A six-hour drive from Phoenix it would be worth it to visit San Diego for the sunsets alone but the city also comes with SeaWorld San Diego, the famous San Diego Zoo and La Jolla Cove.
San Diego, California – The long-simmering movement to separate La Jolla from the city of San Diego has gained new momentum after clearing a critical step in the incorporation process. The Association for the City of La Jolla (ACLJ) has secured the 6,750 valid petition signatures required to advance its bid to make the affluent coastal enclave its own city—an effort that has reignited political tension across the region.
The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), which oversees municipal boundary changes in San Diego County, confirmed this week that a remedial petition submitted by the ACLJ met the threshold, validating 6,772 signatures—just 12 above the requirement. The petition comes after LAFCO staff overruled the Registrar of Voters (ROV), which had originally rejected it for falling short by 218 signatures.
“Thank you to the community and dozens of volunteers for your support and dedication,” the ACLJ said in a statement. “The goal of La Jolla cityhood moves to the next step.”
The next step is an administrative review by LAFCO, including a financial feasibility study to determine what it would take for La Jolla to replace city services currently provided by San Diego. Any split would need to be revenue-neutral, ensuring the city of San Diego does not suffer a financial loss.
La Jolla generates roughly $84 million annually for the city, according to a preliminary analysis from the ACLJ. The group argues the new city could contract emergency services and handle its infrastructure, saving San Diego money and liability. “We think we can take that burden away from the city,” said ACLJ treasurer Ed Witt.
ACLJ Vice President Dian Kane said the goal is to restore La Jolla’s past prominence. “We would like to make this the jewel it was many years ago. It’s lost a lot of its luster, and we just want to fix it for everybody.”
But not everyone is celebrating the group’s milestone.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria condemned LAFCO’s decision, calling it “outrageous” and vowing to challenge the move. Gloria’s office criticized the commission for overriding the ROV’s certification of insufficiency, citing questionable signature validations — including mismatched names, incorrect addresses, and illegible entries.
“The City will issue a formal Letter of Objection and continue to explore the legal options available,” Gloria said in a statement.
Ultimately, if LAFCO approves the proposal following its financial review, the decision to allow La Jolla to break away will rest with voters across the city of San Diego.
After years of stalled efforts, La Jolla’s secession bid is closer than ever — but the political and legal battle is only beginning.
