The residents of La Jolla are advocating for the secession of their city from San Diego, and the Association for the City of La Jolla (ACLJ) is working hard to gather enough signatures to make this proposal a reality. This grassroots effort has been in the works for years, but it wasn’t until about six months ago that the association began collecting signatures in earnest.
The deadline to collect signatures is fast approaching, with the ACLJ needing 25% of all registered voters in La Jolla to sign their petition by December 1st. Trace Wilson, the president of ACLJ, is confident that they have already met this threshold, but volunteers are still out in the community collecting more signatures to ensure they have enough valid ones.
If the signatures are collected in time, the Local Agency Formation Commission will take up the matter and conduct a financial analysis to understand the potential impact of separating La Jolla from San Diego. Wilson believes that this move would benefit not only La Jolla but also the city of San Diego and the region as a whole.
One of the main reasons for the secession push is the belief that La Jolla would be better equipped to take care of its own needs. Wilson argues that separating from San Diego would relieve the city of costs and liabilities associated with La Jolla, provide an income stream through leased services, and allow La Jolla to focus on important projects like road maintenance.
While there are residents who are excited about the prospect of secession, others are more skeptical. Some worry that cutting ties with San Diego could have negative financial implications for La Jolla, as the area contributes a significant amount to the city’s property tax revenue. However, Diane Kane, vice president of ACLJ, disputes this claim, stating that La Jolla only contributes about 6% of the city’s property taxes.
If the secession efforts are successful, there will be a double vote to determine the outcome. A majority of voters in both San Diego and La Jolla will need to approve the separation for it to move forward. While there is no official deadline for the vote, Wilson hopes to see it on the ballot in either 2026 or 2028.
Overall, the push for La Jolla’s secession from San Diego is a complex issue with passionate advocates on both sides. As the deadline for signatures approaches, the fate of this proposal remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the residents of La Jolla are determined to have their voices heard and make a change that they believe will benefit their community.
