AS OF JAN 1, 2010 SAN DIEGO HAS LEGAL LEEWAY TO LET SEALS STAY IN THEIR COVE
11/13/09 — Casa Beach, the Children’s Pool, in La Holla, California is home to a harbor seal colony. Plaintiff Valerie O’ Sullivan wants to squirt them all away with a sprinkler system called the Scarecrow. Kinship Circle followers joined Animal Protection and Rescue League and other area activists, urging Calif. Legislature Assembly Natural Resources Committee representatives to vote YES ON SB-428 — to protect the right for seals to be there. In the end Superior Court Judge Timothy Taylor overturned two prior rulings to disperse some 200 seals. As of Jan 1, 2010, San Diego has legal leeway to let seals stay in their cove. San Diego lawyer Paul Kennerson, who led efforts to remove seals, was vague about filing more litigation. "This may well be the end of the line," he said.

7/23/09 — La Jolla seals won’t be dispersed by barking dog noise after a Superior Court judge set aside an order to remove them until a new hearing. Thus the latest chapter unfolds in a long dispute over San Diego seal turf, specifically whether seals can stay at the cove or be forcibly removed for a youth swimming area. This ruling follows a new state law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that empowers the city to decide the best use of the cove. The judge ruled just hours before a contractor was to run a portable audio system with loud dog barks. Meanwhile at the cove, about two dozen seals lounged on the sand. Kinship Circle member Barb Dunsmore, of Pacific Beach, was frustrated that the judge did not close the case altogether. "It’s been going on for so long. Make up your mind," said Dunsmore, a volunteer for the San Diego based Animal Protection and Rescue League.

FRIENDS OF KINSHIP CIRCLE ALERTS are from our supporters — not researched / written by Kinship Circle.

QUESTIONS? CONTACT ALERT WRITER:
Barb Dunsmore, tochashona@yahoo.com

• 7/16/09: Ask Governor To Pardon San Diego Seals
• 6/15/09: Save San Diego Seals. Deadline 6/22/09

In our last FRIENDS OF KINSHIP CIRCLE newsletter, we told you about tiny Casa Beach in La Jolla, California, famous for its colony of harbor seals. Seals have been threatened since swimmers sued the City of San Diego and won.

A 2005 state court ruling orders the city to dredge the sand on which seals rest, to restore its 1931 condition as a bathing pool. You were asked to help pass SB 428, legislation to add the language marine mammal park for the enjoyment and educational benefit of children that could save the seals.

UPDATE: SB 428 passed the Assembly 71-0! Now the Governor must sign the bill into law.

TAKE ACTION: Tell the office of the Governor you support SB 428 and stress that this bill is a fiscal issue because it saves San Diego money yearly.

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