SD Mayor, Local Leaders to Attend Conference in Mexico City to Discuss Sewage Spill, Trade

The conference is from March 26 to 29

Local leaders are heading to Mexico City to discuss several topics, including the more than 200 million gallons of sewage that spilled into the Tijuana River, contaminating Imperial Beach’s waters last month. 

Nearly 90 local government officials and business leaders will participate in the conference to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Mexico this weekend. The annual trip will be focused on trade. 

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer will meet with Tijuana’s mayor. “If we ourselves can do it together, San Diego's and Imperial Beach's mayor with Tijuana's mayor, I think that is a very good idea,” Imperial Beach resident Laura Anderson says. “They should work it out.”

Imperial Beach resident Ruben Fernandez hopes the mayors can work to make sure these spills stop happening.

“Very upset that they had to close the beach, especially coming from Tijuana,” Fernandez tells NBC 7. “Being born and raised in TJ, I feel ashamed that happened. Could’ve been prevented.”

The Department of Health lifted the most recent closure Sunday after water testing showed the area was safe for surfers and swimmers.

Since the beginning of the year Imperial Beach has been dealing with a series of closures due to raw sewage being dumped into the Tijuana River from south of the border.

Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina was unable to attend the conference due to illness.

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