IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. — Imperial Beach’s mayor is calling on California Gov. Gavin Newsom to join the state legislature in asking the White House to declare the cross-border sewage pollution crisis a national emergency.
Billions of gallons of sewage-polluted water have poured into the United States from Mexico, impacting communities in South San Diego for more than three years. Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre is calling out Newsom’s disparity in its responses to different state crises.
"While we recognize the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rancho Palos Verdes to assist 300 affluent residents affected by shifting land, it is deeply frustrating that a similar level of urgency has not been applied to the ongoing sewage crisis in the Tijuana River, which impacts the health and safety of 750,000 people in south San Diego County," she said.
Sewage contamination has forced the closure of Imperial Beach for more than 1,000 consecutive days, with more than 60 million gallons of sewage flowing into the region daily.
"The Governor's leadership in recognizing the severity of pollution in the Tijuana River as a national emergency is crucial for prioritizing immediate mitigating actions to protect public health and expedite infrastructure projects to help stem the flow of pollution,” Aguirre said.
The severity of the cross-border sewage contamination has garnered the attention of some of the country’s biggest research institutions.
UC San Diego, San Diego State University, UC Riverside, UT Austin, and the National Center for Atmospheric Research have been actively monitoring the pathogens, viruses, chemicals and gases coming from the Tijuana River.
"Our communities feel abandoned by the Governor's administration," said Mayor Aguirre. "Local officials have been advocating for a comprehensive solution for decades, but we can no longer shoulder this burden alone. It's time for the State of California to step up and support our demand for the White House to declare this a national emergency."
WATCH RELATED: Imperial Beach mayor Paloma Aguirre discusses the cross-border sewage crisis