I’LL GET MORE DETAILS ON THIS IN
THEFECTION NEXT FEW MINUTES. >>> COULD LA JOLLA POINT BE
CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC FOREVER?
IT’S A QUESTION ON THE TABLE
TODAY FOR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
AFTER THE COASTAL COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED A PERMANENT MOVE
LAST WEEK.
>> THE REASON FOR ALL OF THIS IS
TO PROTECT THE SEA LIONS, NBC 7’S NICOLE GOMEZ IS LIVE WITH
HOW LOCALS ARE FEELING ABOUT IT,
AND WE’VE GOT BOTH SIDES TALKING ABOUT IT.
GOOD MORNING TO YOU, NICOLE.
>> Reporter: GOOD MORNING, MIXED
FEELINGS HERE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WE SPOKE TO WOULD BE SAD TO SEE
A PERMANENT CLOSURE, BUT AT THE
SAME TIME THEY REALIZE THAT THIS
PROPOSAL WOULD ALL BE FOR THE
BENEFIT AND THE BEST INTEREST OF
THE WILDLIFE HERE.
LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT’S BEEN
GOING ON THE PAST YEAR THAT’S
SPURRED THIS MOVEMENT TO CLOSE THIS PERMANENTLY.
WHAT LED UP TO IT?
WELL, PERHAPS A FEW INCIDENTS
THAT WENT VIRAL THIS YEAR.
FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS.
YOU PROBABLY REMEMBER THE
SNORKELER WHO WAS RECORDED
PETTING A BABY SEA LION IN JUNE,
EVEN AFTER LIFEGUARDS TOLD HIM
NOT TO, AND TOLD HIM TO STOP.
THEN THERE WAS ANOTHER INCIDENT JUST A FEW MONTHS PRIOR IN MARCH
WHEN A LITTLE GIRL THREW ROCKS AT ONE OF THE SEA LIONS.
MARINE BIOLOGY EXPERTS HAVE LONG
SAID GETTING TOO CLOSE TO THE
PUPS IN PARTICULAR COULD LEAD TO
THEIR MOTHERS REJECTING THEM
BECAUSE OF THE HUMAN SCENT.
WE TALKED TO ONE LOCAL WHO’S
LIVED IN LA JOLLA FOR 20 YEARS,
OFTEN SWIMMING IN LA JOLLA COVE,
SHE UNDERSTANDS WHY A FULL-TIME
CLOSURE MIGHT BE NECESSARY.
>> I DON’T THINK THE STATE HAS ENOUGH MONEY TO HAVE A FULL-TIME
RANGER HERE EXPLAINING HOW TO
RESPECT THE ANIMALS TO PEOPLE
WHO REALLY THINK THAT THEY CAN
PET EVERY LITTLE BABY SEA LION
THAT THEY SEE, RIGHT?
SO I THINK IT’S JUST THEIR WAY
OF TRYING TO HAVE A BALANCE. >> Reporter: EXACTLY.
SO, AGAIN, THE COASTAL COMMISSION RECOMMENDED A
FULL-TIME CLOSURE LAST WEEK.
TODAY, SAN DIEGO COUNCIL, CITY
COUNCIL GETS THEIR SAY.
THAT MEETING STARTS AT 2:00 THIS