As we debuted in last month’s Mission Times Courier, this column is meant to help readers bring positive change to their neighborhoods.
We want to know about issues in your neighborhood you’d like to see change for the better. Such issues can be improving streets, business properties and more.
If you have an issue in your neighborhood you’d like to see change, email your pictures to: [email protected].
Provide a little background information to include what the problem is, what neighborhood in the Mission Times or College Times Courier circulation areas and so on. Please also include a phone number (not for print or the web) so we can contact you with any questions.
This month we look at a San Carlos neighborhood and issues with storm drainage.
According to one resident on Decanture Street, there is a storm drain system problem that has existed on the person’s street since 2013.
The resident notes they have been trying to get the City of San Diego to fix this problem in front of their home since June of 2015. According to the resident, the problem is an “environmental hazard.” The resident added their last correspondence with officials was on April 21, 2021. That was with Councilman Raul Campillo to outline the history of the problem. According to the resident, nothing has been done.
In July of 2013, city workers reportedly dug up the street in front of the resident’s driveway and replaced a portion of the storm drain pipe clogged with sediment. The resident added workers installed a “bypass” pipe to carry all the storm drain water from the street. It reportedly goes out through a hole in the curbing and into the street in front of their house. The work done was reportedly a temporary fix. Eight years later, nothing has reportedly been done to correct it.
As the resident points out, the system is clogged with sediment and likely puts stress on the whole system throughout the neighborhood when water does not flow properly. They added the bypass installed in front of the house has led to an environmental mess on the street.
That said when will officials responsible for this issue take action?
We reached out to Campillo’s office. According to Senior District Representative and Policy Advisor Vic Vettiyil, this is the first he’s heard of the matter. He said he would look into it and provide an update directly to the residents as soon as he hears from city staff. In a follow up message, Vettiyil indicated there would be action through folks at the storm water division.
Such action would involve the stormwater engineering team reviewing the resident’s concerns. The code enforcement team would visit the site to assess the source of runoff and provide any needed enforcement. Finally, the sweeping team would clean the street to take away debris and algae as best as possible.
Let us hope this is true and the area will get the fix it needs.
Photo credit: Julius Kukta
