The San Diego City Council, led by District 1 City Councilmember Joe LaCava, sealed their sweeping betrayal of public trust October 27, 2025 by removing the grant deed protections on the former polo fields and amending Surf Cup Sports’ lease for the 114-acre property. The Council also illegally exempted those actions from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Unfortunately, Mr. La Cava and his colleagues had negotiated a deal with Surf and made the decision well before the meeting. They disregarded the impassioned voices of environmental leaders, officials from neighboring cities, scores of concerned residents, as well as thousands of letters of opposition. The motion passed 6-2-1, with councilmembers Marni von Wilpert and Raul Campillo opposed and Jennifer Campbell absent.
The outcome was a tough and even traumatic experience. We put our hearts into this effort because we care deeply about truth, fairness, and protecting the land that belongs to all San Diegans. Thank you to everyone who showed up to sit through the Council’s insulting charade, Surf’s bluster, and the city attorney’s misrepresentations. Thank you for every letter, every meeting, every late-night message, every personal speech, every donation of money, time, and service. We’ve shown what real civic engagement looks like. We’ve also built something meaningful – a network of public servants, environmentalists, neighbors, and advocates who know how to organize, speak up, and care fiercely for our shared river valley. That doesn’t end here.
Do not be discouraged. We are down but not out. The action does not render the other lawsuits moot and will likely lead to other lawsuits, especially with regard to CEQA. The first step is a motion for preliminary injunction that will seek a declaration that Ocean Industries, having assigned to the Fairbanks Polo Club Homes HOA and thereby given up all its rights under the Grant Deed, necessarily gave up its right under that deed to amend it.
We will keep you apprised of any new developments and again, extend our deepest gratitude to all of you who have stood with us in this fight.