Jim Desmond Voted Against His Own Resolution On The Tijuana River Sewage Crisis After The Resolution Was Amended And Later Was Not Present For A Vote On Continuing The Local Emergency On The Subject

2025: Desmond Introduced A Resolution To Urge The Federal Government To Pressure Mexico To End The Tijuana River Sewage Crisis

2025: Desmond Introduced A Resolution To Urge The Federal Government To Pressure Mexico To End The Tijuana River Sewage Crisis. “The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Wednesday that urges the federal government to pressure Mexico to end the Tijuana River sewage crisis. The resolution, brought forth by Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond, passed by a vote of 3-1. But it was Desmond who ultimately cast the lone ‘no’ vote because the amended version officials approved doesn’t go far enough, he said.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/4/25]

Billions Of Gallons Of Raw Sewage And Polluted Stormwater Flowed Down The Tijuana River And Into The Pacific Ocean, Closing San Diego Beaches And Sparking Public Health Concerns. “The Tijuana River has been at the center of a transboundary pollution crisis on the U.S./Mexico border for decades, resulting in public health impacts, closed beaches and massive environmental degradation of the Tijuana River Estuary and coastal marine waters from Tijuana to Coronado. […] Since October 2023, a staggering 31 billion gallons of raw sewage, polluted stormwater and trash have flowed down the Tijuana River into the Tijuana River Valley and the Pacific Ocean, closing numerous San Diego beaches, and sparking major concerns over public health risks, coastal water pollution and the degradation of the Tijuana River Estuary. This failure has significant repercussions for cross-border water quality and the well-being of communities in the San Diego region.” [San Diego Coastkeeper, 5/2/24]

After Criticism From Other Supervisors, Desmond Voted Against The Amended Resolution, Saying It Did Not Go Far Enough

Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer And Monica Montgomery Steppe Expressed Concern About Desmond’s Version Of The Resolution Potentially Playing Into “Anti-Mexico Rhetoric.” “The resolution, brought forth by Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond, passed by a vote of 3-1. But it was Desmond who ultimately cast the lone ‘no’ vote because the amended version officials approved doesn’t go far enough, he said. Democratic Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe expressed concern that the original version was too broad and potentially played into ‘anti-Mexico rhetoric.’ ‘We’re over being afraid of hurting (Mexico’s) feelings,’ said Desmond. ‘We gotta come across with some tough language.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/4/25]

Desmond Cast The Lone Vote Against The Amended Resolution To Urge The Federal Government To Pressure Mexico To End The Tijuana River Sewage Crisis. “The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Wednesday that urges the federal government to pressure Mexico to end the Tijuana River sewage crisis. The resolution, brought forth by Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond, passed by a vote of 3-1. But it was Desmond who ultimately cast the lone ‘no’ vote because the amended version officials approved doesn’t go far enough, he said.” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/4/25]

Desmond Said The Amended Version Of The Resolution Did Not Go Far Enough. “The resolution, brought forth by Republican Supervisor Jim Desmond, passed by a vote of 3-1. But it was Desmond who ultimately cast the lone ‘no’ vote because the amended version officials approved doesn’t go far enough, he said. Democratic Supervisors Terra Lawson-Remer and Monica Montgomery Steppe expressed concern that the original version was too broad and potentially played into ‘anti-Mexico rhetoric.’ ‘We’re over being afraid of hurting (Mexico’s) feelings,’ said Desmond. ‘We gotta come across with some tough language.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/4/25]

Desmond: “We Gotta Come Across With Some Tough Language.” ‘We’re over being afraid of hurting (Mexico’s) feelings,’ said Desmond. ‘We gotta come across with some tough language.’” [San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/4/25]

2026: Desmond Was Marked Not Present For A Vote On Continuing The Local Emergency For U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Pollution

2026: Desmond Was Marked Not Present For A Vote On Continuing The Local Emergency For U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Pollution. “LOCAL EMERGENCY REVIEW: PROCLAMATION OF LOCAL EMERGENCY FOR U.S.-MEXICO TRANSBOUNDARY POLLUTION ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS AND RELATED CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL) […] ACTION: ON MOTION of Supervisor Aguirre, seconded by Supervisor Lawson-Remer, the Board of Supervisors took the following actions: 1. Found that the proclamation of local emergency is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15060(c)(2) and (3), 1506l(b)(3), and 15378(b)(4)&(5) because the action is an administrative action intended to facilitate state and federal funding, does not commit the County to a specific project, and will not have a reasonably foreseeable direct or indirect effect on the environment. 2. Found that there is a need to continue the local emergency and that the local emergency shall continue subject to review requirements until terminated pursuant to Government Code section 8630( d). 3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to forward the proclamation to the State and include the following documents, which the State can also forward to the federal government: • a summary of recent County efforts and projects to mitigate the Tijuana River Valley pollution crisis, including but not limited to: Saturn Blvd hotspot feasibility study, AIRE purifier program enhancements, and an overview of pending epidemiological study and expanded Syndromic Surveillance efforts. […] AYES: Aguirre, Lawson-Remer, Montgomery Steppe ABSENT: Anderson NOT PRESENT: Desmond.” [San Diego County Board of Supervisors, Meeting Minutes, 3/25/26]

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