Scripps Coastal Reserve did fine when public had access
UC San Diego’s justification for attempting to make the illegal closure of Scripps Coastal Reserve a permanent reality is based on a complete fallacy (“California Coastal Commission has questions for UCSD about Scripps Coastal Reserve,” April 4, La Jolla Light).
UCSD claims the closure is necessary due to damage being caused to the natural environment there by public misuse. However, UCSD’s own application to the Coastal Commission makes clear that rather than being damaged, the reserve’s natural condition was improving dramatically while it was fully open to the public.
After it was severely degraded by U.S. military use during World War II, “an active campaign to restore native vegetation began and by the 2010s coastal sage scrub was well-established,” UCSD’s application states. “As a result of this successful restoration, the Scripps Coastal Reserve is now an active breeding site for the federally listed endangered California gnatcatcher.”
The aerial photos included in UCSD’s application provide clear evidence of this native habitat recovery. Given that the closure began in 2020, this dramatic improvement occurred in harmony with public access.
The public visited Scripps Coastal Reserve because they enjoyed being in nature, not to party there or cause damage. The closure only serves to provide additional privacy to [UCSD] Chancellor Pradeep Khosla and his neighbors overlooking the reserve and to unlawfully restrict public access to the historical Sumner Canyon beach trail.
The Coastal Commission needs to enforce the law now.
Sam Jian
La Jolla is inconsistent about Scripps Park
Rich La Jolla people. We don’t want vending or busking in [Scripps] park because it ruins the view (“‘Expressive activity’ pads being installed in La Jolla parks, which some call a ‘huge win,’” April 4, La Jolla Light).
But those same people park hundreds of rich cars and tents in the same park, charging the public [up to] $500 to enter the public space while blocking the public’s view of the ocean along that area for a weekend (“Rare vehicles to take spotlight at La Jolla Concours d’Elegance,” April 4, La Jolla Light).
The irony.
William Dorsett
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