More on Faulconer’s ‘Incomplete’ Communities Plan

by on July 9, 2020 · 0 comments

in Ocean Beach, San Diego

Editordude: Here’s the Voice of San Diego’s take on Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s latest “legacy-shaping” plan – which we’ll call the “Incomplete Communities” – by Andrew Keatts. For other takes, see OB Planning Board vice-chair Kevin Hasting’s post where he says the plan would bring high-density and eliminate OB’s floor-area-ratio, and San Diego policy-wonk Norma Dameshek’s view that the plan should be jettisoned altogether.

By Andrew Keatts / Voice of San Diego / July 6, 2020

In the waning months of his administration, Mayor Kevin Faulconer is proposing a set of policy changes aimed at delivering on his own previous promises and the city’s long-term goals, as well as reforms required by state law. He hopes the various pieces of the plan, dubbed Complete Communities, would make way for far more homes near transit, remake how the city funds parks and community improvements and change the way it measures the environmental effects of new development.

The first piece of the program is heading toward a City Council vote, after a Council committee last month held a marathon discussion of it, but did not vote to support it.

Council members on the committee praised Faulconer’s ambitions, and said the plan aimed to do the right things. But from both the left and the right, they raised specific issues,

Be the first to comment

Read the full article...

3 Easy Ways to Influence Coastal Commission on San Onofre Nuclear Waste

by on July 9, 2020 · 0 comments

in Energy, Environment, Health, San Diego

From San Clemente Greens:

What could be worse than Global Pandemic, Climate Change and Socioeconomic upheaval?

Nuclear waste escaping containment all around the country if we fail to do something about it now, while we still can. Imagine getting through all of these tough challenges only to be undone when inescapable and everlasting radiation is allowed to contaminate our planet.

There’s still issues (and scandals) at San Onofre nuke plant.

So, here’s 3 easy things to do to influence the Coastal Commission on San Onofre nuke waste:

Be the first to comment

Read the full article...

Former Midway Post Office Getting Ready for a Change

by on July 9, 2020 · 4 comments

in Ocean Beach

By Eric S. Page / 7SanDiego / July 8, 2020

The hulking concrete structure at the site of the former central post office on Midway Drive in San Diego has been haunting a stretch of Point Loma for nearly a decade, with little to no activity at the location.

No good activity, anyway. Back in 2015, James Dudley cut a lock on a fence and broke into the building, stripping out nearly 700 pounds of copper before he was discovered loading it into his vehicle. He pulled a 30-month sentence and was ordered to pay $123,984.08 to the Postal Service for his trouble.

For years, the property, bounded by Barnett Avenue to the south and Midway Drive to the east, has been as still as a graveyard. Its glory days began in 1972, when the building became the city’s main post office and was San Diego’s go-to for late tax filers, with drivers lining up April 15 to drop off returns. Its descent, however, began in ’93,

4 comments

Read the full article...

Barbara Bry Speaking on Latest Proposal for Short-Term Vacation Rentals – Thursday Night, July 9

by on July 9, 2020 · 0 comments

in Election, Ocean Beach, San Diego

Mayoral candidate and Councilwoman Barbara Bry is speaking tonight, July 9 on the latest Proposal for Short-Term Vacation Rentals – among other issues. Councilwoman Jen Campbell has recently come out with the new proposal – and it’s not receiving good reviews at the beach. This will be Bry’s first public response.

The event is sponsored by the chief group fighting STVRs in San Diego, Save San Diego Neighborhoods. Here’s their announcement:

Be the first to comment

Read the full article...

Proposals for Sports Arena Redevelopment Available for Virtual Public Viewing on Friday, July 10

by on July 9, 2020 · 0 comments

in Ocean Beach, San Diego

Proposals are to be opened Friday, July 10 – the public will then have 11 days to evaluate plans, submit feedback to guide the city’s choice

By David Garrick / San Diego Union-Tribune / July 9, 2020

San Diego residents on Friday can take virtual tours of up to four competing proposals to redevelop the city’s 48-acre sports arena property into a modern village, featuring entertainment, housing, retail shops and office buildings.

Each of the proposals will be featured on a special city website created to gather public feedback over 11 days, beginning Friday morning through Monday, July 20. The site is sandiego.gov/sportsarenaopenhouse.

Be the first to comment

Read the full article...

‘America Is Not Ready to Open Schools. We Blew It.’

by on July 8, 2020 · 1 comment

in Education, Health

Don’t Sacrifice Teachers and Students to the Neoliberal God

By Thomas Ultican / Tultican / July 8, 2020

The US is not ready to open schools. We blew it. Let’s face reality squarely and quit making outcomes in our country even worse.

New York’s Michael Flanagan Ed. D. wrote,

“The pressure to reopen schools, and return to work, will continue to intensify, no matter how many new cases of Covid-19 there are each day, and the numbers are growing. Businesses, politicians and even health professionals are in the process of trying to convince us that sending our kids back to school will be safe.”

1 comment

Read the full article...

U.S. of A. – 60,000 New COVID Cases in One Day, Closing in on 3 Million Cases Total

July 8, 2020 by Source

CNBC:

The United States reported more than 60,000 new Covid-19 cases on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 setting a fresh record for new cases reported in a single day, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

The country reported 60,021 newly confirmed cases over the previous 24 hours as outbreaks continue to expand across a number of states, mostly across the American South and West. Arizona, California, Florida and Texas have accounted for nearly half of all new cases in the U.S. in recent days.

Read the full article → 2 comments

Pacific Beach Town Council Opposes Councilwoman Campbell’s Short Term Vacation Rental Deal

July 7, 2020 by Source

A statement was sent out early this morning, July 7, by the Pacific Beach Town Council board of directors in response to District 2 Councilwoman Jen Campbell’s recent and to them – surprising – announcement on short term vacation rentals released on July 1st with Expedia and Unite Here.

The PB Town Council Board of Directors “strongly oppose this approach by Councilmember Campbell to legalize vacationer accommodations in our neighborhoods and permanently transfer thousands of residential homes into mini-hotels.” One of their main criticisms is that as a community and stakeholder, they’ve been ignored by Campbell and the process that came up with the deal.

In the intro to the statement by the BOD, Brian White, president, asks, “Why is our elected representative playing the ‘housing giveaway sweepstakes’ with a multi-billion dollar corporation during an unprecedented housing crisis?”

White adds, “The business interests of HomeAway, VRBO, and their cavalry of STVR operators run contradictory to the City of San Diego’s purported affordable housing goals. As stakeholders in the future of our San Diego housing supply, we ask to be heard on this critical issue.”

Here is the PB Town Council Board’s statement:

Read the full article → 8 comments

News From Ocean Beach and Point Loma – Early July 2020

July 6, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

Motorcyclist Hits and Runs After Striking Pedestrian on Voltaire

San Diego police were searching for a motorcyclist who they said struck and seriously injured a pedestrian in Ocean Beach before fleeing the scene. The crash happened around 8:40 p.m. July 5 on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard near Voltaire Street,

‘Day-After’ Mess Cleaned-Up by Surfrider Volunteers, Again

Ocean Beach, Mission Beach and Pacific Beach were targeted by more than 60 volunteers,

New Principal Named for Point Loma High: Kelly Lowry

The San Diego Unified School District has named Kelly Lowry as the new principal at Point Loma High School.

State Asked San Diego to Close Beach Parking Lots for the Fourth, But ‘Oh, sorry, we didn’t have enough warning’ Claims Local Official

The California Office of Emergency Services sent a letter to city officials in San Diego and other cities imploring them to also close beach parking lots. Some did. Some didn’t – including San Diego.

Read the full article → 2 comments

Lift Every Voice and Sing

July 6, 2020 by Ernie McCray

by Ernie McCray

I remember days when Mr. Sydney Dawson, one of my two favorite teachers, would raise his baton and we, the Dunbar Junior High Chorus, the best in the city of Tucson, would stand tall and proud and sing the Black National Anthem out loud, ending with:

“Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun
Let us march on ’til victory is won”

That song, one I’ve never heard anyone sing but black people, has kept us afloat, kept us scratching and crawling and marching, pursuing a victory that perpetually has seemed both elusive and out of reach. Much like a fantasy.

And then I look up one day and I hear a man on ESPN say that at all the opening games of the next NFL season, the game will begin with the words “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the opening line of my anthem, and I thought I was in an nonparallel universe. As this seemed so out of sync with reality.

Read the full article → 8 comments

Councilwoman Campbell Shepherds New Short Term Rentals Proposal With Union and Travel Platform

July 2, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

On Monday, Councilwoman Jen Campbell announced that she had coordinated a new proposal for short term vacation rentals along with UNITE HERE Local 30 – a hospitality union – and Expedia Group – the parent company for travel platforms Vrbo and Homeaway.

Campbell claims the new regulatory framework could potentially cut the number of whole-home vacation rentals within the city limits by 70 percent. Based on the City Auditor’s estimation that 16,000 STRs exist today in San Diego, 70 percent equates to 3,750 permits, which would reduce the overall number of whole-home STRs.

Read the full article → 0 comments

The San Diego Progressive Green Calendar for July 2020

July 1, 2020 by Source

The following calendar for progressives and greens showing July events was put together by our friends at the OB Green Center.

Every Saturday at 10:30 a.m. Climate Mobilization Coalition Zoom Meeting. July 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th. Keep up-to-date on climate issues and Climate Action events. To register email Jon Findley at jon@climatemobsd.org. More info: https://www.facebook.com/SDClimateMobilization

July 9th Thursday 4 pm – 6 pm Interview with Dr. Michael E. Mann Hosted by North County Climate Change Alliance Join us to hear from renowned award-winning scientist and climate activist Dr. Michael E. Mann during a one-hour interview and Q&A session moderated by journalist Steve Horn.

July 10th Friday 11:15 am – 1:30 pm Protest Del Mar Race Track – Opening day Opening day protest.

July 10th Friday Protest Sea World San Diego Hosted by Ellen Ericksen Since we have all had a “taste” of what captivity feels like the last three months it is important for us to protest the opening of Sea World. The animals once again will be forced to perform stupid tricks to entertain the humans

July 19th Sunday 2 pm 4 pm Police Repression, Police Unions, and the Role of the Labor Movement. Hosted by San Diego Labor Democratic Club

Read the full article → 0 comments

If You Don’t Believe that Police Need Reforms, Watch This Video

June 15, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

If you’re one of those who don’t believe there needs to be wholesale reforms of the police (as there’s just a few bad apples) you need to watch this video. Warning: it ain’t pretty – and it’s from August 2019 in New Mexico.

The video shows a squad of police officers fully armed approach a homeless man sleeping at a bus stop. They received a call about him. They put on their full combat gear and at least 4 officers approach the man, with rifles leveled at him. They demand that he raise his hands, which he does, and they demand that he lays flat on his stomach. He refuses.

It’s a very disturbing video – prepare yourself.

Read the full article → 7 comments

800 Hate Incidents Against Asian Americans in California During Pandemic

July 8, 2020 by Source

by Chris Jennewein / Times of San Diego / July 5, 2020

Asian Americans in California have reported 832 incidents of discrimination and harassment in the last three months as the coronavirus stoked racial tension, according to a summary by the coalition Stop AAPI Hate (Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate).

The incidents listed in the study released last week were self-reported and included 81 assaults and 64 potential civil rights violations.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Seed Libraries Help Communities Grow Food in the Pandemic

July 8, 2020 by Source

By Enrique Gili / Shareable / June 17, 2020

The specter of empty shelves at the store and restrained household budgets have spurred Ocean Beach Public Library members in San Diego to flock to an online seed exchange.

What began as a community project by library assistant Destiny Rivera in 2019 with 150 active members has recently tripled and has a following throughout the county. The library has seeds for leafy greens and root vegetables, by request via Facebook.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Bayside Trail Near Cabrillo Lighthouse Invaded by Bees

July 7, 2020 by Staff

by Joaquin Antique

The popular Bayside Trail at Cabrillo National Monument has been temporarily closed due to bee activity that has resulted in stings to multiple visitors.

Over the past two weeks, this reporter has made several visits out to the Cabrillo lighthouse hoping to walk the always pleasant 2.5 mile roundtrip Bayside Trail. Each time, the trail was blocked about halfway down by a sign forbidding passage and warning of aggressive bees.

After walking a short distance past the sign to take pictures of the bees, your intrepid reporter and his scofflaw companion were checked out and then pursued by several of the persistent insects who followed them back up the trail about 75 feet before giving up the chase. No stings resulted.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Pacific Beach – New Hotspot for COVID-19

July 7, 2020 by Source

By Claire Trageser / KPBS / Tuesday, July 7, 2020

While the South Bay remains the epicenter of San Diego County’s coronavirus outbreak, cases increased most rapidly during the last half of June in other areas, most notably Pacific Beach, according to a KPBS analysis of case data.

As with many places throughout California, cases have surged across San Diego County since businesses began opening up in late May. The total number of cases in the county nearly doubled from about 7,500 at the end of May to 14,600 by the start of July.

On June 15, the Pacific Beach ZIP code of 92109 had 70 cases. By June 30, the number had jumped to 181 — a 159% increase.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Which Calamity Will Decide the Election? Pick One

July 7, 2020 by Source

By Colleen O’Connor

It is conventional political wisdom that nothing changes in an election’s trajectory from July until November. Behind in July. Loser in November.

It matters not the amount of money or the massive political ads. The dye is cast. Except, the 2016 election where Clinton, led, until she didn’t. (That assumes Russian interference played no role).

Leaving that aside, every voter should be able to pick the dominate influence in this election year. Look at the Big 4 contenders; the #MeToo movement; COVID-19; Black Lives Matter; and the fractured economy. Pick the one that will dwarf all others and dominate the news from now until voting begins.

Read the full article → 3 comments

Creativity With Plants Lightens Hearts in OB and Around the World

July 7, 2020 by Source

By Kathy Blavatt

Covid-19 has given me a chance to become closer to my plants, thinking about their future, and analyzing their health. While I am confessing, I will admit I sometimes sing to my plants. Okay, it might be a little weird, but the plants have never complained.

I recently read an article that brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart. Over two thousand plants were special guests at a concert. The article read, “Barcelona Opera House Reopens with a Concert for 2,292 Plants” By Olivia Rosane, EcoWatch, June 23, 2020. A Barcelona opera house played its first concert since mid-March to an unusual audience: 2,292 plants.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Genocide in California’s History

July 6, 2020 by Source

Junipero Serra1Originally published on August 15, 2008

by gjohnsit / DailyKos / August 14, 2008

What do you think of when someone says “California”? Beaches? Sunshine? Hollywood?

How about the largest act of genocide in American history?

“The idea, strange as it may appear, never occurred to them (the Indians) that they were suffering for the great cause of civilization, which, in the natural course of things, must exterminate Indians.”
– Special Agent J. Ross Browne, Indian Affairs

California was one of the last areas of the New World to be colonized. It wasn’t until 1769 that the first mission, Mission San Diego de Alcalá, was built.

Read the full article → 3 comments

Mike James: A Look at Past Ocean Beach Street Fairs and a ‘Radical’ Proposal for the Future

July 6, 2020 by Source

Back to the Future: A Proposal to Replace the OB Pier Fireworks Festival With A Light and Water Show

By Mike James

In 1980 I was 24 years old and part owner of the James Gang Custom T-Shirts with my brothers Ron, Rich, Greg and Pat. I was also serving my first term as the president of the Ocean Beach Merchants Association (later renamed Mainstreet Association).

As a new organization formed in 1978, we were looking for ways to promote the community. I had remembered watching the Fourth of July fireworks off the Ocean Beach Pier while on vacation in 1974. An event that ended a year later due to lack of sponsorship.

So in the spring of 1980 I proposed to a skeptical OBMA Board of Directors to bring back the fireworks.

Read the full article → 12 comments

Seven Years After the Shutdown of the San Onofre Nuke Plant, the Scandals Continue

July 6, 2020 by Michael Steinberg


By Michael Steinberg / Black Rain Press

On June 30 the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, “Worker At San Onofre Nuclear Plant Tests Positive For Covid 19.” Plant owner Southern California Edison admitted the infected person was a contract worker at the plant until June 23, but refused to reveal the person’s name or position at the plant. There was no explanation of how the worker acquired the virus or what measures were being taken to protect others in the workplace or surrounding communities.

Seven years after San Onofre closed permanently on June 7, 2013,

Read the full article → 1 comment

You Are Already Where You Want to Be: Summer Chronicles 2020 #3

July 6, 2020 by Jim Miller

By Jim Miller

You already are where you want to be. Forget the story in your head and the world of screens. Wake up at dawn and hit the street early before the masses crowd the sidewalks and go. Anywhere, everywhere, just walk. This is the ritual of the moment.

In my neighborhood, it means learning the landscape of yards — lush green garden boxes, forests of sunflowers, clusters of cacti on the edge of a canyon. Relearn how to look and listen, see the things you never see. What is most important is what happens to be there at the dead end of the unpaved alley.

Read the full article → 2 comments

Public’s Help Needed in Hit and Run That Killed Skateboarder Cameron Loren in Ocean Beach – Reward Offered

July 2, 2020 by Staff

The public’s help is being sought in finding the driver in an Ocean Beach hit-and-run that killed skateboarder Cameron “Cam” Loren. Loren was struck from behind as he skateboarded down Voltaire Street.

This was June 4 and he was hit in the 4500 block of Voltaire around 10:30 pm. His body was found by a passerby.

San Diego police said the driver fled the scene, leaving the 25-year-old Loren on the street with injuries. Emergency crews responded to the incident, but Loren was declared dead at the scene, according to police.

Read the full article → 12 comments

Be a Real Patriot: Stay Home on July 4th

July 2, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

July 4th is America’s day to celebrate our independence and show our patriotism – and usually is a day for Americans to party as hard as we can, with fireworks, with friends, with nature, out on the beach, in the parks.

Until July 4, 2020. This Independence Day is different. It has to be different. This year, to show our patriotism, we’ve got to stay home, away from friends, from fireworks, from beaches and parks – and hang only with household members.

That’s right; to be a real patriot this July 4th, we’ve got to stay home.

No Repeat of What Happened on Memorial Day

Read the full article → 11 comments

Navy and San Diego Team Up to Tackle Modernizing the ‘Old Town Campus’ in Midway District

July 2, 2020 by Source

 

Editordude: We offer the following without comment as a FYI for our Point Loma and Midway readers.

by Elisha Gamboa / Defense Visual Information Distribution Services / July 1, 2020

To keep Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR) ready to meet its critical, high-tech, cybersecurity mission, the Navy is working alongside advocates throughout the San Diego region to create a state-of-the-art facility in support the command’s diverse, high-priority mission and rapidly growing cyber requirements.

Known as the Navy Old Town Campus (OTC) Revitalization Project, this effort centers around NAVWAR Headquarters, which is currently located on 70.5 acres of Navy-owned land, in the Midway-Pacific Highway Community.

Read the full article → 0 comments

‘Urged on by Travel Platform, Jen Campbell Throws Her Constituents Under the Short Term Rental Bus’

July 2, 2020 by Source

Here is the response released Wednesday to Councilwoman Jen Campbell’s proposal on regulating short term vacation rentals in San Diego by the main organization that has opposed STVRs for the past half-decade, Save San Diego Neighborhoods:

Driven By Expedia D2 Councilmember Jennifer Campbell Throws Her Constituents and San Diego Residents Under the Short Term Rental Bus

July 1, 2020 – It appears Councilmember Campbell has learned the political ropes in San Diego fairly quickly. She was elected less than two years ago. She told voters in District 2 that she was adamantly opposed to short term vacation rentals in San Diego residential zones – her constituent’s neighborhoods. And she said, she would work with her fellow councilmembers to enforce the existing Municipal Code, which prohibits short term rentals.

Read the full article → 6 comments

Fraud at Sweetwater? Maybe But Unlikely

July 2, 2020 by Source

By Thomas Ultican / Tulican / July 1, 2020

For the past week, local San Diego TV and Print media have been filled with damning headlines like the NBC affiliate’s, “Audit of Sweetwater Union High School District Finds Evidence of Fraud” or the online publication Voice of San Diego’s “Audit Finds Sweetwater Officials Deliberately Manipulated Finances.” Every local news outlet published the story with some version of these headlines.

Read the full article → 0 comments

The Saga of Mr. X and the Crows Goes On

July 1, 2020 by Judi Curry

By Judi Curry

It’s been a little over a week since I wrote about the problem that “Mr. X” was having with the crows in his backyard. They followed him everyplace he went; dive-bombing him unexpectedly at different intervals. It did not matter if he was in his own backyard; in my backyard; walking on Sunset Cliffs, etc. For the most part they missed him, but I noticed that even the neighbors were staying away from him in fear that they too might be injured by these crows.

Since that article appeared, someone suggested that Mr. X have some peanuts available for the crows to eat. Maybe they were hungry.

Read the full article → 6 comments

San Diego Black Panther on Current Black Lives Matter Protests

July 1, 2020 by Source

By Beth Accomando / KPBS / June 30, 2020

San Diego Black Panther Party chairman Henry Lee Wallace V looks to the 1960s to provide context for today’s protests.

If you grew up in the 1960s like I did, then the image of young Black men in black leather jackets and berets, and carrying guns and chanting “Power to the People” was a powerful image that you don’t forget. It was also an image that scared a lot of mainstream white America and immediately got the attention of those in power who wanted to maintain the status quo.

But what was even scarier to someone like the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover was the way the Black Panther Party focused on providing free meals to kids and education that could help people in the Black community become self-reliant.

Read the full article → 0 comments

71 Residents and 28 Staff Have Tested Positive for COVID at Paradise Hills Nursing Home

July 1, 2020 by Source

By Melissa Mecija / 10News / June 30, 2020

A Paradise Hills nursing home sees a surge in COVID-19 cases, worrying the families of those who live in the facility.

According to the administrator of Reo Vista Healthcare Center, 71 residents and 28 staff members have tested positive for COVID-19. One resident passed away. State data from Monday shows Reo Vista Healthcare Center with the highest one-day positive patient total in the county.

Read the full article → 2 comments

← Older Articles