SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — San Diego County Chairwoman Nora Vargas plans to provide her constituents with air purifiers to fight the smell and airborne pollution in the Tijuana River Valley.
Raw sewage from Tijuana has flowed into the valley north of the border for decades, especially during storms.
Studies in recent years have shown how bacteria from the sewage is getting into the air and making nearby residents sick.
County health statistics also show more people in the area are coming down with digestive and intestinal illnesses than ever before.
Vargas says her office has received numerous complaints from residents regarding the stench from transboundary pollutants in the Tijuana River Valley.
Through a written statement, Vargas told Border Report she has been advocating for long-term solutions, such as securing federal funding and declaring a state of emergency.
“The purifiers will provide immediate relief from the Tijuana River crisis by seeking funding opportunities for the procurement of indoor air purifiers to mitigate the odors caused by sewage flows,” wrote Vargas.
A plan to pay for the purifiers and their distribution has yet to be developed.
The County’s Interim Chief Administrative Officer will explore funding options for the procurement of the air purifiers according to Vargas.
Paul Lopez, who lives about 200 yards from the Tijuana River Valley, said he “would be happy to get a purifier, anything to help with the stinky smell.”
Lopez believes his neighbors would also get behind the idea.
While folks in the area appear to favor Vargas’ plan, not everyone is for it.
“There are a lot of unknowns,” said Paul Henkin, who does not live near the Tijuana River, but is a county resident and taxpayer.
“I feel for the people in the valley, but I just don’t think that’s a good idea. I’d rather see my taxpayer dollars going to actually fixing the problem.”
Vargas insists she is “deeply committed to addressing the biggest environmental and social justice crisis of our lifetime.”
The idea of the purifiers will be discussed during Tuesday’s scheduled board meeting.
Read: Read More