The Tijuana River sewage crisis has become one of the most serious environmental and public health emergencies in the United States. In this powerful first episode of 72 and Sunny, Congressman Scott Peters sits down with San Diego County Supervisor Paloma Aguirre to expose the truth behind polluted beaches, toxic air, and the fight for federal funding.

For over 1,300 days, beaches across Coronado, Imperial Beach, and the South Bay have faced closures due to cross-border sewage and industrial pollution flowing from Mexico into San Diego. Families, businesses, Navy SEALs, and entire communities are feeling the impact.

In this episode:

• The real health dangers of toxic air and water
  
  
• How pollution affects property values and tourism
  
  
• Federal and international efforts to fix the crisis
  
  
• What must happen next to restore San Diego beaches
  
  

This conversation dives deep into environmental justice, infrastructure failures, and the urgent need for cross-border solutions.

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Some notable moments from this episode:

00:00 The shocking reality of San Diego’s sewage crisis

01:07 Podcast introduction and guest welcome

02:00 Paloma Aguirre’s personal health impact from pollution

04:00 How surfers discovered the contamination

06:00 Air quality crisis and toxic exposure explained

07:30 Kids and communities affected for years

09:00 Why the problem got worse after 2017

10:00 Toxic gases and health risks in the air

12:00 Navy SEALs and national security concerns

14:00 Chemicals and industrial pollution dangers

15:00 Saturn Avenue and aerosolized toxic water

17:00 Scientific studies and health data being collected

19:00 Economic impact on tourism and property values

21:00 Federal funding and political fight for solutions

26:00 U.S. and Mexico infrastructure efforts

30:00 Tijuana growth and failing sewage systems

34:00 Can government cooperation solve the crisis?

36:50 The path forward and future solutions