Leaders of San Diego-based business advocacy groups this week sent a letter to President Joe Biden asking for more help with the U.S.-Mexico border pollution problem.
The letter, dated Thursday, asked Biden “to mitigate the severe pollution crisis impacting the Tijuana River Valley.
“As the leading advocates for the binational business community, we are deeply concerned by transboundary pollution posing a grave threat to public health, the environment, tourism, the economy, and the wellbeing of communities and federal agencies in the region,” the letter stated.
” The collaborative endeavors between local and federal agencies have laid a foundation for comprehensive solutions, but further assistance is imperative,” chamber leaders wrote. “Our community and economy are in dire need. We urge the Biden-Harris Administration to prioritize the health and well- being of our communities and take swift and decisive action to alleviate this pressing threat.”
The letter was copied to Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council of Environmental Quality.
Jerry Sanders, president and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement that direct and growing economic repercussions of border pollution, including diminished tourism and harm to small businesses, “are substantial and cannot be ignored.”
Over the past year, elected officials and activists have expressed increasing concern about pollution and sewage flowing across the border.
County leaders have advocated for more federal government funding and a binational solution in connection with untreated sewage that flows across the U.S.-Mexico border, and into the Tijuana River Valley and waters off South County beaches.
The San Diego Regional Chamber said that in April, it will lead a delegation of more than 150 leaders from across the binational region to Washington, D.C., and “meet with federal officials and policymakers to share the impacts the pollution is having on the health and well-being of communities on both sides of the border, and to advocate for federal support and intervention to address the pollution crisis in the Tijuana River Valley.”
Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre said she was grateful for the regional chambers’ support on the transboundary pollution issue.
“Imperial Beach has been devastated by sewage contaminating our air and coastal waters,” Aguirre said. “Our beaches have been closed for over 820 consecutive days, severely impacting our local economy, which depends on beachgoers and tourists.”
Aguirre said that more help is needed despite Biden’s approval of $156 million this week, as part of the federal government’s $1.2 trillion funding package.
“We urge the Biden-Harris administration to declare a state of emergency so we can begin to mitigate this crisis,” she added.
Along with Sanders, other letter signatories are:
–Marcy Weaver, CEO Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce;
–Martin R. Mattes, president Imperial Beach Chamber of Commerce;
–Rick Wilson, MBA president and CEO, San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce;
–Jason Paguio, president and CEO Asian Business Association San Diego;
–Julie Coker, president and CEO San Diego Tourism Authority;
–James O’Callaghan, president and CEO South County Economic Development Council;
–Mark Cafferty, president and CEO San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.;
–Jason M-B Wells, executive director, San Ysidro Improvement Corp.;
–Alejandra Mier y Teran, executive director, Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce;
–Sherry Yardley, CEO of the Encinitas Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center;
–Sylvie Almeri, executive director French-American Chamber of Commerce;
–Karen Azhocar McManus, chairwoman, National City Chamber of Commerce;
–Scott Ashton, CEO, Oceanside Chamber of Commerce;
–Kristen Dare, president and CEO, Santee Chamber of Commerce; and
–Mary England, president and CEO La Mesa Chamber of Commerce.