San Diego Sues LAFCO Over La Jolla Petition

The San Diego City Council has authorized a lawsuit against the San Diego County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) over its decision to validate signatures for a petition seeking La Jolla's secession from San Diego. The petition was initially found insufficient by the county Registrar of Voters due to invalid or unverifiable signatures, but LAFCO allowed additional time for corrections, eventually declaring the petition valid. Mayor Todd Gloria and other city officials criticized LAFCO for overruling the registrar with what they describe as overly broad interpretations, arguing the move undermines public trust and sets a problematic precedent. The legal challenge focuses on whether LAFCO exceeded its authority and the integrity of the signature verification process. Despite this, LAFCO insists it followed proper procedures and continues to advance the cityhood application. The dispute now proceeds through the courts as both sides defend their positions.