Since\u00a0Aguirre\u00a0called on\u00a0gubernatorial\u00a0candidates to visit\u00a0the South Bay\u2013Betty\u00a0Yee,\u00a0Katie\u00a0Porter, Matt\u00a0Mahan\u00a0and\u00a0Tom Steyer\u00a0have\u00a0all toured the sewage crisis.<\/p>\n
South Bay leaders urge state of emergency for toxic Tijuana sewage crisis <\/a><\/p>\n During their visits, all expressed support for declaring a statewide emergency, including Villaraigosa.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an emergency, and as\u00a0governor, I\u2019ll declare a State of Emergency on\u00a0day\u00a0one,\u201d Villaraigosa said.\u00a0\u201cWe all deserve the right to breathe clean air, swim in the ocean, and be free from toxic contamination. Yet for too many South Bay families, that\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0the case.\u201d<\/p>\n Antonio Villaraigosa discusses the Tijuana River sewage crisis with San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre. (The Office of Supervisor Aguirre)<\/p>\n Hydrogen sulfide levels coming from the Tijuana River\u00a0are now exceeding\u00a0previous highs<\/a>\u00a0from 2024.\u00a0These conditions have\u00a0led to chronic headaches,\u00a0runny\u00a0and stuffy nose, eye\u00a0irritation\u00a0and coughing for many who call the South Bay home.<\/p>\n Matt Mahan addresses TJ River sewage crisis, campaign for governor <\/a><\/p>\n Instead of solving the problem,\u00a0Villaraigosa said\u00a0leaders\u00a0are pointing fingers at one another. He\u00a0added that the crisis is \u201cthe failure of the federal government of the United States and the government of Mexico and the state of California.\u201d<\/p>\n Paloma and Villaraigosa\u00a0visited impacted areas such as the Saturn Boulevard hotspot, Dairy Mart Road and even a\u00a0local San Ysidro\u00a0elementary school.<\/p>\n \u201cOur children are being exposed to dangerous levels of toxic air simply walking to school and sitting in their classrooms,\u201d Aguirre said. \u201cThey are learning without reliable access to fresh air, getting sick, and\u00a0missing out on\u00a0a safe and healthy childhood.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"<em>Antonio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/4ed711a5bc8ef315702e139867bae528.jpeg\"\/)
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