Welcome! I’m Thomas Murphy, a California-based journalist & photographer.

The La Jolla Community Planning Association unanimously approved two proposals aimed at improving coastal access along southern La Jolla Shores and the Coast Walk Trail. The plans address long-running disputes involving private property boundaries, high tide access and contested signage. One proposal would establish a route around the Marine Room during high tides, while the other supports continued public access along Coast Walk as a legal dispute over property rights moves forward.

Thrill seekers flock to Sunset Cliffs' iconic Arch after viral social media videos turned the illegal jump into a bucket-list attraction. But a recent string of rescues, increased lifeguard patrols and crumbling sandstone cliffs have renewed concerns about the future of the decades-old tradition. Lifeguards say cliff jumping is both illegal and extremely dangerous, while longtime locals worry erosion and stricter enforcement could eventually bring the landmark's most famous pastime to an end.

South County has endured the Tijuana River sewage crisis for decades, with untreated wastewater forcing prolonged beach closures, fouling the air and raising persistent public health concerns from Imperial Beach to Coronado. At a public panel, local leaders, scientists and advocates warned the crisis is worsening while outlining solutions ranging from wastewater infrastructure upgrades to stronger binational cooperation and expanded federal investment. Despite frustration over years of delays, speakers said coordinated action offers the best path toward restoring the region's beaches and protecting nearby communities.

Parking shortages are becoming increasingly common in San Diego's denser neighborhoods as new housing places more pressure on limited curb space. At a recent Navajo Community Planning Group meeting, transportation advocacy group Ride SD proposed a flexible residential parking permit framework designed to help neighborhoods manage overflow parking without discouraging new housing. The proposal includes five permit models that communities could choose from based on local needs, aiming to balance parking demand with continued housing growth.

SeaWorld's long-planned resort hotel remains on the drawing board as San Diego officials consider updating the park's long-term master plan. The Planning Commission is reviewing a 2020 planning document that preserves a hotel concept first proposed in 1985, though no construction project is being approved. SeaWorld says it has "no specific details to share," and the California Coastal Commission says it is unaware of any active hotel proposal, underscoring that the review concerns long-range planning rather than imminent development.