San Diego City’s Stormwater Infrastructure & System Management

The City of San Diego has had a stormwater infrastructure problem for years. A 2021 memo from the city’s stormwater department says, “Like all infrastructure, the system has aged and deteriorated. The impacts of these failures in San Diego communities are felt not only when it rains, but year-round as they can cause sinkholes, erosion along coastlines, and pollution backing up into streets and alleys.” And while funding didn’t keep up with needs it was deferred – because let’s face it – San Diego doesn’t get THAT much rain.

Except it did – in 2022 and again in 2023. So a 2024 storm that brought quick, intense rain was able to devastate multiple communities in Southeastern San Diego. While the city has now pledged billions to shore up the deficient system it’s too late for many families who lost everything.

The City of San Diego deserves an onion for their mismanagement of integral infrastructure that is vital to a coastal city at the foot of rivers and mountains. They deserve to receive an onion for their poor planning and dereliction of duty.