Water Carcerality: Debt Urbanism and the Power of the Lien in New York City

This JWF seminar focused on New York City’s practice of placing “liens” (a legal property claim) against the homes of people who fall behind on water bills. Through tax lien sales the capitalist city generates revenues by transforming household water debt into profitable real estate investment opportunities. Using court records and lien sale data, Lucy Everitt ((Kings College London) shows how this process creates new markets out of utility bills, particularly in low-income racialized neighbourhoods. Her research demonstrates the connections between struggles for water, housing and racial justice.

Speaker: Lucy Everitt, Department of Geography, King´s College London.

Moderated by Katie Meehan, Department of Geography, Kings College London.

Video English: https://youtu.be/2Dp8SUcuSNA

Video Spanish:  https://youtu.be/LQ0zDCatMOI