Fighting for Our Beaches & Clean Water – An Update from D.C.

I just walked out of a critical meeting with the Environmental Protection Agency here in Washington, D.C., and I wanted to share an update.

As you know, one of Southern California’s greatest assets is our coastline. Our beaches are not only beautiful—they’re a part of our identity. We get to live where others vacation. But that blessing is being threatened by a crisis that has gone unresolved for far too long.

For decades now, the Tijuana sewage crisis has poisoned our waters, closed beaches for more than 1,000 days, and made people sick—including our U.S. Navy SEALs who train off our coast. It’s unacceptable, and we cannot let this environmental disaster continue.

Many of you have told me you’ve lost hope—"It’s been 50 years, nothing’s going to change." But I refuse to accept that. Just now, I sat down with officials from the Environmental Protection Agency to show them what we’re facing. I brought videos, pictures, and the voices of our community directly to their table. And I’m encouraged to report—they’re engaged. This administration has made addressing the sewage crisis a priority.

But words aren’t enough—we need action. And it starts by holding Mexico accountable and ensuring we keep our water clean and safe.

Here's what millions of gallons of sewage looks like entering our country.

I will continue to fight every step of the way because I believe we can solve this. It’s going to take leadership, persistence, and a whole lot of pressure—but together, we can get it done.

San Diego County District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond | April 9, 2025

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