PRESS RELEASE
$1M Daily Tourism Loss, 3,200+ Jobs Wiped Out: New Study Highlights Urgent Need to Pass Measure B
SAN DIEGO, CA—The Tijuana River sewage crisis is draining San Diego County’s economy more than we thought, costing the region 3,270 jobs, $176 million in lost worker income, and nearly $1 million every single day in lost tourist spending, according to the full economic impact study released last week by independent research firm ECONorthwest.
The stark findings demonstrate the urgent need to pass Measure B, enabling San Diego County to take direct action and stop the ongoing economic and environmental damage. Commissioned by San Diego County, the full report builds on preliminary September findings projecting that the sewage crisis will slash $8 billion from the regional economy over the next two decades—an average loss of $500 million each year.
“Losing nearly a million dollars a day in tourism revenue and over 3,000 jobs is catastrophic for our working families and local business owners,” said Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer. “This report proves that doing nothing is costing us far more than taking action. Measure B is our opportunity to clean up our waters, protect public health, and rebuild our local economy."
Key Impacts Detailed in the ECONorthwest Report:
$359 Million in Lost Tourism Revenue: Local businesses lose nearly $1 million every single day as missing visitors avoid polluted coastal areas.
3,270 Lost Jobs: Severe workforce cuts ripple across San Diego County’s broader regional economy.
$176 Million Stripped from Workers: Direct cuts in labor income take hundreds of millions away from local workers and families.
1.26 Million Missing Beach Visits: Imperial Beach and Coronado see an average of more than 3,400 missing visitors daily due to polluted shorelines.
If passed, Measure B will provide the necessary funding to build critical infrastructure to capture sewage flow, clean up our coastline, and restore the local economy. Measure B would also strengthen San Diego County’s wildfire preparedness, boost 911 emergency response services, and protect access to local healthcare.
Measure B is a citizen-led initiative on the November 2026 ballot designed to protect local healthcare coverage, public health programs, 911 emergency response, and combat the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Measure B is endorsed by community advocates and labor including
Sierra Club–San Diego Chapter, Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Coast Keeper, and Diego County Firefighters CAL FIRE Local 2881, and First 5 San Diego. For more information and a full list of our endorsements, visit www.voteyesonmeasureb.org.
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