San Diego’s coastline is more than a postcard backdrop — it’s part of who we are. It’s where families gather, where tourists visit, where small businesses thrive, and where thousands of service members at Camp Pendleton train to protect our nation.
This week, the Board took up the issue of offshore oil drilling, and I voted no — firmly and without hesitation. Here’s why.
Our Military Depends on a Safe, Open Coast
We’re home to Camp Pendleton, one of the most important military installations in the country. Service members train up and down our shoreline, relying on clear space for navigation, amphibious landings, and critical operations.
Offshore drilling rigs would interfere with that training and introduce unnecessary risks to the very men and women who protect our country. We already face the ongoing Tijuana sewage crisis — the last thing we need is another threat in our coastal waters.
We’ve Seen What Happens When Coastlines Are Industrialized
If you want to know what offshore drilling would look like, just look north to Long Beach. An industrialized waterfront. Blocked views. A permanent scar on the landscape.
That’s not San Diego. Our coastline is iconic, pristine, and central to our identity. Turning it into an oil zone would change this region forever — and not for the better.
A Spill Would Cripple Our Economy
Tourism, recreation, small businesses, fishing — so much of our economy depends on clean, beautiful beaches. A single spill could devastate our shoreline and wipe out a multibillion-dollar segment of our regional economy.
And we don’t need to speculate. We’ve seen it happen in Santa Barbara, the Gulf, and across the world. Once a spill happens, the damage isn’t measured in days — it’s measured in years.
We Don’t Need More Drilling — America Is Already Exporting Record Levels of Oil and Gas
The argument that we “need” new offshore drilling doesn’t line up with reality. The United States is currently exporting record amounts of oil and gas.
Instead of drilling along San Diego’s coastline, we should be investing in long-term, stable solutions like nuclear energy, advanced technology, and innovations that actually lower costs for families.
Protecting Something Irreplaceable
San Diego’s shoreline is one of the most beautiful in the world. It’s where communities gather, where service members train, and where Californians come to recharge. Offshore drilling would jeopardize all of that.
That’s why I voted no.
That’s why I’ll continue fighting to protect our coast.
And that’s why San Diego must remain a place defined by natural beauty — not industrial drilling platforms.
Our coastline is worth defending. And I’m proud to stand on the side of protecting it.
Jim Desmond is San Diego County’s District 5 Supervisor and Congressional Candidate for California’s 49th District, https://www.supervisorjimdesmond.com/
