Avella’s water bill passes Senate

If passed by the state Assembly, Avella's bill would eradicate minimum water charges.

By Alex Robinson June 20, 2014

The state Senate passed Sen. Tony Avella’s (D-Bayside) bill to eliminate minimum water charges Monday.

“The state Senate took a vote against an unjust fee which has placed a burden on the most vulnerable residents in the city of New York,” Avella said. “This charge was never intended to serve as a revenue-generating measure that it is today. The premise, at the time, was to encourage people to conserve water and only pay for the amount that they use.”

Avella criticized the minimum charge as unfair to seniors, people who live alone and those who do not use much water.

The bill now has to pass through the state Assembly, where Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Fresh Meadows) is serving as sponsor.

Avella also served as co-sponsor on a bill that passed the upper chamber Monday which would cap annual water rate hikes the city Water Board can impose at 5 percent.