SUPPORT OF SB 428 - Save San Diego Seals !

Assemblymember.Skinner@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.Brownley@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.Chesbro@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.deLeon@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.Gilmore@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.Hill@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.Huffman@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.Knight@assembly.ca.gov, Assemblymember.Logue@assembly.ca.gov

Assembly Members
Nancy Skinner
Julia Brownley
Wesley Chesbro
Kevin de Leon
Danny Gilmore
Jerry Hill
Jared Huffman
Steve Knight
Don Logue
Committe on Natural Resources
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849; Sacramento, CA 94249

 
Dear Assembly Members,
 
Senator Kehoe has sponsored a bill in the state legislature (SB 428) to change the language of the 1931 Tidelands Grant at Casa Beach (aka Children's Pool) in La Jolla to include "marine mammal viewing for the enjoyment and education of children " as an addition to the other seven uses named in the original deed.

I also urge you to vote YES on this bill. The San Diego City Council recognized that the language in the 1931 land grant needs to be changed to reflect reality today. They approved a proposal by an 8-1 vote to ask the State to consider legislation that reflects current conditions. This unique rookery is under attack due to a State judge's misinterpretation of the existing land grant and focusing solely on one of the intended uses, "wading pool for children," while ignoring the six other intended uses. He then made an erroneous judgment based on that misinterpretation. To date the City has not been able to get out of this legal quagmire which could force the City to spend millions of dollars, both for dispersing the seals and following through on an order to dredge the beach.

Citizens of San Diego and tourists from other states and countries have been enamored by seeing seals undisturbed in a natural setting. Not only is it the home for 200 harbor seals who can safely give birth to their pups on the beach, but it is also an important educational opportunity for children and thousands of locals and tourists who come each month to enjoy learning about the rookery and harbor seal behavior.

The City wants to avoid dispersing the seals and dredging the beach. Visitors and local businesses recognize the importance of preserving the rookery for environmental and economic reasons. Passage of this important legislation would insure the protection of this beach for wildlife.

If the bill is not passed and signed into law this legislative session, the City may be forced to implement seal dispersal and dredging. In addition to eliminating the rookery and seals, the world would be deprived of the wonderful treasure that has drawn visitors to San Diego. It would also upset the ecosystem of which seals play an important role in biological diversity.

Thank you in advance for considering a YES vote on SB-428!
 
Sincerely yours,