ban on water utility shutoffs and an immediate cap on the cost of water. In order to finance the planned pipeline to Lake Michigan (as well as the capital improvements to Joliet’s water system that the city council has neglected to address) Cesar advanced a plan that calls for a common sense pricing structure that would charge major water users, such as heavy industry, more per gallon so that working families aren’t the ones stuck with the bill.

Not only have 526 people signed the petition as of March 12, but hundreds more have told Guerrero for Joliet canvassers that they support this initiative with 82% of those polled supporting the measure and only 2% opposing it.

Guerrero has also proposed prioritizing building support with state and federal officials, such as Congresswoman Newman and Congressman Garcia (both of whom have endorsed Guerrero) to bring federal infrastructure dollars home to help reduce the expense to Joliet taxpayers.

Cesar Guerrero speaking to a voter in West Joliet

After just a few weeks, the verdict is out. Not only have 526 people signed the petition as of March 12, but hundreds more have told Guerrero for Joliet canvassers that they support this initiative with 82% of those polled supporting the measure and only 2% opposing it.

Water is a human right, and no family in the richest nation on Earth should have to struggle to pay their water bill. This issue transcends politics, and has drawn support from across the political spectrum, which is why we will be calling on all candidates running for office in Joliet to add their names to the Non-Political Joliet Affordable Water Pledge to show their support for this policy as a matter of life and death for our community.

The pledge will be distributed publicly over the next week and this post will be updated with a link to the live document.

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