When the rain really starts falling on the People’s Park neighborhood on the east side of Paterson, Yolanda Mateo says her street looks more like a river.
Sewage-contaminated water floods her basement and flows out of her toilet; cars have looked like they’re “swimming” on 21st Street.
A few doors down on 20th Avenue, Elias Hernandez worries about the health of his 3-year-old son. He says his basement floods with filthy, foul-smelling water anytime it rains a heavy amount in a short period of time. The contaminated water can leave behind bacteria harmful to human health.
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