The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department says it has surpassed its goal for enrolling residents in its new Easy Pay program.  The department had projected 30,000 enrollees but instead drew more than 34,000 participants. 

The program is designed to help residents who have fallen behind in their water bill payments.   Detroiters can pay $10 to get into the program the first month and then in subsequent months pay their normal water bill and an extra $34.17 to eliminate any overdue balances.  Participation in the program is geared to keep residents from dealing with water service shutoffs. 

Detroiters can sign-up by calling 313-267-8000 or use the DWSD Customer Self-Service Portal. 

Additional headlines from Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025

County leaders ask state government to fix roads

The leaders of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties are asking for the state government to get its act together when it comes to fixing Michigan’s roads. 

Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel wrote a joint editorial to the Detroit Free Press saying the state needs to do more to improve roads. 

Legislators have not reached a deal for long-term road funding. The trio of executives calls for bi-partisan efforts to find money for roads before the current funding runs out. 

Evans, Coulter and Hackel say the economic health of the region depends on the area’s strong infrastructure. 

Dearborn Education Foundation adds member to board

The Dearborn Education Foundation has a new member.  The non-profit organization announced the addition of Mary Hammoud to the board in a news release.

Hammoud attended Dearborn public schools and Wayne State University.  She currently works as a pharmacy manager. 

The Dearborn Education Foundation’s mission is to fund programs and projects that benefit public school students in the city. 

Tomorrow marks anniversary of the March on Washington

Thursday, August 28 is the anniversary of the March on Washington. 

On August 28th, 1963, nearly 250,000 people from around the country marched to the Mall in Washington D.C. to hear remarks from civil rights activists.  The climax of the event was Doctor Martin Luther King, Junior’s “I Have A Dream” speech. 

Detroit was well-represented at the March – with hundreds of area residents attending the event.  Among them was the Reverend Nicholas Hood, Senior – then pastor of Plymouth United Congregational Church.  Back in 2013, he shared his memories of the day with me. 

“We endured all of the speeches leading up to Doctor King…and ‘what could he say?’  Well, I’m telling you, he just mesmerized the audience.  He electrified the audience,” said Hood.  “And when he got to the ‘I have a dream’ portion, there was a rhythm to it.  And when he got into the rhythm, people all throughout the mall got into the rhythm with him. ‘I have a dream.  I have a dream.’  And he was saying something.”

Reverend Hood worked with Doctor King and other civil rights leaders in the 1950’s when he lived in New Orleans.  Hood died in 2016. 

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