Parker talked with the La Jolla Light about a range of issues, including his relationship with Bird Rock, his priorities for the Community Council and where he expects the group’s key projects to land in 2026. His La Jolla roots run deep, as he grew up in the Bird Rock area and returned after living in Orange County. After looking at homes in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles and San Diego, Parker’s mother and father eventually settled in Bird Rock. And with projects like a 239-foot-tall residential-commercial building being proposed for Turquoise Street just outside Bird Rock, he believes community participation is key. “Our board very much had divided opinions about a lot of things,” Parker said.