DETROIT, MI - "The Daily Show with John Stewart" brought the Detroit water shutoffs back into the national spotlight Monday night, but the show cited some outdated information, according to Detroit city officials.
"Daily Show" reporter Jessica Williams said in 5-minute-long piece that while the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has been busy shutting off water to residential customers with unpaid bills, the city has been taking it easy on commercial customers that haven't paid their water bills.
Williams pointed at Ford Field, Joe Louis Arena and Palmer Park Golf Course in particular after Atpeace Makita, the Detroit Water Brigades's creative director, said on camera that corporate accounts like Joe Louis Arena owe hundreds of thousands of dollars to the city
"Turns out the Lions, the Red Wings and even the local golf course collectively owed millions," Williams said during the segment.
Curtrise Garner, DWSD spokeswoman, said Thursday that "The Daily Show" was wrong.
"The information that 'The Daily Show' aired was outdated," Garner said in an email. "The commercial accounts that were mentioned...are current on their accounts and were current well before the segment was taped a few weeks ago."
Garner said that Palmer Park Golf Course has a storm water bill, not a regular water bill. The bill is currently being disputed by the company that manages the course.
"When a bill is being disputed - commercial or residential - the home or building is removed from shut-off status." Garner said.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Vargo Golf, owner of Palmer Park Golf Course, had account balance of $437,714 in mid July.
Vargo Golf was one of around 40 commercial or industrial accounts that with high delinquent balances.
Garner said that shutoffs peaked in June, when 7,210 accounts were disconnected, but that number has fallen to 3,831 shutoffs in October.
"Approximately 1,400 of those accounts were attached to vacant structures," Garner said, and "2,350 of those (in October) whose service was shut off status in October contacted DWSD and had it restored within two days of shutoff after making a payment or payment arrangements."
The city began shutoffs last spring, cutting off water to delinquent customers owing more than $150 or two months of bills.
Watch William's report below:
The Daily Show
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Ian Thibodeau is the entertainment and business reporter for MLive Detroit. He can be reached at ithibode@mlive.com, or follow him on Twitter.