June 2017

San Diego Audubon Critical of City’s New Options for DeAnza Cove in Mission Bay

June 30, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

Last night at Mission Bay High School, the city unveiled two of its alternative plans for De Anza Cove before community members and the De Anza Revitalization Plan Ad-hoc Committee .

David Garrick at the San Diego Union-Tribune reported on the revised plans:

Mission Bay’s northeast corner would be transformed into a combination of marshland, public-private recreation, camping areas and a restaurant … The two proposals would also preserve but reconfigure Mission Bay Golf Course, create nature lookout points, fill a missing link for bicyclists, add a vehicle entrance off Grand Avenue and centralize parking areas.

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Court Ruling Says ‘Turn on the Lights’ at Point Loma High School … But …

June 30, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

Is it true that Point Loma High School is the only high school in the district without stadium lights?

While this question is mulled, know this, the stadium lights controversy at Point Loma High School just reached a legal plateau with a recent Superior Court ruling that was in support of the school and the lights. Oh, the lights, the lights!

But still it may not all be over …

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Stream of Consciousness as a Brief Getaway

June 30, 2017 by Ernie McCray

Blue monochromatic image of three people in rowboat on calm water with man's face subtly appearing in the surface of the water

By Ernie McCray

PRELUDE: What’s written here are words that poured from me when I tried to, just for a few moments in time, air my mind of all the mania that seems to come from the White House from time to time aka all the time. It’s as written, word for word, with punctuation added to tidy it up a bit.

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Winners of the 2017 OB Chili Cook-Off

June 29, 2017 by Source

Here are the winners of the OB Chili Cook-Off held Saturday, June 24th:

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Join the March for Impeachment – Sunday, July 2nd

June 29, 2017 by Staff

There’s a rally and march for the impeachment of President Donald Trump this Saturday, July 2nd at the San Diego County Administration Building.

This March for Impeachment is one of many scheduled to be held in cities across the country as a way for Americans from every walk of life to come together in our collective demand for proceedings to begin as soon as possible for the impeachment of the current President of the United States.

Here’s a statement from the local Impeachment March organizers:

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Ocean Beach Town Council Ponders Whether Bacon Street Could Become a ‘Bicycle Boulevard’?

June 29, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

The draw at the Ocean Beach Town Council meeting last night – Wednesday, June 28th – was a panel-led discussion about OB bicycle infrastructure and advocacy which centered on making improvements to Bacon Street to make it a “bicycle boulevard”.

Making Bacon a Bike Boulevard

Stephan Vance of the San Diego Bicycle Coalition, Andrew Waltz of the OB Planning Board (Andrew is also a board member of the OBTC) and Nate Bazydlo – vice president of the OBTC – all addressed the some-forty folks in the audience about OB bikes.

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San Diego Schools Embrace Untested ‘De-personalized’ Learning

June 29, 2017 by Source

By Thomas Ultican / Tultican

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) is spending lavishly on technology despite their budgets being decimated by California’s unaccountable charter school industry. During the 2016-17 school year, SDUSD bought digital badging and 16,000 new Chromebooks.

“The district is struggling with a projected $124 million shortfall in its $1.4 billion budget, and have issued in the neighborhood of 1,500 layoff notices to full and part-time employees” reports the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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Residents Urged to Take Part in Plans for Future of De Anza Cove in Mission Bay – Meeting Thurs., June 29th

June 28, 2017 by Source

San Diego Audubon Encourages Public to Participate in De Anza Cove Revitalization Plan Meeting – 1st Public Meeting Since November

Compiled From San Diego Audubon

The San Diego Audubon hopes to see balance of habitat and recreation across Mission Bay Park.

For the first time, the City of San Diego’s De Anza Revitalization Plan Ad-hoc Committee, comprised of local individuals that bring a variety of expertise to guide the planning process, will review the updated restoration options. This is the first public meeting since November …

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The Widder Curry Tries to Upgrade Her Verizon Phone

June 28, 2017 by Judi Curry

It Was a Grueling Morning – Afternoon

By Judi Curry

Actually the following intro has nothing to do with what my day was like yesterday, except to lay the ground work for why I was at the Verizon store in the morning.

The day before was an exciting day: My last grandchild – Zac – graduated from High School in Orange County. Just the week before Colin, another grandson also graduated from High School. And two weeks before that one of my twin grandsons – Landon – and his girlfriend Tiffany – graduated from Fullerton State with their Master’s Degree in Social Work. (The other twin – Logan – and his girlfriend Irene graduated last year with their Masters.)

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Suzie’s Farm: Gone, But Not Forgotten

June 28, 2017 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

Suzie’s Farm did all the right things over the past eight years, growing a wide variety organic produce, selling at farmers markets and direct to consumers, getting listed as a supplier on restaurant menus, always with an eye toward building community involvement. Above all, Robin Taylor and Lucila De Alejandro built a brand.

Now the farm is closed.

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Saratoga and Long Branch Apartment Complexs in Ocean Beach Sold

June 27, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

Two sets of different apartment complexes in Ocean Beach have been sold recently.

Back during the third week in May, a 6-unit apartment complex at 5018-5022 Saratoga Avenue was sold for $2.08 million ($347K per unit). The seller of the property was the Carl and Barbara Yamashiro Revocable Trust of San Diego and the all-cash buyers were Florida-based investors Fred and Cynthia Deluca.

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Midway Planners Cannot Directly Hire Private Security Firm

June 27, 2017 by Source

By Geoff Page

As seems to happen at almost every meeting of the Midway – Pacific Highway Community Planning Group, the topic of the homeless population came up again, twice, during the board’s regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 21, at the San Diego Community College’s West City Campus on Fordham Street.

New Police Detail for Midway

The first mention of the homeless issue came from the San Diego Police Department represented by Community Relations Officer David Surwilo and his partner Ricardo Pinon. They announced that the SDPD has a new project in which six officers are now available specifically for calls in the Midway area and a Deputy City Attorney has been assigned to this group.

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San Diego DA Dumanis Targets Attorney for Cannabis Industry

June 27, 2017 by Source

In Chilling Move, DA Served Search Warrants on Attorney Jessica McElfresh’s Office and Home

By Terrie Best / San Diego Americans for Safe Access

Something outrageous is happening in our criminal justice system in San Diego. In a post proposition 64 world, after voters could not have sent a clearer message about acceptance of the cannabis industry, District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis is busy making enemies of some of the most effective leaders who have emerged.

Bonnie thumbs her nose at voters while nearly dancing toward a seat on the county board supervisors. Particularly shocking in this prosecution is the targeting of cannabis attorney, Jessica McElfresh who has represented several of the newly-licensed collectives under the city’s ordinance.

The Med-West case began with a raid in January 2016, …

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July 1st Is Deadline to Submit Applications for OB Town Council Community Grants

June 27, 2017 by Staff

Saturday, July 1st, is the deadline to submit an application for a community grant that the OB Town Council could fund for the year 2017.

Here’s more from the website of the OBTC

The OBTC seeks to award grants to local organizations, groups, and persons that will promote the general betterment and beautification of Ocean Beach and the welfare of its residents.

The OBTC will award a total of $12,000 in community grants in 2017. Grant amounts range from $200 to $1,500.

To apply for an OBTC Community Grant …

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Reader’s Rant: Stadium Sabotage — Mayor Faulconer Needs to Resign

June 27, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

By George Mullen / San Diego Free Press

qualcomm stadium photo

Whether you loved or hated the San Diego Chargers isn’t important.

What’s important is the flagrant public and political breach of trust surrounding the team’s departure, as well as San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s push for the FS Investors/SoccerCity redevelopment to replace them.

This breach of trust is a major concern that all San Diego citizens and NFL fans nationwide should be paying close attention to. It could very well lead to the Mayor’s resignation or recall.

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OB Bike Infrastructure & Advocacy Panel Discussion at Next OB Town Council Meeting – June 28th

June 27, 2017 by Source

From OBTC

At the very next OB Town Council meeting on Wednesday, June 28th, there will be an “OB Bike Infrastructure & Advocacy Panel Discussion”.

The OBTC has invited local and regional bike advocates and experts to present opportunities for bicycle infrastructure in OB, including the resurfacing of Bacon Street, round-abouts, speed bumps, one-way streets, and protected bike paths.

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Reader Rant: Short Term Rentals Allowed as Ministerial Re-Model on 4600 Block of Orchard

June 26, 2017 by Source

By Richard Chester

Help!! I want to get the word out. More short term vacation rentals are coming soon. Now invading cottage district AGAIN in Ocean Beach.

A Process One Permit which bypasses all review procedures to include local planning board has been granted by the city for a remodel to the property at 4651-4653 Orchard Ave in OB Planning District 7.

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Help Preserve Point Loma’s Kellogg Beach

June 26, 2017 by Source

From Save Kellogg Beach

A persistent developer continues to promote their plan to build condos right on Kellogg Beach. They have lawyers, lobbyists and a whole hired team of people that are trying to convince the City that this project meets all Municipal codes and will not be detrimental to the beach or community.

But, They are Wrong.

They have again revised the plans to attempt to comply with codes and aspects that are clearly against the best interests of the Point Loma community.

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Are We Witnessing the End of Public Education as We Know It? — Part One

June 26, 2017 by Jim Miller

Public Education

By Jim Miller / Kelly Mayhew

These are dire times for public education. With Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education leading the charge for big budget cuts, charter schools, and a radical privatization agenda, the possibility that free quality public education for all in America could soon be a thing of the past is real.

One would think that such clear and present danger to a cornerstone of our democracy coming from the right would unite Democrats behind the mantle of defending public education.

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It’s Do or Die Time : San Diegans Joining Nationwide Trumpcare Protests

June 26, 2017 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter

This is the week that will determine the future of healthcare and a lot more in the United States for the foreseeable future. If there ever was a time to stand up and be heard on the topic the time is now.

There will be political actions aimed at pressuring elected officials nationwide. On Tuesday, July 27, local activists will add to the chorus against this abomination of a bill in San Diego and Vista.

Here are this week’s protests in anticipation of the Trumpcare vote in the Senate:

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Police Release Images of Possible Suspect in Ocean Beach Fatal Stabbing

June 23, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

San Diego Police have just released surveillance video of a possible suspect who stabbed Raz (aka Walter Riley) to death on Bacon Street in Ocean Beach.

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Rachel Maddow Nails Senate Bill’s Axing of Medicaid

June 23, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

Thursday night, June 22nd, Rachel Maddow on MSNBC took on the newly-exposed Senate Republican health care proposal and making no bones about it summarized that it “takes a meat ax” to Medicaid, America’s number one insurer.

Republicans want to ax more than $800 Billion from Medicaid. (That’s “B” for billion.)

Maddow neatly and clearly laid out all what Medicaid provides, but with the punch line that the drastic cuts could affect 75 million Americans. Here, in brief, were her major points about Medicaid:

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Summer News From Ocean Beach and Point Loma

June 23, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

OB Street Fair & Chili Cookoff

* Long-time OB Methodist Church Holds Last Service – OB Historical Society Archives Okay

* Car windows and tires vandalized on Cape May and Muir
* Missing Pt Loma Woman Found
* Cow Records Hildebrand Enjoys the Hippie Mystique of OB – Thanks OB Planning Board
* Non-Profit Van Used to Transport Homeless Youth Stolen and Recovered
* Short Term Rentals Threaten PB’s Housing Stock
* OB Brewpub Claims Gold and Bronze at Annual Beer Competition
* Point Loma Fire Station Built in 1943 Demolished – New One to Open Summer 2018
* Dana Students Handed Bibles
* Bricks Thrown Through Galactic Comics
* Mentally Ill Man Who Killed Parents Sentenced to 100 Years
***COME INSIDE FOR DETAILS

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Community Choice Energy Myths Debunked, SDG&E Misdirection Exposed

June 23, 2017 by Source

By Tyson Siegele / SanDiego350

burned light bulb photo

SDG&E and its parent company Sempra have been misleading customers about their stance on Community Choice Energy (CCE).

Sempra promotes itself as an upstanding community participant with only the best intentions for its customers, but in conjunction with SDG&E, it charges exorbitant rates and fights tooth and nail behind the scenes to maintain its monopoly. It does so at the expense of electricity consumers.

By reviewing Sempra marketing material and comparing Sempra’s statements to its actions, a clear pattern of misdirection and exploitation emerges.

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‘Morning Shot’ at the Jetty in Ocean Beach

June 23, 2017 by Source

“Morning Shot” by Albert C Elliott – Ocean Beach, June 23, 2017. Nice.

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OB Stabbing Victim Was a ‘Quiet’ Homeless African-American Man

June 22, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

According to a local OB businessperson – who knew the victim of last night’s fatal stabbing – his name was either “Roz” or “Raz” and the merchant last saw him at Wednesday’s Farmers Market. He was fatally stabbed Wednesday night late into the early hour of Thursday.

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News From Friends of the OB Library

June 22, 2017 by Source

By Laura Dennison

The June 17 Friends meeting was devoted primarily to our annual budget. Our treasurer, Mary Cairns, detailed our current income based on membership dues and estimated book sale proceeds. Due to a variety of reasons, e.g., fewer membership renewals, smaller member donations, and city-wide cutbacks, we are facing a shortfall if we want to fund all the library programs we currently have.

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Ocean Beach Town Council Now Accepting Applications for Community Grants

June 22, 2017 by Source

From the OBTC

Calling all who want to do some good in the neighborhood…

The Ocean Beach Town Council is now accepting applications for community grants that the Council will fund for the year 2017.

The OBTC seeks to award grants to local organizations, groups, and persons that will promote the general betterment and beautification of Ocean Beach and the welfare of its residents.

The OBTC will award a total of $12,000 in community grants in 2017. Grant amounts range from $200 to $1,500.

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Solving Homelessness Can’t Wait Another Year

June 22, 2017 by Source

By Jeeni Criscenzo / San Diego Free Press

Is the Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) really expecting people in desperate situations to patiently wait another year while we work on yet another plan?

Do we have so little confidence in our own ability to assess a situation that we need to bring in an expert from Sacramento to tell us what to do? Or are we so hamstrung by the same old vested interests that we can’t accommodate new ideas unless they come from outside and we pay lots of money for them?

I really want to believe that we are getting closer to a coordinated plan for housing people who’re experiencing homelessness. But I’ve sat through enough of these meetings over the last decade to justify my skepticism.

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Man Fatally Stabbed in Ocean Beach Early Thursday

June 22, 2017 by Frank Gormlie

Tragically, a man was stabbed last night on the streets of Ocean Beach who has since died of his wounds. Police are calling the fatal assault an “unprovoked attack” and are searching for the assailant.

Around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, June 22, police were called and told that one man was attacking another in the 1900 block of Bacon Street – near Newport Avenue. When they arrived on the scene, police found a man on the sidewalk with multiple stab wounds to his upper body. They performed life-saving measures, got him into an ambulance and off to UC San Diego Medical Center – but he later died.

The victim was reportedly in his sixties, but has not been identified as of yet.

The assailant was wearing a white or gray hooded sweatshirt and baggy blue jeans, police said.

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