To the editor:

I moved to Pelham 24 years ago after looking at houses in several other surrounding towns and cities. My family and I settled on buying a house in Pelham because we were drawn to its excellent school system, sense of community and small town feel. Where neighbors are always willing to help each other. I have never regretted my decision to move here, and my feelings about Pelham remain the same. With that said, I beg the board of education to grant an easement or a property transfer to install a storm-water detention system at Julianne’s Playground to assist the residents of north Pelham and the Highbrook Avenue area and show that sense of community toward all residents of Pelham.

The storm last September that caused flooding was particularly concerning because one of my neighbors almost lost her life. She lived in the basement apartment at 511 Sixth Ave. Firefighters had to rescue her. Water had entered her apartment and was so high she was at risk of drowning. That was bad enough, but an ambulance was called and it couldn’t drive down the block. She had to walk in knee deep water with only shoes on to the ambulance. Imagine if that was your mother, grandmother, wife or sister. Does it take someone dying for all parties opposed to the flood mitigation to realize the severity of the situation? So when the issue is discussed, I beg you to realize the flooding in these areas does not only affect our valuables and diminish our property values… It can also affect human life. Please be that community that I know the Town of Pelham to be and show compassion and understanding for a situation that is totally out of the control of the residents in north Pelham and the Highbrook Avenue area.

Tanya Santiago

510 Sixth Ave.