A proposal to establish a UC San Diego banner district, though pitched as a mutually beneficial project, was viewed by some La Jolla Shores Association board members last week as a one-sided and not-so-collaborative deal.
Erin Shepler, UCSD’s executive director of marketing, and Anu Delouri, senior director of local government and community relations, presented the proposal to the Shores Association on April 16.
Under the proposal, UCSD banners would be hung on light poles on streets near the university, including Genesee Avenue, Regents Road, La Jolla Village Drive, North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla Shores Drive and Torrey Pines Scenic Drive.
The plan first went before the La Jolla Traffic & Transportation Board last month before it was redirected to the Shores Association.
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Former LJSA president Janie Emerson said at the T&T meeting that the proposal would more appropriately fall under LJSA’s jurisdiction because “that’s the community it’s going to impact most.”
T&T Chairman Erik Gantzel agreed, saying “It doesn’t, in my mind, impact what we are here to do,” since it doesn’t involve road or parking changes.
The project, though developed “in close partnership with the city” of San Diego, would be paid for and maintained by the university, Shepler told LJSA, and the banners would be installed at “low-impact times” to avoid disrupting traffic.
There are a total of 175 poles within the loop, but Shepler said that doesn’t mean each one will be used. Several factors would be considered, she said, including what the budget allows and which poles are obstructed or contain safety signs.
Shepler said the project is not promotional, political or for profit but instead is about “showing value to the community,” boosting local pride, creating a more welcoming environment, “establishing a sense of place” for where the UCSD campus starts and ends and showcasing the school to people just outside of it.
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Emerson disputed a claim by the presenters that the banner district would not overlap with La Jolla Shores’ banner district. The area in question is on La Jolla Shores Drive adjacent to UCSD’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
A La Jolla Shores banner is shown on the corner of Biological Grade and La Jolla Shores Drive. (Janie Emerson)
Delouri said the university does not believe there is overlap but that it would remove any parts of its banner district that indeed cross over.
Shepler agreed that “it’s not a problem at all. Based on our conversations with the city, we were told that this is not a conflict, but we are happy to resolve that” if there is one.
Delouri said that because the banner district is proposed on city streets, it will require City Council action but not local action.
But, she said, council President Joe LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla, “was very particular that we do bring it to the community and share with you.”
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Anu Delouri, senior director of local government and community relations for UC San Diego, gives a presentation about a proposed banner district encompassing streets near the university. (Noah Lyons)
That caused some board members and others attending the meeting to question the collaborative aspect of the proposal.
“That’s not community partnership,” board member Mike McCormack said. “It’s not that I don’t support banners on La Jolla Shores Drive and their use. I support us having control over it so the university comes to us and asks us to make use of our banners.”
Others characterized the proposal as one-sided.
Emerson called the project “counterproductive” and added that “it takes people from our community and onto the campus and not into our community and our businesses.”
Board member Kathleen Neil inquired about UCSD’s maintenance of nearby trees and the poles’ light bulbs.
“Anything you can offer back in return to us becomes an incentive for us to support your request,” Neil said. “Otherwise, it feels more like taking.”
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Delouri said the university will do its best but cannot take maintenance into its own hands.
Board member Ross Rudolph requested a corrected map before the board votes on the project.
“We’re not trying to be obstructive,” Emerson said. “We’re just trying to keep our community the way it needs to be, and I know you all are trying to enhance your community. So we can work together.”
Delouri and Shepler said the next step for UCSD is reconnecting with the city and confirming that there is no district overlap before the project moves forward. They said they “are happy to come back” to the Shores Association to share any adjustments and additional details.
After the meeting, Delouri told the La Jolla Light that portions of the proposed district, specifically light poles along the west side of North Torrey Pines Road and the south side of La Jolla Village Drive between Torrey Pines Road and Gilman Drive, are being reassessed to determine whether any adjustments are needed.
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Other LJSA news
Swearing-in: LaCava swore in five newly elected board members during the April 16 meeting — three of them in person and two attending online.
They are Alina Mullen, Tracey Andreae, Dede Donovan, Angie Preisendorfer and Sharon Luscomb. Members Rudolph and Andi Andreae were termed out and Cindy Goodman, Brian Earley and Claudia Baranowski did not seek reelection.
John Pierce will remain president, with Mary Coakley Munk as first vice president, Karen Marshall as second vice president, Preisendorfer as secretary and Terry Kraszewski as treasurer.
Event planning: The Shores Association plans an event titled “Tides of Creativity,” highlighting local artists and authors, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 17.
LJSA received a $7,500 grant initiated by state Sen. Toni Atkins before she left office last fall and administered by the city of San Diego in partnership with the area Business Improvement District Alliance.
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Pierce said LJSA is working on permits with the city and that additional information will be available soon.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Shores Association next meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at the Martin Johnson House on the campus of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8840 Biological Grade. Learn more at lajollashoresassociation.org. ♦
Two families were displaced from their Carmel Valley townhome after it went up in flames earlier this afternoon.
This happened just before 3 p.m. on Moratalla Terrace. Fire investigators said the fire started inside a garage unit because of faulty electrical equipment and robotics projects. One neighbor said she’s thankful for the quick response.
“The people that own the house were in the driveway calling 911, and within, I think within five minutes of me smelling the smoke the fire trucks were here,” said Nikki Briggs. I’m just thankful that everyone was okay, and that it didn’t keep spreading. Like if it would have been a wildfire, that would have been terrible.”
Firefighters say most of the damage was contained in the garage. A total of nine people were displaced by the fire. Five people lived inside the unit that burned. Thankfully all of them made it out safely without any injuries.
Shares of Gossamer Bio, Inc. (NASDAQ:GOSS) have received a consensus ‘Hold’ rating from the 10 research firms currently covering the company, according to a report from MarketBeat. The average 12-month price target among analysts is $5.43.
Why it matters
Gossamer Bio is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on developing therapies for immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases, as well as oncology. The ‘Hold’ rating and mixed analyst views could impact investor sentiment and the company’s ability to raise capital for further drug development.
The details
The analyst ratings for Gossamer Bio include two ‘Sell’ recommendations, four ‘Hold’ ratings, and four ‘Buy’ recommendations. Some firms have lowered their price targets on the stock, with HC Wainwright decreasing its target from $10 to $5.
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Gossamer Bio released its latest quarterly earnings report on March 17, 2026.
The players
Gossamer Bio, Inc.
A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company headquartered in San Diego, California that is focused on developing oral, once-daily therapies for immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases, as well as oncology.
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The takeaway
The mixed analyst views on Gossamer Bio highlight the challenges facing the company as it seeks to advance its pipeline of drug candidates through clinical trials and regulatory approvals. The ‘Hold’ rating could make it more difficult for the company to raise capital and fund its operations.
Oceanside Harbor Beach. (File photo courtesy of @CityofOceanside via X)
A man apparent drowned in the waters near the Oceanside Pier Saturday morning, despite efforts by lifeguards and paramedics to revive him.
The Oceanside Fire Department’s Lifeguard Division and the Oceanside Police Department responded to a report of a missing man at about 4:30 a.m.. Officials said the man was last seen swimming in the ocean about a half-hour earlier.
Lifeguards and police immediately initiated a coordinated search effort using pier vantage points, surveillance cameras and watercraft, but the search was suspended at approximately 5:30 a.m. after no one was found, fire officials said.
“At approximately 10:50 a.m., lifeguards discovered an unresponsive adult male, matching the earlier description, in the water near Lifeguard Tower 12, at Oceanside Harbor Beach,” Division Chief Blake Dorse said in a statement. “The individual was removed from the water, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was immediately initiated.”
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Fire and rescue personnel continued efforts to resuscitate the man on the way to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He is believed to be the one who was reported missing near the pier.
Authorities did not release the man’s name.
“The Oceanside Lifeguard Division reminds the public to exercise caution when entering the ocean, especially during early morning hours or when lifeguards are not actively monitoring the water,” Dorse said. “Always swim near an open lifeguard tower and avoid entering the water alone.”
