City of Portland Bureau of Maintenance

«‘In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.» –Benjamin Franklin
In 1817, Ben was right on the money with this quote. Unfortunately, there is another inevitability in Portland today. Every time we get moderate to heavy rain, an effing lake… no, make that two effing lakes will develop on SE Powell Blvd. on the east side of 82^nd Ave. Every time. Did I say every time? Because what I meant was EVERY TIME.
I’m sure that when Kenny’s Noodle House signed their lease, they didn’t realize that they would have a moat to protect them from their customers. Bonus! If only the lease came with a drawbridge as well.
Not to worry, though, I’m sure the bus-​riding folk on the south sidewalk enjoy being hit tidal waves as commuters attempt to ford Lake Powell. If this were the Oregon Trail game, I’m sure that half my wagon would have drowned by now. I face this thing seemingly daily during the «rainy season» (and we all know what that mean in Portland).
I would love to give the Bureau of Maintenance the benefit of the doubt on this one, but it’s been happening for at least the five years that I’ve lived in Southeast… and probably longer. It’s not like this problem is a secret. They put out «High Water» signs every couple weeks to mock us poor commuters. How many cars have to be swallowed whole by these savage lakes before someone fixes the dadgum storm drains?