Citizens To Save Our Sewers & Water

SOS WATCH:

PETITIONS ARE READY!!!

If you know of anyone willing to circulate a petition, please contact us at:

330-408-5409.

E-mail:

CitizensSOS@gmail.com

gcoleridge@afsc.org

We need more circulators!

RESOURCES:

Promotional Flyer (pdf)

Top 10 Reasons Why Privatization Fails (pdf)

ENDORSERS:

Food And Water Watch (pdf)

Concerned Citizens Coalition Of Stockton (pdf)

WILPF (pdf)

EVENTS:

MASS PETITION DAY

Saturday June 28th
Mark your calendars now!

Petition to “Let the People Decide”
Saturday, June 28
10 AM

AFSCME Council 8 Akron Headquarters

1145 Massillon Rd., Akron 44306 (off George Washington Blvd.)

330-784-6390

Gather signatures! Build unity and solidarity! Promote direct democracy by doing it!

Bring your petition and walking lists!
If you don’t have any, petitions and walking lists will be available.

Join us! Bring a friend! Keep public utilities public!

Next Coalition Strategy and Action Meeting
Wednesday, June 18, 4:30 PM
190 N. Union St., #101, Akron
Open to all. Join us!

A BIG THANK YOU!

Community Forum report

Our May 28 Community Forum was a huge success! More than 100 community leaders and citizens turned out to hear:

Jon Keesecker from Food and Water Watch in Washington, DC present the pitfalls of privatization from experiences elsewhere across the country and how we can stop selling or leasing Akron’s sewer system.
Michael McDonald, former head of the Stockton, California Municipal Utilities Department, lay out how the mayor of that city forced their city council to support the transfer of their water system to a transnational corporation — with disastrous results.
Steve Pickard from the Akron district of AFSCME Ohio Council 8 commit their union to doing everything they can to support Akron sewer workers (Local 1360) and work to pass the citizen initiative.

A copy of the Beacon Journal article is at www.akronohio.net (hit the link to “Current News.”)

Dozens of additional petitions were handed out. Hundreds of petitions already have been distributed.

Thanks to AFSCME Local 1360 for adjusting their schedule to allow this event to take place at the union hall at the end of their normal monthly meeting.

June 14th Event A HUGE Success!

Thanks to all that braved the rain and weather to gather signatures. We had a great turnout, and it was wonderful to see so many new faces.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

CITIZENS TO SAVE OUR SEWERS AND WATER

OVERVIEW:

Citizen Initiative Requires Voter Approval Before Sale of
Akron Sewer, Utilities

A coalition of citizens, labor, faith, and community organizers
have formed Citizens' SOS (Save Our Sewer and Water) to
prevent the sale of any Akron utility without voter approval.

A petition initiative to change the Akron Charter would require any
sale, lease, etc. of any Akron utility be decided by the citizens
of Akron. The group will gather the required signatures of Akron
registered voters to place the charter amendment on the November
ballot, beginning May 3rd and will continue throughout the summer.

Several community meetings and showings of the movie Thirst
(a documentary about privatization of utilities) have attracted
hundreds of people expressing interest in keeping the control of
Akron utilities in the hands of it's citizens. Citizens' SOS was
formed as a result.

Those interested in signing or circulating petitions,
endorsing the initiative, or to learn more are encouraged to contact: CitizensSOS@gmail.com or gcoleridge@afsc.org for more information.

PETITION LANGUAGE:

SALE, LEASE, OR TRANSFER OF CITY UTILITIES

Any action by the Council or Mayor of the City of Akron to sell, transfer, or lease any part of any interest in any City owned utility shall be without force and effect unless and until it is approved by a majority of votes cast by the electors of the City of Akron at the next general election occurring at least 90 days after such action.