La Jolla’s effort to secede from the city of San Diego has taken a significant turn. Former city manager Jack McGrory recently stated that the citizens of greater San Diego may not have any say at all in whether La Jolla gets to break away. This argument challenges the common understanding that both La Jollans and the rest of San Diego would need to approve the secession.

Understanding the Secession Process

McGrory’s claim is based on his interpretation of the law, which he believes states that only those affected by the detachment should be allowed to vote. However, officials overseeing the process disagree, citing the need for a citywide vote. The matter is largely untested in legal territory, and the outcome is uncertain.

The La Jolla secession group, led by McGrory, is testing the argument that the rest of San Diego won’t be affected by the detachment. This is in contrast to the 2002 attempt by Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley to break away from Los Angeles, where both residents of the seceding territories and the rest of Los Angeles got a vote.

Next Steps

The Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will meet on Monday to decide who to hire to conduct a comprehensive fiscal analysis of the detachment. The analysis will examine the potential financial implications of the secession, including the impact on property tax revenue and pension debt. The target date for completing the analysis is May 2028, after which LAFCO commissioners will decide what to put on the ballot.

If the secession is approved, La Jollans could vote on a potential City Council for their new city as early as November 2028. The new city of La Jolla might be incorporated as early as the summer of 2029, according to LAFCO officials.

Original reporting: Voice of San Diego — read the source article.