Editor: Please welcome our newest Ragster, Doug Beacom, who is posting his very first piece on our website here. And, it’s a video report of the new, recently opened North Gateway Project for Ocean Beach, located at the corner of West Point Loma Boulevard and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Welcome Doug!
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{ 49 comments… read them below or add one }
Super cool! Thanks.
Once again, the OBRag is moving into new territory as a media outlet. I am very encouraged by the quality of this video.
As I have said many times in the past in various postings, it’s not possible to know what the outcome of the upheaval with the news media will be. It is certain, however, that those who get in on exploring the possibilities that are emerging will have a significant influence on whatever that outcome is.
Welcome to the OBRag, Doug. (Nice name, BTW)
thanks, Doug-
I’m always trying different production techniques and in this case my goal was to spend less than 30 mins capturing media, and sit on it (wait) less than 48hrs to edit and publish– lofty goals for someone with 2 little kids running around–but I did it!
the time I would’ve put into making a text post worthy of publishing on The Rag I out instead into a voice-over script, which is much easier for me.
Looking forward to creating more video dispatches, and open to the idea of collaborating with other writers here. For example, creating a short video to accompany a series of posts, etc.
Doug
Very Well done !!!!
Benches ” we dont need no stinkin benches”
I’m irked about the benches because the implications are obvious (to me)– we don’t want people loafing around the park there–so make it uninviting.
I’m not a skateboarder, but I’m also annoyed with their choice to order and install designer anti-rail-slide plates (the bronze starfish things) and yet they couldn’t put a path or benches in– way to go, OBCDC, et al
be nice to see them complete the walk way down into the park and even pave it all the way to the parking lot. A true path to Mission bay
Stu, there are still some empty donor plates on the ‘seashell wall’ so if you want to get a group of contributions together, maybe we’ll have a path built by 2013!
Doug- a terrific, intelligent video! This is an alternative format that I would love to see more of on the OBRag (hint hint). You hit all of the right points about the access path and the lack of benches. They would have been the most user friendly elements. Benches are of course deemed too user friendly. People might sit on them all day. I suspect that renovating the access path would have upped the budget or required a different prioritizing.
terrific & intelligent!?–don’t make my head swell on my first post! I’d like to see more of this format, too–please post story ideas or send them over to talknukes@gmail.com
think it’s possible to implement an OB direct-action group to get the proposed, funded plan actually installed?
My friend Bob & I where just saying the same things. We were out walking, & decided to check out the “Entry Way”. It’s basically a wall with shells and some grass leading down to a fence with no gate to Robb Field. We both found it difficult to believe it’s considered finished. Some sod and cement couldn’t have cost that much. Somebody made money on this one, at the expense of OB residents.
I love this too. Has a bit of an NPR feel to it. And the sentiment is right on: what the heck is going on with the Gateway?
Only thing that could make this better is some feedback from Kevin Faulconer and/or some of the others who posed in the photo-op when the shovels broke ground on this. Anyone heard the official word on what’s up?
at one of the OBPB meetings a guy in the CDC mentioned needing an additional amount, something like $45K, to “finish” the last 50 feet. I don’t have my notes in front of me, yet I was at the meeting and heard this directly from the representative of the CDC who was heading this project.
Sunshine, is this enuff OB news for you? I recall you complaining recently in a comment that you’d like to see more OB stuff on the OB Rag. Aren’t you one of the writers/ bloggers?
$45k to finish the last 50 feet!? dang!
I’d love the opportunity to sit down the CDC and Kevin Faulconer and get some sound bytes–might as well get Native Landscaping Corp. in on it, too–
There is an official ribbon cutting on this project next week if what I’m hearing is true…what an opportunity for these responsible parties to respond to your questions!
when next week, OB Law(yer)? I’ll be there!
a confidential source tells me that the design firm considers it ‘out of their hands’ since they’re just responsible for making the design, not implementing it. Ha!
Doug – have you worked on a Phase II of your project? Seems like there should be a follow up to this video with some additional info now that we’ve heard from the exhalted leadership. I’ve seen the ‘source’ post on this story…but nothing yet from your pen.
Let us know your follow-up is coming out… thanks.
I recall that information as well. I won’t defend the project in any way…but will add in its defense that it was “phased” and that they never had the money to finish the ‘meandering’ path.
Very nicely done.
thanks, Christopher.
with some hesitation I shared my first OB Rag post on Facebook and just got this from an old college friend I haven’t seen in a decade: ” Hi Doug, I work for KTU+A and sit next to a couple people on the OBCDC. I’ll make sure your video is passed on. It sends a good message to the city.”
KTU & A is a landscaping firm–we’ll see how this goes!
Great job Doug! Share, share, share!
this source has now decided to retract statements and only wants to speak off the record.
This was after she disclosed that members of the OBCDC sit next to her at the KTU+A design firm–the comment pasted above has been removed from my facebook.
isn’t it a conflict of interest to work at KTU & A and sit on the OBCDC?
The last of the 12 inch tiles HAVE been installed ……
What has been constructed is a good start, IMO. And yes, that is what 800k gets you. The bigger issue with this project is that the City is broke as a joke. We are relying largely on private funds to even get as far as people did.
Anyhow, I LOVE the production value here and hope that you will continue to put it to good use on this site, Doug. As to the point raised in this piece, my response is that many seem oblivious to the extent of the revenue shortfalls the City is experiencing. we can barely afford to keep fire stations open, pay our schoolteachers or pave roads. No, really. It is choice under constraint, and stuff like the Gateway Project cannot be the priority right now.
I want to SCREAM about this project to everyone within shouting distance!!!
Again, my company is the one that did ALL the archaeological work on this and we have not been paid one freakin’ red cent….OVER $120,000!!!!!!!!!! And now we’re coming up on one year next month that we did the work. Our company is suffering because of it!!!! We are a very small cultural resource management company and that is a LOT of money for us!!
We are constantly being promised they will send us a check every time our boss goes to one of their mtgs. It is completely shameful that the original workers who busted their asses on this project are being TOTALLY IGNORED!
And being an OB resident, I have to drive by this every day and it just makes me so angry!! It’s not the city of OB per se that hasn’t paid us, it’s the city of San Diego. And whilst we work on many other projects by the city that HAVE paid us….this one has not. Legal action will come eventually I’m sure.
Money to finish this project??!! I don’t give a crap about finishing this. Where is THAT money coming from when we haven’t even been paid?! How about money to pay us who worked so hard on this and are just being ignored and lied to for a year already!!!
Ok, I’ve done my rant…but I won’t stop totally until we see our money damn it!!!
A shame indeed; however, it also highlights an example of why $800k doesn’t finish the project. Archeological requirements down by the old reclaimed portion of the bay are not new….funny that no one at the City saw that coming to warn the project.
Just curious….did we find any prehistoric people remains…or perhaps a whooly mammoth down there? A cool shell or something….
Hard to make your case about getting paid when the very people who are paying you are the one’s frustrated by the fact that their taxpayer dollars don’t buy anything in California’s ‘subsidized’ government contracting system. And what would appear to be a contract size of almost 25% of the value indicated on the public sign or perhaps 15% if you use $800k as the total value.
Whatever you do… don’t accept the contract to go dig around at the old Brighton street bathroom whenever they finally start digging around on that! That will teach them not to pay for archeological services!!!!
Folks….this is just further proof that government can’t be trusted with your money….we as a community should be able to make these improvements ourselves without the corruption and gluttony that is the public contracting system.
Yes, we did find some “cool stuff” on the site OB law(yer), but I’ll never say exactly what at this point in time for various reasons. Also, not sure what exactly it is you’re getting at in your statement: “Archeological requirements down by the old reclaimed portion of the bay are not new….funny that no one at the City saw that coming to warn the project.”
Bottom line…our work was in the original budget, but the city claims to be broke. And we’ve heard that there is no more money to finish the project. If I see more work being done there, I will be livid to say the least.
‘cool stuff’…..like a boomerang or something? just kidding…please do share with us if significant items were found on the site, it would indeed be interesting.
Not getting at anything. Just noting that all construction permits along the area that was filled in (reclaimed) from the original tidal area of Mission Bay (where Rob Field is used to all be tidal area) have been designated a significant location for American Indian activity and must clear archeological requirements before they can proceed. I’m sure you know that, but most folks don’t, so I’m just pointing out to folks the complexity of construction projects in the area.
Reports that we heard were that the services you provided were not included in early budget, bidding….which may have been overlooked. If you say differently…so be it.
Still…. if archeological services cost us 15% of an overall contract of building an entryway…. that is probably the single largest portion of the contract and it didn’t even buy a single one of the bright lights that nobody seems to like.
Sorry, can’t reveal what was discovered there for several reasons. The site was even broken into once it was discovered that we were working there…I’m sure someone was hoping to find some incredible archaeological artifacts. Most of the archaeological artifacts in Southern Cali are not spectacular or even recognizable to the untrained eye like sites in the Southwest for example.
And no one will ever find out what was found there if they don’t pay us. Reports will not be handed in until we see some payments.
Early budgets only included the monitoring we did and were paid for. Then, once it was decided the site needed to be mitigated and a full excavation would ensue, new budgets were decided and that’s when the excavation part of the project was started.
My boss has even said that he’s never seen ANY project, city or otherwise take this long to pay. The city is broke, and we may never see any money.
Can’t reveal?
Really? As in….matter of OB security?….as in confidentiality agreement with the City?
Please explain further. We are not children. We will certainly understand.
But saying….’can’t reveal’ and then proceeding with your rant seems a little off to me. But I’m just a yocal….you know…uneducated folk type…
ob mercy , can you call me 619 9552719…
Great job, Doug. Look forward to meeting you. And…take the “swelled head” when you can. You don’t know when it will happen again.
Hey just sayin….would kinda like to know why you want me to call you, since I have no idea who you are at all.
I do some work with a local paper and this sounds and looks like a story we can dig….. ( pun intended) into.
Don’t be afraid we just want to get to the bottom ( another pun intended) of this whole thing.
am I the only one who turns right at W. Pt. Loma and finds the glaring white lights they installed at eye level to be an accident waiting to happen? I’m worried they will blind drivers enough that eventually someone will get mowed down in the crosswalk because you won’t be able to see them.
John, I think the same thing every time I make that right turn to go home. I HAVE been blinded by those lights! And the last time we discussed this Gateway Project on here a few months ago, several of us mentioned the same problem. The next day, they were all turned off and then cordoned off. Now they’re back, oh joy.
The lights are distracting, at the very least. They remind me of lighting around a sports arena or stadium, not the transition space from park to neighborhood.
I can understand wanting to light the area but the lights themselves are right at eye level, and instead of directing light downward direct it straight into the eyes of passing motorists. It’s probably not as bad if you’re going straight through on Sunset Cliffs as it is to the cars going right on W. Pt. Loma, but therein is the danger as not only do a lot of pedestrians cross there in front of you as you turn right, it’s a hard right onto a narrow lane. I’m thinking older folks whose night vision is compromised when pupils don’t react quickly to light changes are going to have some problems there, hopefully nobody will have to get hurt before someone with a clue puts some downward diffusers on those fixtures or drastically drop the wattage.
Which would also save energy.
Where’s the gate? They should have at least given us a gate opening in the fence, and a dirt path as an alternative to the non ADA compliant ramp.
Maybe some night video is worth shooting.
There’s something else down there deserves to be ridiculed on video. There are three picinc tables near the skate park that are just a few car lengths away from a road with heavy traffic. What a lovely spot for a picnic…not.
which decision maker had their head so far up their ass that they forgot to consider the public they served? the new ob gateway.is cold, unwelcoming, uninviting (would you picnic there?), unfinished to date, and very anti-climatic. I was more thrilled with the thermometer chart that graced that location for years than I am with this circle to nowhere. And I agree that those lights create a blinding hazard to night drivers. imho, I believe the entire budget would have better served the entire community by building new bathrooms for Brighton Station (promised over 2 years ago).
What does this gateway say to me? same old shit, different day.
All those meetings for input from the community ….. for what? What a bunch of bullsh_t! The contractor that did the job and the OBCDC are the winners here…since OBCDC paid some salary while the project dragged out.
So who put the blessings on starting the project and allowing it to be built as is? If Faulconer ok’d it….he should go door to door to each OBcean and apologize! It was suppose to be a gathering spot not a place for dogs to get a drink and take a pee. Sadly, I predict the wall as it is will be picked apart in no time.
Faulconer reach into your special project fund and get the job done and do it right! $800K to get this? Yuck! A waste of money…should have left the pizza parlor there.
I think we should ask some Boy scout troops to look into what they can do as Eagle projects. It would probably be done in a year and with 1/100th of the budget.
Those costs are ridiculous! Even the archaeological services! $150,000!!!!? Just n example of public contracting is way out of line in pricing!
where did that 150k figure come from ?
I am sorry, my mistake $120,000.
OB Mercy stated:
Again, my company is the one that did ALL the archaeological work on this and we have not been paid one freakin’ red cent….OVER $120,000!!!!!!!!!!
We had a friend over when this story hit the TV news and a friend said … “Three years and that much money to do that? I wouldn’t brag about that!”
I assume OB that the workers have been paid ? what was the original contract amount ?