• Aguirre lays out 5-point ‘County Sewage Action Plan’ targeting Toxic Hotspots, School Air Safety, and Economic Threats brought about by Toxic Sewage Crisis
• With No South County Voice on Board of Supervisors, proposed County Budget Dedicates Just 0.02% to new action on the Sewage Crisis
• Mayor Aguirre says “Our families are worth more than a fraction of a percent”
SAN DIEGO, CA — On Wednesday, Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre joined South County residents and school leaders to call for stepped up County action to confront the health and economic impacts of the Tijuana River toxic sewage crisis.
Aguirre laid out a 5-point “County Sewage Action Plan” and called on County leaders to adopt immediate, targeted action in their upcoming budget to eliminate toxic gas hot spots, protect schoolchildren from poor air quality in the area, and authorize a comprehensive health study of the sewage’s impacts aimed at spurring larger scale federal attention and investment to address the crisis.
The call for increased action on the sewage crisis comes as the County of San Diego is deliberating over its proposed $8.5 billion annual budget without a Supervisor representing South County. The County’s proposed budget allocates just .02% to new sewage-related measures – which
SAN DIEGO – To raise awareness about the dangers of underage drinking and reduce youth access to alcohol in their community, students from Montgomery High School’s South Bay Youth 4 Change Leadership Club conducted a community assessment in Otay Mesa. The evaluation, supported by a California Friday Night Live partnership mini-grant, is part of a youth-led campaign to promote responsible alcohol sales and shift social norms around underage drinking. As part of their project, the students visited a liquor store to observe its compliance with California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) laws, assess environmental risk factors, and engage the clerk in a conversation about the importance of protecting youth. The students also distributed educational materials and flyers to raise awareness.
Aguirre said is unacceptable and emblematic of how the South County region continues to be shortchanged by the County of San Diego. Mayor Paloma Aguirre said: “This isn’t just sewage—it’s sickness, school disruption, economic harm – and it’s being given lip service,” Aguirre said. “If this was happening
in La Jolla, no one would blink at doing what’s needed to clean up the mess, but we get shortchanged. Our families are worth more than a fraction of a percent and we need bolder, more urgent action to protect South County across the board. We’re calling on the Board of Supervisors to act now by adopting
real action to protect children and those suffering from the worst impacts of toxic sewage pollution. The County Board needs to stop leaving South County behind and take action now.”
At the press conference, Aguirre and residents unveiled a 5-point County Sewage Action Plan. The full plan calls for the following
Eliminate a toxic
at the Saturn Blvd bridge by fixing a poorly designed bridge that traps river sewage underneath and magnifies toxic odors • Protect schoolchildren with upgraded air filtration and ventilation
that sell
“It was an interesting experience, I thought it would be,” said Josh Martinez Figueroa, 18, a Montgomery High School senior. “I was pleasantly surprised that the clerk agreed to speak with us and took our flyers. His role is important because he is a seller, and his role is to protect his community.”
The students reported six or more
near their school. A smoke shop is also nearby. There are alcohol advertisements on or near these stores. During the assessment, students observed several red flags, including advertisements covering more than 33%
