San Diego, CA

San Diego County Supervisors vote to continue emergency on border pollution

Published

2 years ago

September 12, 2024

San Diego County Supervisors vote to continue emergency on border pollution

The county Board of Supervisors has voted unanimously to continue a local emergency declaration due to U.S.-Mexico transboundary pollution, but not without first hearing from South Bay residents who pressed for more action.

The board first approved an emergency proclamation in June 2023 in response pollution and sewage flowing across the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We’re doing everything possible as a public health care agency to protect the wellness and safety of our residents,” board Chairwoman Nora Vargas said during the board’s meeting Wednesday.

Dr. Ankita Kadakia, interim county public health officer, said her office has asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health to investigate the impacts of cross-border pollution. Kadakia said the county immediately deployed its hazardous response team in response to reports hydrogen cyanide in the air.

Kadakia said she couldn’t emphasize enough how concerned both the county and state are about the quality of life for South County residents.

“No one should be living in those conditions,” Kadakia said.

The board’s vote followed a Tuesday news conference in which Vargas said the air quality in the area does not pose a public health threat, despite foul odors from the Tijuana River Valley and elevated levels of gases.

“I want to reassure everyone that this is not an imminent threat, and it’s safe to be outside and attend school,” Vargas said. “Our county experts are actively gathering public health data and conducting research to provide the most accurate information.

“It’s unacceptable that South County residents have to worry about whether it’s safe to go outside,” she added. “I’m fighting every day to address the root of this issue, but for now, you can trust the data — we’ve got your back.”

During a public comment period Wednesday, supervisors heard from South County residents, some of whom said environmental conditions had caused them and family members to become ill.

Bethany Case, who lives in Imperial Beach, said she and her husband have discussed moving. Case said she often suffers headaches and gastrointestinal problems, with no known cause.

She said Vargas’ news conference Tuesday disgusted residents, and was in opposition to detailed studies by other institutions.

“We’re drowning, and you’re worried about your career, and I can’t wrap my head around that,” Case told her.

One man, who lives in Imperial Beach, said the county has not demonstrated that the air is safe to breathe for children, the elderly, or immunocompromised people.

“First, we are told not to go into the water, then we are told not breathe, and then yesterday, we’re told to breathe,” he said.

Another Imperial Beach resident, who said he has brain cancer, said the air quality is harming his children.

“I’m a worried dad, you guys,” the man said. “I don’t what to do, except to advocate.”

The man suggested the Federal Emergency Management Association also get involved.

“You can’t just test once, and say it’s OK,” he added.

Sarah Davidson, an official with the Surfrider Foundation, said there are dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air.

“This is the single-most public health and environmental justice emergency in the county right now,” said Davidson, who added an urgent response from the county is needed. “We implore all of you on the board and all of us in this room to find the courage to ask ourselves what more we can do, and then to do it.”

Vargas said that had the county not declared an emergency last year, no funding would be available to tackle pollution problems in the border region. She added the issue probably wouldn’t have happened if the affected area were north of Interstate 8, saying the South Bay community doesn’t have all the resources it should.

Vargas said the county wants to work with UC San Diego and San Diego State University on pollution research, and that’s why she and Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer established a committee to share information.

Vargas added that the county is trying to find more money for air filters, and she’ll keep fighting for other resources.

“You can keep coming up here and telling me I’m not doing enough,” she told audience members. “I get it.”

Lawson-Remer thanked people for showing up and speaking out.

“You’re right to be mad,” she said. “I’m mad, and we just have to keep fighting.”

A key to improving environmental conditions is to fix the Punta Bandera wastewater treatment plant, located in Tijuana, said Lawson-Remer, who added she was recently in Washington, D.C., to ask for more resources. Lawson- Remer said she’s happy there has been progress on the Mexican side in terms of fixing the wastewater plant, and hopes it can operational by December or January.

Supervisor Jim Desmond said while he appreciates the local task force, it’s the county’s congressional delegation that needs to push for federal help “and give us the funding so we can open our beaches up.”

It’s a travesty that some beach areas have been closed for over three years, Desmond added.

On Monday, San Diego’s congressional contingent reiterated their call for a declaration of a state of emergency after high levels of hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide —which can have a rotten egg smell — were reported by researchers in the watershed.

In response, the San Diego County Hazardous Incident Response Team and researchers from San Diego State University tested the gas levels on Monday, after which they determined “the data does not indicate any immediate public safety concerns,” according to Vargas’ statement.

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San Diego, CA

March Madness Fans Go Wild in San Diego | College Road Trip

Published

5 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

March Madness Fans Go Wild in San Diego | College Road Trip

It’s your girl Jenna Bay here in San Diego with Sports Illustrated, about to talk to some diehard college basketball fans.

Which team are you here to support?

Panthers.

Lawrence, Kansas, baby.

Go Jayhawk.

Let’s go, Rockhaw.

You and I, Panthers, baby.

Let’s go.

Go, Panthers.

Villanova, Utah State.

Utah State Aggies.

Now what does it mean to have the heart of a Panthers?

Small town of Iowa.

We’ve got a lot of.

Alum that are out here from the West Coast here to support Crimson and Blue, baby.

Ever since I was born, Lawrence, Kansas, rock shock.

So my brother is the starting center, Duke Brennan.

So it’s huge, it’s awesome.

We have the whole family here and it just means so much that he’s a part of such a grand program, a blue blood and a brotherhood.

Live and breathe Panther basketball and all their sports.

We’ve won 3 Natties, so you know, winning is in the DNA, you know, having that Philly toughness, having that pride.

Do you have a favorite memory of being a supporter, a fan?

Yeah, in 2008, Mario Chalmers, you know, Darnell Jackson, Sharon Collins.

I was in 8th grade, won the national championship.

I was there at that parade.

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San Diego, CA

President Trump he’s sending ICE to airports on Monday amid DHS shutdown

Published

17 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Press Room

President Trump he’s sending ICE to airports on Monday amid DHS shutdown

For more than 30 days now, TSA employees have been working without pay. That has caused more than 400 TSA workers to quit. Others are calling out sick in record numbers. Those shortages have been triggering hour-long security lines.

The head of TSA operations in San Diego said the partial government shutdown is not only impacting TSA lines at airports, but also his livelihood and the lives of many federal employees who are experiencing a lot financial pressure.

“Absolute shock because that’s just the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard yet out of this,” Robert Mack said.

This is how Robert Mack is responding to President Trump’s announcement on Truth Social to send ICE agents to airports on Monday as Senate leaders failed again to reach a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Mack oversees TSA operations at San Diego International Airport and is the Chief Steward with the American Federation of Government Employees 1260.

He joined the agency in the wake of the 9/11 attacks because he felt called to fulfill a civic duty.

“My heart spoke to me. You have an opportunity to defend your homeland your homefront,” Mack said.

But now, the career he once considered promising is bringing him and many other TSA employees financial strain and instability.

“We’re all hurting. Literally, checking accounts are all wiped out. We haven’t recovered from the last two that we’ve had before,” Mack said.

Mack is among the thousands of TSA employees working without pay since funding for DHS ran out last month.

Democrats vowed to withhold funding until Republicans agree to new reforms for ICE.

On Saturday, Senate Republicans blocked a Democratic bill that would have funded only TSA, but not the rest of DHS.

President Donald Trump then warned on social media that if TSA is not funded by Monday, “ICE is ready to go,” and will provide airport security.

And their work would include the “immediate arrest of all Illegal Immigrants who have come into the country.”

“I think he’s wrong completely… there are really good immigrants here, they’ve been here for 20, 30, 40, 50 years… they pay their taxes and they’re good people,” Barnard Jourdain, who was travelling through San Diego said.

As agents continue to struggle without a check and the political stalemate continues, Mack anticipates more TSA employees will call out in the coming days or move on from what they once considered a promising career.

“My duty is still the same, but at the end, if I can’t put food in my stomach, I can’t keep a roof over my head, the people I’m supposed to be taking care of are failing me,” Mack said.

NBC 7 San Diego reached out to TSA for a comment and is awaiting a response.

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San Diego, CA

Ty France makes Padres’ opening-day roster

Published

1 day ago

March 21, 2026

Press Room

Ty France makes Padres’ opening-day roster

PEORIA, Ariz. — Ty France is officially a Padre again.

The corner infielder has been informed he will be on the opening-day roster.

“Still processing a little bit,” he said. “It was a whirlwind, for sure, but I’m excited to be a part of this group and kind of see where things go. … The journey I’ve had and the run I’ve had, it was special. And to be back here where it all started and back with this group of guys, I’m definitely excited about it. This is what we set out to do this offseason. And fortunately, that happened.”

France will be introduced along with the rest of the team before Thursday’s season-opening game against the Detroit Tigers at Petco Park. He was also on the Padres at the start of the 2020 season, but there were no fans in the stands due to the pandemic.

The Padres drafted France in the 34th round out of San Diego State in 2015, and he made his major league debut with them in 2019. He was part of a seven-player trade at the deadline in 2020 that also sent relief pitcher Andres Muñoz to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for catcher Austin Nola and two relief pitchers.

France was an All-Star in 2022 and played for the Seattle Mariners until 2024, when they traded him to the Cincinnati Reds at the deadline. He signed with the Minnesota Twins last season and ended up playing in the World Series after he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays at the deadline.

He has hit .262/.334/.400 in 3,309 plate career appearances. No active player has been hit by more pitches than France has (126). He hit .257/.320/.360 and won the Gold Glove for American League first basemen in 2025.

He signed a minor-league deal with the Padres in February. As a free agent with six years of service time, France had the option to request his release on Saturday if he was not assured he would be on the major league roster.

France, whose salary for 2026 is $1.35 million, hit .318 (14-for-44) with two home runs, four doubles and two walks this spring.

The roster spot for an extra infielder was available because Sung-Mun Song will begin the season on the injured list with an oblique strain. Song has been hitting in the cage and could get live at-bats in the coming days, so the Padres will have another decision to make when he is ready to be activated.

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