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What are the local political (municipal) causes behind the Detroit water shutoffs? 


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The Detroit water shutoffs stem from historical government-sanctioned racial residential segregation policies that persist today, leading to a decrease in black homeownership and wealth, and diverting taxpayer funds away from essential services like water . Austerity-driven accounting practices are used to justify water disconnections, reflecting urban governance characterized by "rule by accountancy" . News coverage often frames the crisis as an economic burden on the city, attributing responsibility to the government while neglecting the human rights and health implications for affected residents . Invisible water insecurity in Detroit disproportionately affects Black households in impoverished areas due to structural disadvantages rooted in a legacy of racism and segregation . The municipal causes of the Detroit water shutoffs thus intertwine historical racial segregation, austerity measures, and inadequate government responses, exacerbating water insecurity in the city.

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The paper does not directly address the specific local political (municipal) causes behind the Detroit water shutoffs.
The Detroit water shutoffs were primarily framed as a government failure, attributing responsibility to the city's government for the ongoing crisis, as highlighted in local newspapers.
The Detroit water shutoffs are influenced by historical racial segregation policies, diverting funds from public services to benefit elites, reflecting systemic racism and economic disparities in municipal governance.
Accounting practices in Detroit justified water disconnections as part of austerity urbanism, reflecting political decisions to manage finances, impacting social relations and urban conditions.

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