San Diego: Between the Tijuana River Crisis and a Passion for Sport
If you've lived around these parts, you know that the smell from the Tijuana River sometimes drifts right up to the beach. But this week, things got serious. The San Diego Chamber of Commerce released a roadmap that could be the first real step towards ending decades of pollution. And not only that: while the politicians negotiate, the city keeps the pace with its teams.
A plan with a hint of hope (and not sewage)
Last Thursday, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce presented a binational plan that, at last, puts concrete solutions for the Tijuana River sewage crisis on the table. It's no longer just about complaining about the smell or closed beaches. Now there's a roadmap involving both sides of the border, and it also coincides with the Border Clean Water Security Act making its way through Congress. San Diego County wasn't far behind: a few days ago they hired a lobbying firm in Washington to pull in the necessary federal funds. So, the wheels are finally turning, and it's about bloody time.
Meanwhile, the sporting soul keeps beating
But San Diego doesn't live on drainage problems alone. The city's heart beats with its teams. And even though the Los Angeles Chargers moved north, the spirit lives on here with the ones who stayed and the ones who arrived.
- San Diego Padres: The Friars are fine-tuning details for the season. With a line-up that's nothing short of fearsome, Petco Park will be the usual party. If you haven't been to a game with a 'Triple Tip' in hand, you don't know what a Sunday in San Diego is all about.
- San Diego FC: The city's newest team is already gearing up. The MLS is here to stay, and the fanbase is growing like crazy. I'll be keeping a very close eye on their first home games.
- San Diego State Aztecs: The men's basketball team continues to put on a masterclass. They're coming off an intense season, and the Viejas Arena was rocking like the good old days. This is pure local pride.
And yes, even though the Chargers are now from Los Angeles, you can't help but remember the days of LT at the Qualcomm. But that's how it goes, cities reinvent themselves, and San Diego does it with style.
The border as an engine
The interesting thing is that both the environmental crisis and the sporting passion have a common point: the connection with Tijuana. The Chamber's plan won't work without cooperation from Mexico, just like many fans cross every day to see the Padres or to follow San Diego FC. This region is a living organism, and what happens on the river affects us all, from Imperial Beach down to Rosarito.
Let's hope that this time the money and the promises actually materialise. Because San Diego deserves to have its beaches clean, as clean as Manny Machado's swing or the Aztecs' aim on the court.