In July, La Jolla Village Merchant’s Association (LJVMA) were told that negotiations with the city are “continuing” over what to do about the Cove sea lion mess, while board members “disavowed” any connection with – or support for –  a drive by a group to host an alternative year-end parade a week after the La Jolla Christmas parade.
LJVMA president CA Marengo told the group he’s met with representatives of the city, the lifeguards, the mayor’s office and La Jolla Town Council (LJTC) in another round of conversation about what to do about continuing odor problems at the Cove. Accumulating marine mammal and bird waste build-up there is creating a foul stench that is adversely impacting business.
“We’ve been trying to find another method to accelerate what’s going on (counteracting odor),” Marengo said adding “the mayor’s taken an added interest.”
Marengo said the city’s hired an expert who is gathering data on sea lions and their habits. He added there may be a “window” of time now in which to act to find a way to discourage sea lions from slowly colonizing the Cove.
“Sea lions now are traveling up to the Channel Islands and not many of them are left behind (at Cove),” he said. “We’re hoping there’s some way we can use National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s regulations to keep them (sea lions) from coming back on the beach.” Alternative parade
Board member Nancy Warwick noted an organization, the San Diego County Diversity and Inclusiveness Group, which has been lobbying to have Christmas removed from the community’s year-end parade name, is actively campaigning to close Village streets in order to host an “alternative” parade on Dec. 13 the weekend following the Dec. 6 parade.
“I wish to put this on our agenda next month for discussion,” Warwick said. “They’ve been handing out flyers and asking for street closures on Kline to Prospect and along Wall Street. The petition does not clarify this is actually a second parade, not the same parade with a new name.”
Warwick said street closures for back-to-back weekend parades “would be very detrimental to business, and very confusing for the merchants.”
She said parade organizers are also making claims and promises they can’t keep about their parade.
“They’re suggesting their parade will draw 25,000 people,” Warwick said adding, “They’ve also said there are four businesses that are providing restrooms, and those businesses don’t even know about it (alternative parade).”
“Our (LJVMA’s) position is that the (alternative) parade organizers have never presented their plans to us, and until they present, we have no position – or we stay out,” said Marengo.
“It’s our obligation to educate merchants about what’s going on,” added Warwick.
“We don’t know what we’re educating,” replied Marengo.
The La Jolla Traffic & Transportation (TNT) Committee heard the matter of the alternative parade and proposed street closures at its June meeting. They, however, delayed a final decision until the Diversity & Inclusiveness Group returns at its July meeting with more information. The next TNT meeting will be Thursday, July 23 at 4 p.m. at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St.