A tired California couple was ordered to stop self-repairing local roads that the local government wouldn’t fix, causing several problems with their vehicles.
Alex and Daisy De La Rosa received a cease and desist letter from the city of Compton because they took it upon themselves to fill potholes that wreaked havoc on city streets.
The couple, who work as couriers in the city, with Daisy driving and Alex delivering packages, started the side project after untimely potholes led to several flat tires, suspension problems and a few arguments, according to KABC .
“It first started in our block across the street from our house and we saw the situation got better,” Daisy told the outlet. “So he says, ‘Let’s do it.’ I’m like, “But we don’t have a lot of money.” He says ‘It doesn’t matter.’ One pothole at a time.
The De La Rosas quickly began posting their repairs on social media, which caught the attention of other community members who were also tired of the poor road conditions.
“Everywhere in our city of Compton there are huge potholes. We constantly hit them and it causes significant damage to our vehicles, causes flat tires, and ruins our suspension,” Daisy De La Rosa wrote of the crowdsourcing campaign.
“We’ve asked the city for help, but they can’t keep up. Many of us work hard and can’t afford these expensive repairs.
At first, the parents of four paid out of pocket, avoiding as many road hazards as possible, but they quickly started a GoFundMe to receive donations to help pay for needed supplies.
“My husband and I have taken matters into our own hands and are filling the holes ourselves. People were very grateful to donate, so we can continue to buy bags of asphalt.
The couple received $1,730 of the $1,000 goal they set.
In one of the videos posted to TikTok, the couple is helped by what appears to be two of their young children, filling a relatively large pothole with bagged asphalt.
While their work began to attract attention, it was quickly halted after the couple received the ironic letter from Compton’s Community Improvement Services Department due to the unauthorized road repairs.
“Your actions have raised serious concerns because they pose a threat to public safety and the integrity of our city’s infrastructure,” read the letter dated March 14, according to ABC 7. “It is imperative that all maintenance and repair work on public roads is carried out in accordance with established regulations and procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and visitors.
Fines, fees and “potential liability for damages suffered as a result of (their) actions” were among the potential sanctions listed in the letter.
The couple was upset that they had to stop the project before lambasting city officials for not clearly defining their priorities.
“We were able to bring attention to the ongoing problem we have in our city! We have seen that if we take matters into our own hands and speak out, we are able to embarrass people with power and make our money worth it again.
“Unfortunately, they were very quick to arrest us, but not very quick to help us! Very big difference between the two,” added Daisy De La Rosa.
In 2023, Arnold Schwarzenegger took matters into his own hands and filled a giant pothole that had been blighting his Los Angeles neighborhood for weeks.
“Today, after the whole neighborhood was turned upside down by this giant pothole that has been blocking cars and bikes for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it. I always say: let’s not complain, let’s do something. There you have it,” the former governor of California tweeted.
New York Post
