At a recent public health meeting in San Diego, I joined dozens of my neighbors to hear about the ongoing environmental crisis in the Tijuana River Valley. We are all there, I thought, to get answers.
But during a break, as I listened, instead of talking about our contaminated drinking water, my neighbors started gossiping about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding: the over-the-top production, her five wedding dresses, the exclusive guest list. They even knew minute details about their decor.
And I couldn’t help but wonder: when did we become a society that cares more about a celebrity wedding thousands of miles away than a public health nightmare unfolding in our own backyards?
For decades, millions of gallons of untreated sewage, industrial waste,and urban runoff have crossed the U.S-Mexico border through the Tijuana River watershed, contaminating drinking water, emitting foul odors and closing beaches.
In 2025, researchers from the UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography found that pollution from the Tijuana River was releasing significant quantities of hydrogen sulfide gas and other airborne contaminants into nearby communities. Residents have reported concerns about headaches, respiratory irritation, fatigue and other symptoms associated with exposure to the pollution.
And while this crisis clearly affects our day-to-day lives, we still struggle to give it as much attention as we do the latest celebrity news.
This disconnect matters because local government decisions often have a greater influence on our daily lives than the actions of any celebrity. A city council vote can affect housing availability. A county budget decision can determine funding for public health programs. A school board policy can influence educational opportunities for thousands of students. Decisions regarding infrastructure can affect commute times, public safety and economic development. These issues may not generate viral headlines, but their consequences are real, measurable and long-lasting.
As a legislative specialist who helps research, analyze, and draft county legislation, I see firsthand how local government decisions shape our daily lives. County policies influence public health programs, environmental protections, housing initiatives, transportation projects and the services residents rely on every day.
Yet many of the elections that determine who makes these decisions attract relatively little public participation. Research has shown that voter turnout in local government elections is often below 20%, meaning that a small portion of the population is frequently making decisions that affect entire communities. When residents are unaware of local issues or disengaged from local government, important decisions can be made without broad public input.
This reality becomes particularly relevant when communities face challenges such as rising healthcare costs, environmental concerns in the Tijuana River Valley, housing affordability, or funding decisions that affect public services. These issues rarely receive the same level of attention as celebrity news, yet they have a far greater impact on our daily lives. The more informed and engaged residents are, the better equipped communities are to influence the policies that directly affect their health, finances and quality of life.
But this is bigger than San Diego County.
Statistics show that on average only 18%-25% of Americans vote in mid-term primary elections that are consequential in determining the makeup of Congress. And yet, during every season of the hit reality show, Love Island, some 35% percent of Love Island app users actively cast votes during major seasons; a stunning 10 million people are registered on that app.
The media often gets the blame for this. But the media is only responding to demand for celebrity stories. This brand of gossip dominates because millions of us choose them every day. Media organizations respond to audience interests, and celebrity stories often generate more clicks, views, and engagement than stories about government meetings or public health investigations. If we’re being honest, the stories that dominate our news feeds reflect the choices we make as consumers of information.
To be sure, entertainment serves an important role in society. It’s a welcome distraction from daily stress, creates shared cultural experiences, and offers easy conversation starters among friends, coworkers and family members. But it is more important than ever to stay informed about local and national issues. These are the issues that affect our daily lives and the lives of those around us.
The Tijuana River Valley crisis serves as a reminder that some of the most important stories are not always the most viral or visible. While there is nothing wrong with following entertainment news, communities are best served when residents also pay attention to the local issues that shape their daily lives.
The next time a celebrity story dominates the headlines, it may be worth asking another question: What important local issue am I overlooking? For residents of South San Diego, the answer may be flowing through the Tijuana River Valley, affecting public health, environmental quality and the future of the region.
Noor Zoma is a Public Voices Fellow on public health with The OpEd Project and Blue Shield of California Foundation.
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