SAN DIEGO — Another 700 people filed suit last week against the city of San Diego over flooding that happened earlier this year. They allege the city's storm drains were not properly maintained.
Using emergency funding, the city cleaned out storm drains in Mountain View and Southcrest days after the floods washed out hundreds of homes on January 22.
Today, the brush has grown back at the National Avenue bridge near South 41st Street. “This is a common issue right here. You see the bamboo grows back in about 60 days,” said Larry Zajonc, a homeowner in the area.
“My message to the city would be, don't spend the money that you get to clean out the storm water control channels on bike lanes. Spend it on cleaning out the storm water control channels, and you won't have flooding,” said Zajonc.
Attorney Domenic Martini filed the most recent lawsuit, alleging the city is spending money in the wrong places.
“The city's got a pattern and practice of taking a look at these areas of south San Diego that tend to be poorer, right? And diverting the funds and the resources away from those areas to the tourist areas, the beaches, La Jolla,” said Martini.
One of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit is Alliance San Diego in Barrio Logan. The nonprofit’s director, Andrea Guerrero, said the floods caused more than $100, 000 in damages to their offices.
“The city did very little to invest in cleaning out the channels and the storm drains. Instead, they invested that money in wealthier, more affluent parts of the city at our expense,” said Guerero.
In May, attorney Evan Walker filed a lawsuit against the city on behalf of about 300 flood victims. Walker said his firm now is representing about 500 individuals and businesses.
Walker said the cases likely will be combined to be heard before the same judge. The next hearing is set for October 11 before Judge Marcella McLaughlin in the downtown courthouse.
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