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Latest Casa Beach News:
November 13 - THE SEALS GET TO STAY AT CASA BEACH!! THEY WON'T BE DISPERSED AND THE BEACH WON'T BE DREDGED! Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor overturned two prior rulings by other judges that would have forced San Diego to disperse about 200 harbor seals that live at Casa Beach. Paul Kennerson conceded this may well be the end of the line for him. The City has already spent close to two million dollars on this issue which includes one million in court fees to Mr. Kennerson. The City stressed they felt the judge made the right decision in this controversy which has gone on for years.

More information and a Video can be viewed HERE. The news was even covered in the New York Times. On January 1, 2010, the new State law will go into effect which allows the City to manage the beach as a marine mammal park. The matter now rests in the hands of City Council as far as deciding how they plan to manage the beach. Seal activists celebrated the victory with a rally at Casa Beach following the court ruling.

Although the court victory is cause for great celebration, we now need to work with City Council to give the seals greater protection by creating a marine mammal park. Our hope is that one day this will be a protected wildlife reserve for seals only.

The rope line will go up on December 15. This is the date the City recognizes as the official beginning of pupping season.

Please write, call or email City Council members and the Mayor urging them to give the seals greater protection by creating a marine mammal park. Mailing address is City Administration Building, 202 "C" Street, San Diego, CA 92101. Handwritten letters generally have more impact, but emails and phone calls are great too. Click HERE for sample letters to use as templates that you can modify using your own wording. Letters include ones for adults, students, older and younger children. The more letters that are sent, the more likely it is the Mayor and City Council will listen to us.

District 1: Sherri Lightner (619) 236-6611
SherriLightner@sandiego.gov

District 2: Kevin Faulconer (619) 236-6622
kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov

District 3: Todd Gloria (619) 236-6633
toddgloria@sandiego.gov

District 4: Tony Young (619) 236-6644
anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov

District 5: Carl DeMaio (619) 236-6655
carldemaio@sandiego.gov

District 6 : Donna Frye (619) 236-6616
donnafrye@sandiego.gov

District 7: Marti Emerald (619) 236-6677
martiemerald@sandiego.gov

District 8: Ben Hueso (619) 236-6688
benhueso@sandiego.gov

Mayor Jerry Sanders: (619) 236-6330 
JerrySanders@sandiego.gov

September 22 - City Council voted 7-1 NOT to certify the final Environmental Impact Report which proposed dredging Casa Beach. Council Member Donna Frye noted the document did not provide an analysis of the impact of SB-428, creation of a marine mammal park or the impact of the MLPA process. It is also inconsistent with the City's General Plan which promotes aquatic biodiversity and habitat recovery. She wants to see an analysis of ALL alternatives and preparation of a joint Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers. Marti Emerald seconded her motion, and only Sherry Lightner voted in opposition. See more information HERE.

September 17 - Judge Yuri Hoffman was disqualified from the Animal Protection and Rescue League (APRL) and the O'Sullivan cases!!! Thanks to Bryan Pease of APRL for getting him dismissed. There will be no hearing on October 6 on seal dispersal. The presiding judge, Judge Timothy Taylor, will assign somebody else to the case, but it will take time and most likely not much will happen before January 1st, when SB 428 goes into effect. See the SD Union Tribune article for more DETAILS.

TELL CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR WE WANT THE ROOKERY PROTECTED! GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS NEED TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC AS TO WHAT WE WANT! BE SURE TO FORWARD THIS TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

Please write City Council members and urge them to create a marine mammal park at Casa Beach. SB 428 gives them the power to do so starting January 1, 2010. We need the residents of San Diego to tell their representatives that we want more protection for the seals. Pupping season begins in November so they need to hear from their constituents now.

Please tell them the existing policy of shared use isn’t working. They should review ways to end harassment of the seals and enforce compliance with State, Federal, and City laws. Ideally we want them to close the beach. Viewing access to the seals is more important than physical access to the beach. Creating a marine mammal park will also do much to end the existing controversy. Children, residents of the City, as well as tourists from other parts of California, all states in the country, and around the world want the harbor seal rookery protected and preserved for the enjoyment of future generations.

Council Members are Sherri Lightner in District 1 where Casa Beach is located in La Jolla:
SherriLightner@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6611; Kevin Faulconer in District 2, kevinfaulconer@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6622; Todd Gloria in District 3, toddgloria@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6633; Tony Young in District 4, anthonyyoung@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6644; Carl de Maio in District 5, carldemaio@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6655; Donna Frye in District 6, donnafrye@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6666; Marti Emerald in District 7, martiemerald@sandiego.gov,, 610-236-6677; and Ben Hueso in District 8, benhueso@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6688.

Letters can be sent to all at 202 C St, MS 10A, San Diego, CA 92101.

To find your City Council member, please click HERE. Please also consider emails, phone calls and letter to Mayor Sanders at JerrySanders@sandiego.gov, 619-236-6330, 202 C Street, 11th Floor, San Diego, CA  92101.