In Nancy Needham’s “Water will cost more despite residents’ appeals” article of Oct. 1, she states that public works director Mark Watkins said, “The city doesn’t want to punish a business because it is successful” so the water rate tiered system will only be applied to residents.

These business will soon cease to be successful, however, as the city residents find that whatever little extra money they may have had will now go to to pay their water bill.

Water is a necessity, not a luxury; we have no choice: Without water, we cannot live.

These outrageous increases amount to legalized theft. Throughout history, we, the taxpaying middle class, the little guy and the poor, have been the good flock of sheep that are constantly sheared over and over again until we have no more wool to give.

Actually, there is another word for what’s happening to us, but it’s unprintable here.

I’m willing to bet my new 35 percent rate increased water bill that the City Council members have excellent benefits and retirement packages.

They’ll need them when we, the sheep, vote out these crooks come next election. N.J. Smeets Westlake Village