Secure Long-term Funding to Address Tijuana River Pollution Crisis
Pass the San Diego Health and Safety Act (Prop B), which would finally provide a dedicated and sustainable funding source for the infrastructure solutions we need to address the Tijuana River pollution crisis.
For decades, billions of gallons of raw sewage, industrial waste, and trash flowing across the US/Mexico border annually have created a public health crisis in South San Diego County and North Baja California. This cross-border pollution affects our entire region.
- Tens of thousands of people have gotten sick from contaminated water and air
- Our beaches have been closed for more than four years
- Our economy and environment suffer daily
Why it keeps happening:
- The Comprehensive Infrastructure Solution (CIS) that's intended to address cross-border pollution is still being implemented
- Existing infrastructure in both the US and Mexico is old and the funding for regular maintenance has yet to be secured
- There's no existing treatment infrastructure for contamination in the river
- There's no existing source of continual funding for operations and maintenance of important infrastructure that keeps people safe
- Contaminated water in the main river channel is entering the air through a process called aerosolization, releasing harmful levels of hydrogen sulfide and other dangerous gasses that are making people sick, especially people who are required to work in impacted environments
Why this makes sense:
The San Diego Health and Safety Act is a county ballot measure that would add a 0.5% sales tax throughout San Diego County, generating hundreds of millions of dollars each year. The funds would go towards supporting vital community and fire prevention programs in addition to solutions in the Tijuana River Valley.
Building political will to fund and prioritize this worsening public health emergency in Southern California and Northern Baja is our biggest challenge in addressing cross-border pollution in the Tijuana River Watershed. The funding provided by this initiative would be the only ongoing funding source to-date and is desperately needed to protect and heal impacted communities and ecosystems.
Learn more about Surfrider's Clean Border Water Now program.