OB Rag

By Steve Rodriguez

List of operational code names reads
like a best hits collection. Just Cause
and Desert Storm titles evoking
nostalgic memories of victory.

Not so much Iraqi Freedom, begun
with WMD promises and statues
toppled. Surging to a crescendo,
then lingering like a bad relationship.

The San Diego Veterans For Peace, Hugh Thompson Memorial Chapter #91, is very pleased to announce that a billboard reminding Active Duty Troops that they have a duty to disobey illegal orders, has been installed on the NE side of Harbor Drive going north, between 32nd and 28th Streets in San Diego.  This billboard is part of a national program by Veterans For Peace, with many similar billboards now being posted across the United States.

The San Diego billboard will be up for one month ending in early April.

Please see the VFP website: https://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/service-member-support

Background

Veterans For Peace has launched a campaign to remind our brothers and sisters, sons and daughters and grandchildren, who have joined the military, that they have the right and the responsibility to refuse illegal orders, and that we will support them when they do.

By David Garrick / San Diego Union-Tribune / March 10, 2026

Seven candidates seeking to represent Clairemont and Point Loma on the City Council clashed at a recent forum over bike lanes, ADUs, Balboa Park parking, the city’s budget deficit and a proposed empty homes tax.

Mike Rickey, a Merchant Marine from Clairemont, was the most vocal critic of new bike lanes being created across San Diego to encourage people to use cycling to commute and get around. “The money that we’re spending on these bike lanes and removing street parking is absurd,” Rickey said.

Jacob Mitchell, a chemist from Point Loma, said the biggest problem with new bike lanes is that they often don’t connect well with other safe areas to cycle.

Mandy Havlik, a Point Loma neighborhood leader, said the need for a safe cycling network should be balanced against the impact on businesses of removing street parking. “A lot of small business owners feel like they’re competing with a bike lane to stay open,” Havlik said.

Nicole Crosby, a deputy city attorney who lives in Clairemont, said bike lanes don’t make a lot of sense in communities like Clairemont where hills and canyons are a major challenge. “It’s putting the cart before the horse,” she said.

Richard Bailey, a former mayor of Coronado who now lives in Point Loma, said the city’s nearly $8 billion backlog of infrastructure projects means bike lanes must be a low priority. “Bike lanes are more of a nice-to-have, not a must-have,” Bailey said.

Ocean Beach Surf & Skate Shop and Ocean Beach Elementary PTA are teaming to hold the 14th annual Skate for the Kids fundraiser on March 15 at Robb Field Skate Park.

All proceeds from the event will go to the school’s PTA to fund programs, materials and campus improvements at the campus on Santa Monica Avenue.

The fundraising event at 2525 Bacon St., held from noon to 3 p.m., is a fun way to bring the community together, foster a love of skating and encourage healthy habits while providing much-needed support to a neighborhood school.

The Black — OB”s legendary headshop — is back.

Apparently, the shop’s longtime owner, Kurt Dornbusch, has partnered with a group of unidentified new owners, who wish to keep the place going. Just weeks ago, Dornbusch announced he was retiring after 57 years and was closing the store. Yet, things changed.

As SanDiegoVille reported:

Both Dornbusch and the incoming ownership group have confirmed that new buyers have secured the naming rights to The Black and are currently finalizing a lease agreement to continue operating the store at its longtime home on Newport Avenue.

Community Planning Group Elections This Week

San Diego’s Community Planning Groups (CPGs) hold annual elections every March.

Here are dates, times, and locations for in-person voting at some of this week’s elections. Be sure to bring your driver’s license or another form of ID showing your home address.

Monday, March 9

Southeastern San Diego will hold its election starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Mountain View Community Center, 641 South Boundary Street

Tuesday, March 10

Eastern Area will hold its election starting at 6:00 p.m. at Teen Challenge, 5450 Lea St.

University will hold its election from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 9880 Campus Point Drive on the third-floor patio of Alexandria’s GradLabs building.

Kensington-Talmadge is offering four in-person voting opportunities before its meeting on Monday, March 16:

The San Diego Community Coalition publishes this email bulletin to keep our members and the general public informed about important Council and Planning Commission hearings and other city public meetings.

Monday, March 9: City Council, 2:00 p.m.

Agenda:

Item 200: 2025 Status Update for the Climate Action Plan

Why it matters: This Mayor and this City Council have spent a fortune trying to push San Diegans out of their cars and onto bikes and buses. So it seems fair to ask: What modes of transportation do they use? How many elected officials and staff depend on cars to get to work? Does the City track bicycle and transit commuting by its own employees? Inquiring minds want to know.

Tuesday, March 10, City Council, 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m

Item 55: Preservation and Progress Package A and OB Emerging Cottage Historic District

Agenda

Why it matters: this will be the second reading and vote on the so-called set of “reforms” passed as Preservation and Progress Package A. It was a strongly contested effort that would give developers greater freedom to decimate historic structures and districts, including the emerging OB Historical District. Three Councilmembers — Raul Campillo, Marni von Wilpert, and Sean Elo-Rivera — were conspicuously absent on February 24 when the Council voted 5-1 to approve this giveaway. It’s a serious set-back for historic preservationists and residents of Ocean Beach, as it negates the protection that the historic district provides to Ocean Beach.

Tessa Balc at the Times of San Diego dropped a stunning article on Sunday the 8th of March, by declaring there soon could be a Walmart at the former RiteAid property in Ocean Beach.

The new owner of the property is seriously considering putting in a Walmart Depot — but it wouldn’t be a “walk-in” store to buy anything but a location for delivery drivers to pick up wares and products to distribute nearby.

An application to install one was submitted to the City of San Diego recently and, as Balc reported:

“describes Walmart Depots as non-branded facilities, stocked with high-demand delivery items. Based on the description, it would not be open to the public, instead serving only authorized delivery “drivers/shoppers.” [Rag emphasis.]

Let’s back-up by returning to Balc’s article.

She reports that Murfey Construction Company is a developer who bought the RiteAid property in January, whom she also describes as “a well-known developer in the beach neighborhoods ….” (See below.) Balc in addition stated the company “is also considering a housing development.”

Balc also maintains the City staff is on board with this idea, having already reviewed the idea and reported back to Murfey that it did not run afoul of any development restrictions.

By Rene Kaprielian / Op-Ed SD Union-Tribune / March 6, 2026 

Once again, the city of San Diego faces financial upheaval as it attempts to backfill a huge budget deficit caused by historically poor management and misguided priorities.

Our mayor and City Council remain focused on two predictable but ultimately futile strategies: raising fees and taxes and/or cutting services, including hours at libraries and park and recreation centers.

Regrettably, our elected representatives rarely question the financial giveaways to large entities and industries that contribute to the imbalance.  Whether it’s long-term franchise agreements with SDG&E or bad real estate deals, these commitments translate to higher rates and taxes for residents and less money for needed existing infrastructure improvements.

San Diego State University is a major recipient of this misplaced generosity. The city has given SDSU carte blanche in its expansion in the College Area and is silent on the lack of progress in developing the former Qualcomm Stadium site. As a state university, SDSU is not required to adhere to local land use laws on land it owns. When the city deeds land to SDSU it can no longer collect property tax, development impact fees, or control the size and scope of the project, while saddling taxpayers with substantial infrastructure costs. These subsidies include fire protection and major improvements to intersections and streets.

Assemblymember Ward Introduces Legislation to Protect Mission Bay Park and an Update on City Leases for Dana Landing and Sportsmen’s Seafood

By Donna Frye

It’s a nice change to write about something that is good, respects the public’s concerns, and protects and preserves dedicated public parkland. It’s not a usual occurrence which makes it all the more welcome.

The good news is that Assemblymember Chris Ward introduced legislation (AB 2525) on February 20, 2026 to exempt all of Mission Bay Park from the State Surplus Land Act.

Even though it has to go through various legislative committees and the governor needs to sign it to become law, I am optimistic that Mission Bay Park will be protected and preserved as the voters intended it to be. It will also eliminate any conflicts between the San Diego City Charter and the Surplus Land Act.

For those who may not be aware of why this is such good news, here is some background about how we got here.

By JW August / Exclusive to the OB Rag

The Trump administration has rolled out a plan to begin further cuts in the federal workforce, a move that some sources say has a hidden agenda  — to remove employees who are seen as not loyal to the president.  We are told by a long time source that U.S.Veterans who voted Democratic or Independent will be on an administrative hit list as the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) just released “reductions in force ” (RIF) is rolled out.  (The source will be identified as ‘S’ or he/she through this story.)

The RIF is “the first major overhaul of the federal employee performance management system in decades,” according to government news platform, Government Executive.com. This follows the early 2025 effort by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to make massive cuts to the federal workforce. Chaos and confusion were byproducts of that effort.  Its value is still a matter of debate.  The American Federation of Government Employees said this current RIF is part of the Trump effort to “dismantle ,the non-partisan civil service.”

The OPM believes they can reshuffle the deck, do whatever is needed to cut the workforce.  They say, “The applicable statute (5 U.S.C. 3502) directs OPM to prescribe regulations ‘for the release of competing employees in a reduction in force’ that give ‘due effect’ to four factors: tenure of employment; military preference, length of service; and efficiency or performance ratings.”

Yesterday, March 5th, the U.S. House voted narrowly to defeat a resolution to halt the war against Iran and force President Donald Trump to go to Congress for authorization.

A very small bloc of Democrats — including Juan Vargas of Chula Vista — joined almost all the Republicans to give support for the war.

The vote was 219-212 to block consideration of a bipartisan resolution that would end offensive military operations in Iran that had not been approved by Congress.

Falling almost entirely along party lines, four Democrats crossed party lines to oppose the resolution, while two Republicans broke from their party to support it, citing concerns of executive overreach and disregard for the legislative branch.

The other Democrats besides Vargas to break with their party included Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Jared Golden of Maine, and Greg Landsman of Ohio.