Is It Toxic?

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News Date
10/25/24
Description

What are 500 of your fellow San Diego County residents demanding? What policy did we pass this week after a deadlocked vote? And what product is being unsafely mislabeled in our community? Unlike many of life’s questions, these have answers – and they’re all right here!

Sending Your Say to the EPA 

Joined by regional leaders and a petition signed by hundreds of residents, I announced yesterday that I have officially requested the Environmental Protection Agency to investigate the Tijuana River Valley for potential Superfund designation.

We need the EPA to come in and tell us once and for all if there is toxic waste in the ground and water. This request seeks federal intervention to address decades of pollution from toxins, sewage, and industrial waste that have flowed into the valley from Mexico, threatening the environment and public health.

The request, submitted to EPA Region 9 Administrator Martha Guzman, asks for a formal investigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund. 

Local leaders, including Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre and National City Councilmember Marcus Bush, echoed our calls for immediate federal action, citing the widespread environmental and health impacts.

I would like to thank the residents who shared personal stories about the impacts of the pollution, from beach closures and health risks to economic hardships. These testimonials highlight the impacts of this crisis that has persisted for nearly eight decades.

What’s next? If the Superfund designation is approved, it could provide the federal resources needed to clean up the area and safeguard public health and the environment. This is one of the most significant environmental crises facing the region and we need to use every tool at our disposal to address it.

We Got The Votes! Supervisors Pass Gun Safety Policy

This week the Board of Supervisors passed a policy I introduced requiring gun dealers contracting with the County to comply with strict state and federal laws. This move aims to prevent "bad apple" gun dealers from profiting off County contracts. County staff will now draft an ordinance, with final considerations expected in the coming months.

The vote followed a deadlock at the Board earlier this month, but I reintroduced the item and it passed with a 3-1 majority. I’ve proposed naming the ordinance after Ira Sharp, a local gun safety advocate and co-founder of NeverAgainCA. Sharp, known for his work on gun violence prevention following the Parkland shooting, played a key role in legislative efforts like State Assembly Bill 893, which banned firearm sales on state fairground property.

The policy was modeled after a recently-adopted City of San Diego law, which was authored by San Diego City Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and implemented by City Attorney Mara Elliott.

The upcoming ordinance will include requirements for firearm vendors to submit documentation of legal compliance, inspection reports, and policies to prevent illegal gun sales. This measure strengthens San Diego's commitment to gun safety and holding bad dealers accountable.

Hundreds of Reasons for Hope

Since I took office in January 2021, the County of San Diego has been actively involved in increasing regional shelter beds and safe parking capacity by nearly 1,000. Look out for our new series on social media where we feature different locations available regionwide. Check out an example of what you’ll be seeing below:

This progress results from a collaboration between County officials, regional leaders, philanthropic partners, and service providers. The facilities we feature are helping transition people from the streets into stable housing and support services, improving overall outcomes for those experiencing homelessness.

Be Careful With Cannabis Products

Public Service Announcement: There are many products being sold today that are being touted as “hemp-derived,” but actually contain dangerous amounts of THC and can be dangerous to children. 

Safe, regulated, and legal cannabis is the only product that should be available to adult consumers, and any company that knowingly misleads people by producing or selling fake, harmful products needs to be held accountable. 

Sheriff Kelly Martinez and her deputies are working to educate retailers and the community about mislabeled products. Check out the information below they’ve asked us to share with you. I appreciate the Sheriff’s Office for everything it does to keep our communities safe.

 

In Service,

Terra