Grassroots and Progressive views on local, national and world news

Thank You From the San Diego Free Press

by Staff on December 14, 2018 · 3 comments

in San Diego

(And other important info on getting your news)

From San Diego Free Press

Dear friends,

The day has come to dim the lights at the San Diego Free Press. We could not have had such a successful six and a half year run without you. Each one of you invested something essential in this endeavor, whether it was through your thought-provoking submissions, committed readership, or crucial financial support. We are so grateful for the opportunities we have had as editors to get to know so many of you personally.

We have some important good news to convey. We were able to renew our server contract, which keeps the site live, through June 2021! That means that even though we will no longer be publishing new content, our archives, comprised of more than 9,000 posts, will be accessible on the site through that date. To those of you who recently donated, you helped to make that extension possible – thank you so very much.

There are a few other details that we would like to leave you with.

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Last Call. Last Column.

by Doug Porter on December 14, 2018 · 2 comments

in Ocean Beach, San Diego

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

Well, this is it folks.

It’s time to move on to whatever the next chapter in my life is going to be. A lot has happened since the SDFP site went live on June 4, 2012, and I have a few closing (and personal) thoughts to express.

The vision of the founders of the San Diego Free Press was to create a platform for commentary and news from a progressive bent. We’d already mostly learned the production side of the business due to our involvement with the OB Rag.

People told us that what we were doing for Ocean Beach needed to be done for San Diego. A demonstration in 2010 outside The Black headshop, triggered by their sale of dehumanizing “don’t feel the homeless stickers” was the spark leading to meetings, more meetings, and finally the decision to launch.

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The Climate Crisis and the Ocean

by Source on December 14, 2018 · 0 comments

in California, Environment

By David Helvarg / Blue Frontier Campaign / December 10, 2018

Between the devastation of Mexico Beach, Florida and Paradise California plus the 4th National Climate Assessment Report, the year 2018 may become known as the point of no denial, an acknowledgement of what Governor Jerry Brown calls, “the new abnormal.” At this point climate deniers are being recognized as little more than the willing tools of the fossil fuel industry such as the coal lobbyist now running the EPA.

The best available science reflected in the federal report prepared by 13 government agencies including NASA, NOAA and the National Science Foundation, suggests the worst possible scenarios if we continue on our present course (which we appear to be with 16 of the 17 hottest years on record occurring since 2001).

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OB Library Friends’ Annual Holiday Gift & Book Sale – Sat., Dec.15

by Source on December 14, 2018 · 0 comments

in Ocean Beach

This Saturday, December 15, the Friends of the OB Library will hold their biggest annual book & gift sale ever!

The all-volunteer group has received so many new books as donations from Barnes & Noble —

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The Annual Food & Toy Drive Is Kicking in Gear and Needs You to Volunteer

December 14, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year here in Ocean Beach, and the OB Town Council’s Annual Food & Toy Drive needs volunteers to help sort and pack the many toy and food donations – and then needs drivers to pick-up and deliver the boxes of food and gifts to families around OB.

Usually more than 80 families are served by this program each year. This is truly a heart-warming event that captures the magic of the holiday season! Volunteers will be meeting at the Masonic Center, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd. for the work parties and also for Delivery Day, Saturday.

Starting on December 10, there will be daily work parties Monday through Thursday, and then Saturday is Delivery Day (nothing on Friday).

Go to links inside and sign up for one or all:

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The Continuing Scooter Wars in San Diego

December 13, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

The scooter wars have enveloped San Diego for months. Whether you love them or loath them, the scooters are upon us.

Will they go the way of the dockless bikes? Remember them? Or the Decko-bikes? Or will they substantially alter the way many of us get around?

With San Diego having experienced our first near-fatality of a scooter crash just recently in Pacific Beach, with mounting other accidents involving scooters, with ER doctors bemoaning their impact, with the Mayor coming out with his proposal on regulating them, with new scooter companies releasing their fleets upon our streets and sidewalks, with crash victims lining up to sue the scooter companies, with certain cities banning or regulating them, with scooter companies suing cities for restricting them – one cannot get away from the new reality of scooter wars.

The accidents have mounted.

Just this past October there were 4 accidents in San Diego with scooters.

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With a Democratic SuperMajority on the San Diego City Council, It’s Time to Go Bold on the Environment

December 13, 2018 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

I remember a time not so long ago when the very idea of Georgette Gomez sitting on the City Council (let alone being President and setting the agenda), would have been considered wishful thinking in local political circles.

Gomez ran for the District 9 Council seat as the outsider, the person with progressive principles and a background in environmental activism. She persisted, made it through the primary and, despite the not-so-covert maneuvering of the usual propertied suspects, won in the November 2016 general election.

The vote to confirm Gomez as City Council President was unanimous, with two Republicans singing her praises. Go figure–having principles and being honest can foster progress.

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KUSI Picked Up Our Story About Deaths and Serious Injuries at Sunset Cliffs for 2018 – But Got It Wrong

December 13, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

Local television and online media station KUSI picked up the OB Rag‘s story from Tuesday about the high number of deaths and serious injuries at Sunset Cliffs during 2018 – and even gave the OB Rag accreditation – which we are grateful for as it is a rare occasion for the Rag to be acknowledged by mainstream media.

But there’s just one problem: they got it wrong.

KUSI‘s headline for their online report blared: “Record number of deaths and injuries at Sunset Cliffs this year.”

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Councilwoman Jen Campbell Announces Staff for her District 2 Office – Includes Former Primary Opponent Jordan Beane

December 13, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

Now that she is in her new District 2 office, Councilwoman Jen Campbell has announced her new staff – which includes one of her former Democratic Primary opponents, Jordan Beane, who has been hired on as her Communications Director and Policy Advisor.

Campbell’s representative for Ocean Beach is Seamus Kennedy, another Policy Advisor, who also represents her office in Mission Beach.

Her Community Representative for Point Loma and the Midway is Miller Saltzman.

Here is the full list of Campbell’s office staff and their community assignments:

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Surf’s Up in Ocean Beach – Photo Gallery From Wed., Dec.12

December 12, 2018 by Source

Is it storm surf or high tides? Whatever it is -surf was up in Ocean Beach – today, Wednesday, December 12.

And ACE (Albert C Elliott) was there. Check out his pics.

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Changing of the Guard in Ocean Beach

December 12, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

Meet the Leaders of the OB Town Council and the OB Planning Board

There’s been a changing of the guard in Ocean Beach. The top leadership of the two main community organizations – the OB Town Council and the OB Planning Board – have just recently changed.

The OB Town Council has a new president – Mark Winkie, and a new vice-president, Jill Kent.

Over at the OB Planning Board, the new interim chair Andrea Schlageter was made permanent chair, and Kevin Hastings was selected as the new vice-chair.

Memorial for Mel Shapiro – Sat., December 15

December 12, 2018 by Source

The Day of Shadow and Light
By Kathy Blavatt

Monday, November 24, 2018 was an ironic day.
Mel Shapiro San Diego’s longtime civic activist passed away.

Ocean Beach Elementary Is the Heart of a Changing Community

December 11, 2018 by Source

OB Rag Talks to Principal Marco Drapeau

By Brett Warnke

Grades are good. Fundraising numbers are impressive. And OB Elementary is filled with smiling children, many brandishing ukuleles. But as San Diego’s rents soar, how might OBE change, too?

Ocean Beach Elementary is one of those schools you wished you’d attended. It’s one of the cliches of the community that we are filled with yogis, hippies and surfers. While (mildly) true, it is also true that OBE is one of California’s Distinguished Schools and has had 3 years of consecutive gains on its SBAC testing. Beside its grounds is a flourishing school garden. On the crest behind it are the broadly windowed Point Loma homes. And in front of its bright ceramic tiles, is the deep blue horizon of the Pacific Ocean.

What does OBE look like?

2018 Has Had Higher Death and Seriously Injured Rate from Sunset Cliffs than Average Year Since 2005

December 11, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

Up to now, the year 2018 has a higher death and seriously injured rate from beautiful but dangerous Sunset Cliffs than the average year since 2005.

For a number of years, the OB Rag has kept track of such tragedies as deaths and serious injuries caused by falls from the Cliffs or from the waters below. We have found that on average there have been 5 deaths or seriously injured each year since 2005.

And 2018 is already more tragic than the average year.

By our calculation from posts we have published since last January, there have been seven and possibly eight deaths or seriously injured in and around the Cliffs this year.

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Man Injured in Scooter Crash in Pacific Beach May Not Survive

December 11, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

A 29-year old man may not survive injuries caused by the crash of his electric-scooter early Monday morning, the 10th of December.

The as-yet identified guy was riding a Lime scooter going eastbound on the south sidewalk of the 1200 block of Garnet Avenue. For unknown reasons, around 2:20 a.m. he veered to the right and struck a building.

He was hospitalized with “serious head injuries which are believed to be life threatening, according to police. (There was no update Tuesday morning as t his condition.)

Police said he was not wearing a helmet and also believe alcohol was a factor

Ramping Up the War on Christmas With Fox News

December 10, 2018 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for the town criers at Fox News, when reality intrudes on their dreams of a White (Evangelical) Christmas.

This year the outrage was triggered by a church nativity scene referencing hypocracy about attitudes toward immigrants and an asssertion about The Left opting for child pornography over Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer for holiday entertainment.

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Writer’s Rant: ‘Beacon’ Article on Peninsula Planners Does a Disservice to Readers

December 10, 2018 by Source

By Geoff Page

There are many, many ways to get the news today. There was a time when there were only a few: basicically three network TV news programs, radio where the news was a part of music programming, and print, mainly newspapers. And, people had faith in the news, misplaced perhaps at times but not always.

Now, the news comes at us from everywhere and we don’t know what to trust. But the importance of small, local news disseminators like the OB Rag and the Peninsula Beacon has never changed. We want to know about the world but, really, our own world around us matters most.

The Guys Who Named the Sunset Cliffs Surf Breaks

December 10, 2018 by Source

If you ever wondered about the names of the Sunset Cliffs surf breaks – these are the guys who named them.

Bob “lizard” Chapman, John Holly, Jim “Mouse’ Robb, Billy Chapman and Marsh Malcom.

If you’ve been surfing the Cliffs for a few years – like decades maybe –

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News and Notices for Ocean Beach and Point Loma – Early December 2018

December 7, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

Intersection at Saratoga and Ebers Upsets Local Residents

Pt Loma Nazarene Faculty and Students Respond to Rapid Response Network Call to Aid Immigrants

Police: Man Attacked in Midway District Will Not Survive Injuries

Scrooge in Rouge at OB Theatre Company

PLNU Bans Weddings

OB’s New Bookstore Run for Cover Vying for Community Hub

Grandma Builds a Granny Flat in Her Point Loma Backyard With Plans to Rent It Out Via Airbnb

Why De Anza Cove wetland restoration would help protect us against sea-level rise

Mission Bay Golf Course Still Losing Money

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Hate Crimes in San Diego Don’t Just Happen in a Void

December 12, 2018 by Doug Porter

Monday’s Union-Tribune had a front page article about hate crimes in San Diego County. There are lots of details about criminal/hate-inspired actions and almost no acknowledgement as to what motivates them.

Hate crimes are up, we’re told. While local prosecutions have increased in the past year, most hate crimes aren’t reported.

A majority (60%) of hate crimes are directed at people based on their race or ethnicity, followed by religion (20%) and LGBTQ (16%) orientation.

Should Democrats, like Superman, Seek ‘Truth, Justice and the American Way’?

December 12, 2018 by Ernie McCray

I had a moment a little while ago when I was thinking about the notion that democrats, in spite of recent political victories (Yes!!!) need to come up with a message or at least a snappy meme, that resonates with voters (and more and more people are becoming so designated).

In that same moment I happened to turn the TV on and a man on C-SPAN was discussing superheroes, how they are mostly about creating a better world, citing Superman’s pursuit of “Truth, Justice and the American Way.”

That triggered in my mind, right away, long ago days, when I was all caught up in the excitement of “Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane!”

30 Arrested at Border for Nonviolent Action in Support of Migrant Caravans

December 11, 2018 by Source

Border Patrol agents in riot gear stop faith leaders in Border Field State Park

By American Friends Service Committee (AFSC)

On the afternoon of December 10th, dozens of faith leaders were arrested in an act of nonviolent civil disobedience at the U.S.-Mexico border. More than 400 people of faith and supporters gathered in Border Field State Park in San Diego in support of migrants seeking refuge in the U.S. Faith leaders guided the group in a solemn procession to the border. When they reached the enforcement zone, they were stopped by a line of Border Patrol agents in riot gear. Leaders moved forward to offer a ceremonial blessing. Thirty people were taken into custody.

Kelp! Kelp! We’re in Trouble!

December 7, 2018 by Source

By Brett Warnke

The ocean water is getting warmer. But our kelp like the cold. So what, right? The fly-blown smelly kelp ruins the beaches, anyway! Well, the precious kelp is a temporary ecosystem. Our species in Southern California, the Giant Kelp, needs to live or else an entire ecosystem will be disrupted. This “foundational species” then needs less heating, not more and if nothing is done their numbers will degrade with terrible results for life beneath the sea.

Lais Lima is a doctoral student at SDSU’s Dinsdale Lab. She has spent time diving in the waters around Point Loma, down in the cool waters our kelp love so much. But Scripp’s recently recorded the highest-ever seawater temperature of 78.6 degress, following a series of individual daily records of sea-surface and seafloor temperatures. In Lima’s beautiful dives around LaJolla and Point Loma she has seen a change in the temperature of the water, the thermocline.

December Calendar from the Ocean Beach Green Center

December 7, 2018 by Frank Gormlie

Dear friends of the Ocean Beach Green Center,

We will not be having any activities this month because we are moving December 2nd. We will be busy setting up our new center. We will be moving across the street to Jim Bell’s property. ….

Every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Dec 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Climate Mobilization Coalition Meeting Ocean Beach People’s Cooperative Community Room, 4765 Voltaire Street. Come help plan for the upcoming Climate Action events. Contact: oceanbeachgreencenter@gmail.come
December 14th Friday 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Vigil to End Gun Violence,

December 16th Sunday 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Free Film: 1948: Creation & Catastrophe
Point Loma/Hervey Library 3701 Voltaire St. 92107. Jewish Voice for Peace – San Diego Chapter and The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, San Diego Chapter present a documentary film about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

The Highway to Climate Hell vs the Green New Deal

December 7, 2018 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / San Diego Free Press

The path away from planetary hell got a little steeper with release of a trio of scientific papers produced by 76 scientists from 57 research institutions in 15 countries associated with the Global Carbon Project on the eve of the opening of the 24th annual U.N. climate conference in Poland.

Emissions are heading in the opposite direction from the deep cuts urgently needed, say scientists, to fight climate change. After a few years of hopeful plateauing, CO2 emissions will rise by 2.7% in 2018.

Earlier this year, a different scientific panel said nations have barely a decade to take “unprecedented” actions and cut their emissions in half by 2030 to prevent the worst consequences of climate change.

Final Plans for ReWild Mission Bay to Be Presented Tonight, Thurs. Dec. 6

December 6, 2018 by Staff

Audubon to share three final wetland maps, analysis, and public access designs – public is welcome

Tonight, Thursday, Dec. 6, San Diego Audubon will be presenting the highly anticipated final conceptual plans for ReWild Mission Bay – a project of San Diego Audubon and its partners to enhance and restore wetlands in the North East corner of Mission Bay.

The three plans, developed based on direct input from hundreds of community members, include expanded public access and habitat restoration options, as well as cost estimates and sea level rise modeling. This is the first public meeting in over a year and represents the culmination of 4.5 years of outreach and development.

The Old Man and the City

December 6, 2018 by Source

Editor’s Note: Bob wrote this article on October 30 and intended to finish it while in Sant Joan, Mallorca, where he unexpectedly died. We are publishing it posthumously.

By Bob Dorn

The old man used to ride his wobbly old bike every day up to the market on Park Boulevard where he preferred to shop. On his way north he would dismount as he approached the Georgia Street overpass of University Avenue because the climb was steep enough to make him uncomfortable.

In fact, he not very stable on the machine under any conditions, and it looked nearly as old as him and seemed to weigh half as much as he did.

The Old Broad Says: ‘Help Veterans for Peace Buy Sleeping Bags for the Homeless’

December 6, 2018 by Judi Curry

As my international students and I ate a “turkeyless” dinner on Thanksgiving, I was reminded of the years my family had to wait for my husband to arrive home because he, and other members of Veterans for Peace, were busy distributing sleeping bags, water, and sometimes candy to the homeless living on the streets.

As my students and I discussed the meaning of Thanksgiving, they asked why the vets’ group distributed sleeping bags, how they got them, and who financed them. The students see people sleeping on the streets every day, since their ESL school is downtown. Miki said there are very few homeless in Japan; Lea said that she has not seen any homeless in Switzerland.

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Ode to California and the San Diego Free Press

December 6, 2018 by Source

By Colleen Cochran

It was 1975. My parents got the bright idea to escape the Philadelphia winter by taking the kids on a two-week California trip. This vacation wasn’t well-planned and cushy like the times we stayed at the Greenbriar, the Waldorf, or those hotels in Italy. The California vacation was an impromptu, free-wheeling, down-and-dirty road trip. Maybe that’s why I liked it so much.

It was an ambitious, almost insane, venture. Parents and five kids, ages toddler through pre-teen, crammed ourselves into a rented station wagon and winged a sight-seeing tour in which we drove from San Francisco all the way down into Tijuana. We stayed at whatever cheap hotel would have us.