Yesterday, San Diego County officials put their unanimous stamp of approval on two legislative moves to tackle the enduring sewage problem pouring out of the Tijuana River. Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer spearheaded the board's support for state and federal bills that promise to speed up the region's response to South County's environmental fiasco that's been a thorn for ages, sources tell us. “Our families deserve clean water, safe air, and healthy beaches — and these common-sense bills will help us get there faster,” Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer is quoted as saying in a statement.
The support from the San Diego County Board of Supervisors paves the way for some significant steps forward. State Senate Bill 10, courtesy of Sen. Steve Padilla, could rearrange how SANDAG uses toll revenue from the anticipated Otay East Port of Entry, funneling those funds into sewage treatment and mitigation efforts. House Resolution 1948, brought to the table by Rep. Scott Peters, is all about letting the International Boundary and Water Commission accept various funding sources for crucial water and flood control projects, according to Lawson-Remer's official statement.
This new windfall of support for the bills rides on the back of a hefty $650 million federal investment, aimed at getting the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant up to snuff. "Senate Bill 10 authorizes SANDAG to renegotiate a deal that allocates federal toll funds to finally create dedicated funding to address the source of this pollution," said Sen. Padilla. "Without a permanent source of funds, this problem will poison yet another generation of San Diegans," Lawson-Remer's official statement reveals.
