At 7:12 on a warm Saturday morning, a delivery truck eased down a narrow Pasadena street while a jacaranda tree shook purple blossoms onto the pavement. In the driveway, Elena Ruiz stood beside a dumpster packed nearly to its rim. Inside were the remains of a kitchen remodel: splintered cabinets, cracked tile, cardboard, and a sink that had once reflected the morning sun. Her contractor glanced at the clock. The neighbors’ cars were already lining the curb, and the crew needed the driveway clear before the next workday.
