By Martha Abraham

Off Market Street in Valencia Park, there is a storm drain that serves as a resting place for full grown trees, shrubs and a white deep freezer. Let me say that again; trees, tall, rooted, and thriving are growing in a storm drain designed to ensure that rainwater and runoff pollution are safely diverted away from our communities.

Every time I pass the area, I am reminded of January 22, 2024, the day much of District 4 flooded. I think about the parents who waded through water to bring their children to safety, elders whose homes were swallowed by mud, and the cars that were swept down streets and abandoned. And as I have reflected on this unfortunate event, I’ve come to realize, what turned heavy rain into a human crisis wasn’t just extreme weather, it was neglect. Del

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