Funds from a toll road may provide a permanent source of funding for the Tijuana River Valley and its crisis of environmental neglect.
Democratic Sen. Steve Padilla introduced a bill this week to authorize allocating funds from the Otay Mesa East Port of Entry toll road to go toward restoring the Tijuana River Valley region, which is facing a massive sewage pollution crisis that has affected the health of its residents and the broader environment as well.
SB 10 would expressly authorize funds from the toll road to be used for water treatment, environmental mitigation, and restoration of the Tijuana River Valley. The funds could be used to improve wastewater infrastructure and related projects to address the sewage crisis.
“The crisis at the Tijuana River comes from decades of neglect,” said Padilla in a statement.
“We must explore every source of funding and every option available to us to finally put an end to the poison in the very air we breathe. We will no longer accept anything but the justice this community deserves.”
Environmental organization American Rivers recently named the Tijuana River Watershed one of the ten most endangered rivers in America, citing decades of raw sewage, toxic waste, and neglect.
Further, a study conducted by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego has found that coastal water pollution transfers to the atmosphere in sea spray aerosol, which can reach people beyond just beachgoers, surfers, and swimmers — increasing the risk of exposure and illness to a greater area of coastal communities.
“In August, our City Council took a decisive step by unanimously approving a resolution to establish a long-term environmental mitigation fund, leveraging the new Otay Mesa East Port of Entry, to specifically address the pollution impacts of transboundary sewage flows from the Tijuana River,” said Imperial Beach mayor Paloma Aguirre.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Senator Padilla for championing this critical issue as legislation today and for his unwavering advocacy for our communities. I strongly urge California legislators to stand with us and support this vital bill.”
Senate Bill 10 is supported by a broad coalition of environmental justice and community organizations. It will be heard in the Senate in the coming months.
