A group of Saint-Leonard residents came together Monday at the borough’s monthly council meeting to express their continued frustration with officials and to demand flood protection measures amid forecasts of heavy rain this summer.
Residents say that the borough officials have not done and are not doing enough to address the flooding problem that has caused extensive damage to garages and basements of numerous families in the area for decades.
“We need the money to do the work, because clearly the City of Montreal is in the red. They don’t have the money, but the people are suffering, and we can no longer stay quiet,” said Mario Napolitano, a member of the Saint-Leonard Citizens’ Committee.
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Experts predict above normal rain and thunderstorms this summer in Quebec, as has already occurred in recent weeks.
“Every time it rains, we’re worried, we can’t sleep, we can’t go on vacation. It can’t continue like this. Something needs to be done,” said one Saint-Leonard resident.
The possibility of heavy rains worries residents, still reeling from the damage suffered in the past and fearful of further damage to their homes.
“The flooding that has been occurring since the 1980s, it’s a recurring problem,” said a longtime resident in the borough. “People are not able to insure their properties, their property value has diminished, and it’s time for action.”
Another resident echoed the call for immediate action, saying, “We need this to be corrected now, because this is an issue for society. You cannot leave a city with decrepit understructure that is making our lives impossible to enjoy. That is the issue, and that’s where the frustration is.”
CityNews has reached out to the borough of Saint-Leonard and awaits a response.
