LA JOLLA TOWN COUNCIL
NEWSLETTER
January 2026
We welcome our new
LJTC Executive
Business Member,
Cheer Home Care!
President’s Letter
I am profoundly grateful for God's guidance in sustaining the La Jolla Town Council's legacy of community service. I deeply appreciate the Trustees who believed in my leadership and the new Trustees who answered the call to serve. Despite facing considerable challenges, La Jolla Town Council remained steadfast in serving our community with grace, calm, and kindness.
To those who approached me with words of encouragement and support—some whom I had never met before, and others who reinforced their trust in my leadership—you were a beacon of light that gave me strength to continue serving with devout commitment.
Celebrating our 75th Anniversary was truly a historic milestone, made all the more meaningful by the unity exemplified in our inaugural
Multicultural Festival by the Sea. Proclamations from elected officials are a testament to the council's positive impact both locally and beyond.
Together, we demonstrated that commitment to service transcends adversity.
As we move forward, may this year bring together result-driven partnerships that foster community betterment, through meaningful impact and harmony.
Wishing everyone a year of good health, prosperity, and continued success for our entire community.
With gratitude and warm regards,
Mary Soriano
President, La Jolla Town Council
2025
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
December 10, 2025 — La Jolla Town Council presented a historic unity agreement to the Coastal Commission demonstrating that sea lion advocates and Cove Beach users can coexist through mindfulness and respect. NOAA shared with La Jolla Town Council some of the things Hawaii has done for safe distance proximity to sea turtles, which can be adopted for sea lions by creating a heart with your hand or arms, pending on size of beach. The Council is working with NOAA behavioral scientists and San Diego Tourism Authority to produce a multilingual educational video featuring reenactments of various human-sea lion interactions at the Cove.
Wed Dec 10 LJTC President speaks on La Jolla Cove Beach & Sea Lions
President Mary Soriano start at 3:30:41
Video: California Coastal Commission- Dec. 10, 2025, 9 a.m. CAL-SPAN https://share.google/tz4TCmg1FVNW7KUGI
November 22, 2025 — La Jolla Town Council celebrated its 75th anniversary with the first-ever Multicultural Festival by the Sea. The event showcased diverse cultural traditions including folklorico, Polynesian, and Burmese dance performances, alongside international cuisine and La Jolla's unique lifestyle through skateboarding, surfing, aerial yoga, ballet, and its love for animals with a petting zoo. The milestone was honored with proclamations from Senator Blakespear, State Assembly Member Boerner, Congressman Peters, and County Board of Supervisors Chair Lawson-Remer. Special thank you to Camp Pendleton Marines Color Guard, Marines volunteers, La Jolla Copy Cove, The Cottage, Acai Roots Inc, Chinese Bilingual Preschool, and local volunteers.
Instagram
ljtc92037
August 26 & 28, 2025 — The La Jolla Fire Safe Council conducted Home Risk Assessments with San Diego Fire Marshal Kane and his team across Coromandel, Windemere, La Jolla Farms, and Gilman Drive neighborhoods. Five participating homeowners invited neighbors to observe the defensible space inspections and apply lessons to their own properties.
Video Clips of Home Risk Assessments:
LJFSC Zone 0-5 Coromandel
LJFSC Zone 0-5 Windemere
LJFSC LJ Farms homeowner received insurance cancelation notice, invites her insurance broker to LJFSC defensible space inspection. Her insurance was reinstated as a proactive LJFSC member.
LJFSC October 29, 2025
Ready, Set, Go - EVACAUTION
August 1, 2025 — La Jolla Town Council secured a meeting room at the La Jolla Recreation Center for the 101-year-old American Legion Post 275, which lacks a permanent building. The Council is exploring the feasibility of establishing a veterans' building through donors and grants to honor La Jolla's military history, those who fought for our country (for us).
July 10, 2025 – April 2, 2025 — Fire Rescue Chief Tosca officially recognized the La Jolla Fire Safe Council as an extension of the fire rescue department. The La Jolla Fire Safe Council was established on April 2 with Emily Lynch (District 1 City Councilmember Representative), Fire Chief Tosca and team, and approximately 40 community members. La Jolla Town Council received formal recognition from the Fire Safe Council on May 8 on the formation of La Jolla Fire Safe Council.
March 13, 2025 — La Jolla Town Council inaugurated Women's History Month recognition with its first two honorees: Diane Kane (Woman Who Inspires) and Sharon Wampler (Woman of Impact). Both women were also recommended to Senator Blakespear's and Assembly Member Boerner's offices.
February 21-22, 2025 — The Pothole Get It Done initiative, partnering with Send Relief, Kings Cross Church, UCSD students, and SDSU students, filled approximately 470 potholes across major La Jolla streets including La Jolla Boulevard, La Jolla Scenic Drive, Via Capri, Neptune Place, Pottery Canyon, Cuvier alley, Olivetas Avenue, and La Jolla Shores parking lot. The effort documented 1,410 pothole photographs and identified several streets requiring asphalt overlay beyond pothole repairs.
February 13, 2025 — La Jolla Town Council town hall meeting at La Jolla High School Auditorium, organized with Save the Bike Path Coalition, successfully led AT&T to withdraw its permit application for a 5G cell tower on the bike path. The meeting also introduced the San Diego Fire Safe Council to the community.
LJTC & Save the Bike Path Coalition - No 5G Cell Tower on Bike Path
La Jolla Town Council at City Hall
Advocacy at City Hall 2026 Budget Meetings
La Jolla Town Council at City Hall successfully advocated for the $2 million Mission Beach Lifeguard Tower rehabilitation, citing rescue statistics and lives saved. The Council also supported San Diego Fire Rescue's request for five additional staff positions, presenting video evidence from the Gilman fire demonstrating the need for expanded team capacity. While Mayor Gloria opposed staffing additions, City Council approved two additional positions.
La Jolla Town Council raised concerns about San Diego Police Department budget allocations, questioning a $24 million personnel cut paired with a $45 million overtime increase and the potential for officer burnout. The council also expressed concerns on whether city infrastructure—sewers, water supply, and electrical grid—can adequately support exponential housing growth under Bonus ADU programs with no parking requirements.
OUTLOOK
Progress Toward Goals
La Jolla Town Council’s 2025 initiatives demonstrated effective community organizing, successful government advocacy, and the establishment of sustainable programs like the La Jolla Fire Safe Council. These achievements revealed both the power of grassroots mobilization and the ongoing need to address infrastructure capacity issues. The pothole initiative exposed a gap in city procedures: when a pothole is reported alongside five surrounding potholes, only one typically gets filled.
2026 Goals and Priorities
Immediate Community Projects:
Replace deteriorated wooden bus bench at Silverado Street and Girard Avenue (serving the #30 Line)
Install tree lighting or uplighting at Scripps Park
Organize playground equipment Paint Day at La Jolla Recreation Center (seek paint Sponsorship)
Sail shading for LJ Rec Center children’s playground.
Work with City Council President LaCava on resurfacing of Neptune Place.
Major Initiatives:
Develop Mobility Gap community/employee shuttle in partnership with SANDAG/Steer, UCSD, SDSU, and local corporations
Replace playground equipment at La Jolla Recreation Center damaged by vehicle collision (partnering with La Jolla Parents)
Complete multilingual educational video on sea lion interactions with NOAA behavioral scientists and San Diego Tourism Authority
LJTC Pothole Get It Done (follow up on Pottery Canyon)
Continue La Jolla Fire Safe Council defensible space inspections and education
Neptune Place - Windansea
Bus line 30 bench Silverado
Scripps Park at night
Smart tree lights for Scripps Park
LJ Rec Center Playground
Thank you La Valencia for your ongoing support throughout the years!