A recent Press Release from the La Jolla Community Planning Association stated “La Jolla Community Planning Association Seeks Candidates for Annual Trustee Election”. In the body of the press release it stated “Elected Trustee participates in monthly meeting held the first Thursday of each month at 6:00pm. Upon election trustees receive a brief training of land development law and process. Our meetings are always open to the public and we are guided by our bylaws, city policies and the Brown Act to ensure that our process is inclusive and transparent”.
One only has to listen to the official recording of the LJCPA monthly December 2013 meeting to understand the approval process in La Jolla is anything but “inclusive and 
transparent”. Before the December meeting was called to order you can hear the LJCPA Secretary, Helen Boyden, announcing “Here we go I am recording”. Shortly thereafter a woman named Ashley asks the LJCPA President, Tony Crisafi, why her project, which had been denied by DPR, is not on tonight’s agenda? After an apology from the LJCPA President, a disappointed and frustrated Ashley ends the conversation and walks away. Forgetting their conversation is being recorded Mr. Crisafi and Ms. Boyden continue discussing Ashley’s project in her absence, Mr. Crisafi states; “What I’m going to do”? “According to Phil (Merten) it’s not going to get approved anyway”. Ms. Boyden asks; “By the City”? Mr. Crisafi responds; “No, by the community”.