Trump Opposes Funding for the Post Office Because of Mail-In Voting

by on August 13, 2020 · 4 comments

in Civil Rights, Election

By Ellie Kaufman, Marshall Cohen, Jason Hoffman and Nicky Robertson / CNN / August 13, 2020

President Donald Trump said Thursday that he opposes much-needed funding for the United States Postal Service because he doesn’t want to see it used for mail-in voting this November.

By directly linking USPS funding to mail-in voting, Trump is fueling allegations that he is trying to manipulate the postal system for political gain. The pandemic has led to record-shattering levels of voting-by-mail, but Trump has tried to restrict the voting method because he says it will hurt his re-election and Republicans across the board.

During an interview on Fox News, Trump said that if USPS does not receive the additional $25 billion funding request that Democrats included in the ongoing stimulus negotiations, then he believes the Post Office won’t be able to handle the influx of mail-in ballots in the upcoming election.

4 comments

Read the full article...

Thanks to Our Readers the OB Rag Hit Our Goal of $2,000

by on August 13, 2020 · 1 comment

in Media, Ocean Beach

Thanks to a couple of donations that came in this morning, the OB Rag has now hit our goal of $2,000 in our Summer Pandemic Fund Raising!

So, in less than three and a half days, 37 donors have pushed us

1 comment

Read the full article...

Drum Circle and Crowds Continued Wednesday Night Until Broken Up by Police at 10 PM

by on August 13, 2020 · 7 comments

in Health, Ocean Beach

It was happening again Wednesday night, the 12th of August. The drum circle and crowds once again gathered and partied until roughly 10 pm when San Diego Police broke it all up. No one was cited by police for violating the County health ordinance.

Until 10 however, San Diego Police officers were not involved in dealing with the crowds. When this reporter visited the scene last night at 9 pm, there were an estimated 300 people in the grassy area, with over one hundred directly involved in the drum circle and dancing. I counted 3 police vehicles in the immediate vicinity and only 3 officers; 3 more police vehicles were spotted within a few blocks of the area.

7 comments

Read the full article...

Fake News and Real News – Scenes from Life Under the Pandemic

by on August 12, 2020 · 10 comments

in San Diego

By John Michael Williams

Fake News

Though it is a Donald Trump, thing, I must admit there is an element of truth in it. Given that the guy might be able to out-lie Goebbels, it is odd, in a way, that he would call attention to it. After all, what point is there in undercutting the credibility of the media you use to publish your message? A sheer display of madness? Yet, he has been unmatched in gathering publicity.

To be specific, though, about personally encountered ‘fake news’ I offer this report.

When a business advertises itself as a source of factual information to the point of slogans like, “News You Can Trust” and so forth, then I expect that business to provide facts. Should it be discovered that is not so, then confidence in the product drops because it isn’t actually news.

Not too long ago a local guy got the idea to have a parade of boats in San Diego Bay in support of Donald Trump, which was not designed ‘to divide the nation.’ When the supportive citizen publicly announced the event he claimed there would be ‘hundreds of boats and thousands of people.’ Reports on a local TV news that evening gushed about the event and repeated

10 comments

Read the full article...

In Midst of Pandemic, Local Barrio Logan Artist Goes Digital

by on August 12, 2020 · 4 comments

in Culture, San Diego

Soni López-Chávez Pays Homage to Community Empowerment With A New Digital Art Series

By Roberto ‘Rob’ Camacho

For many artists, the COVID-19 pandemic has delivered an absolutely devastating blow to the creative and performing arts. In a profession already often filled with strife and hardship, even in the best of times, the pandemic and the subsequent economic shutdowns have been a daunting, almost seemingly insurmountable obstacle for many artists, musicians, and creators to overcome.

San Diego’s creative art scene, of course, has been no exception to this alarming trend. Especially Barrio Logan’s art and cultural district, whose residents, artists, and creatives have taken a disproportionate hit over the past several months. With many galleries, studios, and music venues throughout the region still shuttered, artists in the neighborhood and all across San Diego have been cut off from the events and spaces they’ve relied upon in the past to reach clients, showcase their art and bring in income.

While virtually all artists having been forced to adapt to these new sets of challenges and circumstances brought on by COVID-19 and its residual after-effects over the past several months, ingenuity and inspiration the era of COVID-19 have manifested an explosion of creativity and innovation in a variety of unexpected ways. With San Diego bursting at the seams with creativity, perhaps no one has this time as creatively and meticulously as local artist and business owner Soni López-Chávez.

4 comments

Read the full article...

OB Resister Sisters Are Back! ‘Kamalafornia Biden 2020’ Hung on Freeway Overpass

by on August 12, 2020 · 1 comment

in Election, Ocean Beach

The Resister Sisters of Ocean Beach are back!

1 comment

Read the full article...

OB Rag Is Three-Fourths of the Way to Our Summer Pandemic Fundraising Goal

August 12, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

It’s the Third Day of Our Summer Appeal for Donations During the Pandemic – Keep the OB Rag Going

The OB Rag has reached three-fourths of our Pandemic Summer Fundraiser! At this point, we’ve received $1250 in donations. That is very exciting.

Most of us are aware of the stakes involved, as trump threatens to not accept the results of the November election, hints that he’d like to postpone it – which he cannot – continues to call the press, “the enemy of the people” and bristles at every negative news story about his pathetic response to the COVID-19 response. But the people of OB and Point Loma (and the rest of San Diego as well) continue to need the OB Rag more than ever.

It turns out, the OB Rag is one of the most progressive local news platforms in all of Southern California. Providing local OB and Point Loma news and analysis, maintaining a discussion platform that is better than a dozen facebook pages, and keeping track of the various crises hitting us is a daily challenge.

Read the full article → 3 comments

Reliving My High School Days

August 12, 2020 by Ernie McCray

by Ernie McCray

After writing a piece about how an old photo briefly took my mind off today’s troubles in the world I’ve found another that does the same. Very nicely.

This one was taken in 1996, catching me smiling and clowning at the 40th Reunion of the Class of ’56 of Tucson High – in a room full of 58-year-olds feverishly reminiscing about days gone by and about how fast those years have seemed to pass by.

The conversations were all over the place. There was, of course, the obligatory topic that every generation brings up about “The kids of today” and how we were better than them in our time.

The big questions of the night were “Who you like, Clinton or Dole?” and “What about that Michael Jordan and the Bulls, huh?”

I must have heard “So the Yankees are in the World Series again, what else is new?” a few times.

Read the full article → 1 comment

After Fence Is Torn Down, Officials Pledge ‘Enforcement’ of Health Rules at Wednesday Drum Circle

August 11, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

At a press conference on the grass at the foot of Newport Avenue today, government officials pledged County health rules will be enforced at the Wednesday drum circle. Dr. Joel Day, Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response and Recovery, told the crowd of some 50 people that he would personally be on the grass Wednesday along with the “team” of city and county personnel to ensure that crowds don’t gather after the OB Farmers Market.

Before the press conference began, at least one man ripped up the stakes holding the orange net fencing in place and pulled the entire thing down. It had just been installed hours earlier by a City Park and Rec crew. The crew reappeared after the conference and piled it all into a truck. None of the workers would answer this reporter’s questions about why they weren’t putting it back up or why they were hauling it away. The guy pulling it down was reportedly a traveler from out of town.

Read the full article → 12 comments

Nearly Half Way to Our Goal in OB Rag Pandemic Summer Fundraiser

August 11, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

The OB Rag is almost half way to our Pandemic Summer Fundraiser goal of $2,000. In a little over 24 hours, we’ve closed in on $1,000 with the recent donations that came in today, Tuesday, August 11.

The stakes are high, the need is great.

We do this every year because we do have bills to pay – and obviously we’re not part of the mainstream media.

But we have been the online newspaper for Ocean Beach and Point Loma and now we’re in our 13th year. We’re funded primarily by our readers and supporters.

So, dear Reader, we’re asking you to go to the top of the home page and click on the PayPal logo and make a donation. Or you can donate to us the traditional way, by mailing it to us at our post office box (OB Rag, PO Box 7012, Ocean Beach, CA 92167).

Here are some more reasons to donate to the OB Rag – past victories and history:

Read the full article → 0 comments

A Bigger, Better Job for Hillary Than President

August 11, 2020 by Source

By Colleen O’Connor

Seriously. The country needs real leadership, not photo ops from a full-time, “acting” President.

The economy is cratering. Businesses are shuttering. Malls are about to be scooped up as Amazon warehouses and millions are looking at evictions and possible homelessness.

And oh, yes, limited or non-existent health insurance.

Plus, COVID-19 is killing us. Over 5 million cases in the U.S. and over 160,000 deaths. Worldwide, the number is 20 million cases and counting, with deaths topping 740,000.

This is a global pandemic that promises to morph into something worse come fall with the flu season. Add the cold of winters driving most of the country indoors with risky ventilation. The virus is not “going away. Things just go away.” Leave “like a miracle.” Or “just disappear.”

We need someone to take charge.

Someone who can call world leaders “at 3 a.m.” and get an answer; be it Germany’s Chancellor Merkel, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Arden (who have corralled the virus), or every other world leader except possibly Russia’s President Putin.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Ocean Beach Planning Board Refuses to Endorse Councilwoman Campbell’s Short Term Vacation Rental ‘Compromise’

August 11, 2020 by Staff

By Geoff Page

One of the advantages of on-line community planning board meetings is that they are not constrained by the time requirements that owners of brick and mortar meeting facilities have set. The OB Planning Board meets in the OB Rec Center and has the room for a set period of time. As the three-hour OBPB meeting on August 5 demonstrated, the on-line venue easily allows for as long a meeting as needed.

Jen Campbell and Short-Term Vacation Rentals

The cause of the unusually long meeting was a discussion of short-term vacation rentals (STVRs). The discussion began with an appearance by District 2 council person, Jennifer Campbell. Appearing with Campbell was her chief of staff, Venus Molina, who did most of the heavy lifting. Campbell herself seems to have retreated to two talking points saying she wanted to create more housing for San Diegans and ensure that San Diegans have peace and tranquility in their neighborhoods. This was repeated several times.

What Campbell was referring to about creating more housing is a sleight of hand trick.

Read the full article → 6 comments

School Choice and White Supremacy Like Two Peas in a Pod

August 11, 2020 by Source

By Thomas Ultican / Tultican / August 9, 2020

In Overturning Brown, – as in the US Supreme Court case “Brown v Board of Education” – , Steve Suitts provides overwhelming evidence for the segregationist legacy of “school choice.” He shows that “Brown v Board” has been effectively gutted and “choice” proved to be the white supremacists’ most potent strategy to defeat it. In the 21st century, that same strategy is being wielded to maintain segregation while destroying the separation of church and state. (Note: In this article references to Overturning Brown given as Suitts page#.)

Defeating Brown

On May 17 1954, the United States Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision in the case of Brown versus the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. Chief Justice Earl Warren stated, “In the field of public education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place.” He added it is “inherently unequal” and plaintiffs were “deprived of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.”

Read the full article → 0 comments

Tuesday Press Conference to Unveil Enforcement Efforts to Deter Large Wednesday Night Crowds

August 11, 2020 by Staff

City and County officials are holding a press conference today, Tuesday, August 11, in Ocean Beach to “unveil future enforcement efforts to deter large crowds gatherings on Wednesday nights at Veteran’s Plaza.” They will be joined by OBceans Mark Winkie and Corey Bruins from the OB Town Council and Denny Knox of the OB Mainstreet Association.

The presser will be at 1 pm at the OB Veteran’s Plaza. Officials will include Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, Dr. Joel Day, Senior Advisor for COVID-19 Response and Recovery, and Dr. Ankita Kadakia M.D., Chief/ Medical Director, County Public Health.

Sparked by large, irresponsible crowds at the Drum Circle after Wednesday’s Farmers Market

Read the full article → 5 comments

It’s Time for the OB Rag Pandemic Summer Fundraiser

August 10, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

Our Summer Appeal for Donations During the Pandemic – Keep the Press Local and Free and Healthy

The OB Rag‘s Pandemic Summer Fundraiser starts today!

For the last couple of years, we’ve held two fundraisers a year, in the summer and in the fall. But because of the amount of donations during last fall, we’re only doing the the summer one.

This week our goal is to reach $2,000 in donations and contributions from our readers and supporters. Most of us know the stakes involved, as trump continues to call the press, “the enemy of the people” and levels charges of “fake news” at the news he cannot accept. But the folks of OB and Point Loma (and the rest of San Diego as well) continue to need the OB Rag more than ever. We do provide local OB news, a discussion platform that is better than a dozen facebook pages,

Read the full article → 8 comments

More Than 97,000 American Children Tested Positive for Covid-19 in Last 2 Weeks of July

August 10, 2020 by Source

By Christina Maxouris / CNN / August 10, 2020

More than 97,000 children in the US tested positive for coronavirus in the last two weeks of July, a new report says.

The report, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children’s Hospital Association, said in those two weeks, there was a 40% increase in child cases across the states and cities that were studied.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Small Group Burns Masks as ‘Tools of Terror’ in Protest in Mission Bay Park

August 10, 2020 by Source

By Ken Stone / Times of San Diego / August 8, 2020

As if casting out demons, dozens of people tossed pricey KN95 face masks into a fire pit Friday in Mission Bay Park.

The coverings were depicted as “tools of terror” being used to “turn neighbor against neighbor.” They were a “precursor to adult mandatory vaccination” and “getting everybody angry.”

Said one older man, wearing a “MAGA FIGHT CLUB” shirt: “I’m ready to die for this mission” but: “First of all, we need to get Trump re-elected.”

The discarded five-layer masks — fresh from their cellophane packaging — carried their own defiant messages into the Ski Beach flames at an event labeled “Burn Your Mask Bonfire.”

Read the full article → 11 comments

Lessons to Learn – Nagasaki 75 Years Later – Right vs. Might

August 10, 2020 by Source

By Scott Stephens

Sunday, August 9 marked the 75th anniversary of the Nagasaki atomic bombing, which instantly wiped out 80,000 innocent civilians. We can debate whether or not this decision was warranted. However, most scholars feel the Nagasaki drop was unnecessary as Japan was close to surrendering following the bombing of Hiroshima and the Soviet Union joining the allies. But our debates won’t change history, and, likely, these disagreements may never be resolved.

But I think there is something we can all agree on: we should avoid war and look to diplomatic solutions whenever possible.

In a civilized world, victory shouldn’t be reserved just for the most powerful nations. Those of us who have lived most of our lives in the world’s most powerful, dominant country have grown accustomed to the chant of “let’s just bomb the shit out of them,” referring to whoever is our enemy at the time. But less powerful nations don’t have that luxury. The straightforward premise that right over wrong should carry more weight than who has the biggest bombs is hard to argue with.

Read the full article → 0 comments

What Should Post COVID-19 Crisis America Look Like?

August 10, 2020 by Jim Miller

The American Federation of Teachers Lays Out a Bold Vision of a Just Recovery as San Diego Green New Deal Alliance Launches

By Jim Miller

This summer I was proud to see that my national union, the American Federation of Teachers, was thinking big at its biennial convention in late July. Clearly, the activist spirit sweeping the country was in the (virtual) air.

Building on some of the work my brothers and sisters and I did here in San Diego along with others in our statewide union, the national AFT followed the lead of California and passed both a resolution endorsing the Green New Deal and a wide ranging call to move beyond the necessary but narrow bread and butter response we have seen from the national and local AFL-CIO to thinking comprehensively about how we should pivot and seize the opportunity that this crisis presents to build a better future.

The resolution in support of a Green New Deal calls on the 1.7 million members of the AFT

Read the full article → 0 comments

Police Officer Who Made Dramatic Rescue Off Sunset Cliffs Honored

August 8, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

The San Diego Police officer who made the dramatic rescue of twin girls and their father on June 13 off Sunset Cliffs was just honored with a Day in Honor in San Diego, “Jonathan Wiese Day”. Wiese was presented with the proclamation Thursday night by San Diego City Councilmember Mark Kersey at the Rancho Bernardo Community Council Meeting via Zoom.

The father, Robert Brians, had intentionally driven his car off the cliffs with the girls inside. Upon his arrival, Wiese tied a leash around his body, giving the other end to officers and then rappelled down the cliff.

Once Wiese made it down the side of the cliffs, he could see the father in the ocean holding his two daughters, treading water and keep from drowning. According to 7SanDieog, Wiese said, “He had both girls. He was holding them and trying to tread water, but they were all going under. One was awake and crying the other one was pretty lifeless.”

Read the full article → 0 comments

People From Around the World Watched a Video About COVID-19 in America and Could Not Believe It

August 7, 2020 by Source


See the video about COVID-19 in America that people from around the world watched and could not believe their eyes. Come inside.

Read the full article → 3 comments

Trump’s Fatal Attraction: Himself

August 7, 2020 by Source

By Colleen O’Connor

Recent behavior and Tweets have highlighted the unraveling of President Trump. Under pressure, he reverts to type. He can’t help himself.

The latest happened on Thursday where Trump accused his Catholic opponent, Joe Biden, of being against the Bible.

“He’s against the Bible. Essentially against religion. But against the Bible.”

“No religion, no anything. Hurt the Bible, hurt God. He’s against God,” Trump declared.

Perhaps this was an effort to erase Trump’s bible-holding photo-op (complete with tear gas fogged images) to announce his latest “law and order” campaign theme.

That attempt backfired.

Trump is compulsive in his need to dominate every news cycle, especially now as he is drowning in more than just bad poll numbers. He is losing his audience. His Tweet storms are not just being ignored, but actually removed.

Read the full article → 2 comments

A Kind of Ode to the Gray in My Hair

August 7, 2020 by Ernie McCray

by Ernie McCray

This is a kind of an ode
to my wild
and wiry hair
that’s ever so gray
that, particularly,
looked so beautiful to me
as I checked it out
in the mirror one day
because I happened to be thinking
how some old people like me
look at their gray hair
in utter despair
and turn it
into godawful colors
that hadn’t ever been seen
anywhere.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Man Stabbed Early Friday Morning Found Under Ocean Beach Pier

August 7, 2020 by Staff

San Diego’s Fox5 News is reporting this morning, Friday, that a man suffering from a stab wound was found underneath the Ocean Beach Pier in the early hours, but he was expected to recover, police said.

The stabbing victim, a man in his 30s, was reportedly assaulted around 4:15 a.m. It’s not clear whether he was stabbed while under the pier or if that is where he went after being wounded.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Joe Biden’s United Front Will String Up Trump’s Mussolini

August 6, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

On Sunday, August 2, the man – who vetted primary candidate Joe Biden for the nation and especially for African American Democratic primary voters – called Donald Trump, Benito Mussolini.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina likened President Donald Trump to Italian fascist Mussolini during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, with host Dana Bash. Bash had asked Clyburn about a PBS interview he had done several days earlier in which he said:

“Trump thinks that the American people will be duped by him, like the people of Germany was duped by Adolf Hitler.”

Bash asked whether Clyburn really thought Trump “is comparable to Adolf Hitler,” the No. 3 House Democrat replied,

Read the full article → 5 comments

Police Break Up Massive Crowd at Veteran’s Plaza in Ocean Beach

August 6, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

Wednesday night, August 5, at about 10 pm, San Diego police broke up the massive crowd that had gathered at Veteran’s Plaza in Ocean Beach. SDPD officers made announcements from their vehicles parked in the Lifeguard Station lot – and the announcements were met with boo’s. It’s not clear what happened afterwards.

Police were responding to complaints from the OB Town Council and residents about the irresponsible, out-of-control huge parties, the noise and trash. Hundreds of people have been gathering on the greens for a drum circle, dancing, unlicensed vendors – without wearing masks or employing social distancing.

CBS8 quoted one drum circle attendee, Phaux, as saying, “The pandemic to me is not realistic.”

Police, Councilwoman Campbell and County Supervisor Fletcher were all notified of the complaints. At the base of the complaints is the inadequate and insufficient response by local government to these gatherings after Wednesday’s OB Farmers Market, which have been going on for weeks.

Read the full article → 29 comments

Reader Rant: 3 Remedies for the Stupid Wednesday Night Crowds – How to Prevent It From Happening Tonight

August 5, 2020 by Source

By Pissed Off

I used to get a warm feeling seeing the drum circle and people juggling on the village green after the OB Farmers Market on Wednesday nights. It was quite a unique and friendly sight.

But now with the outrageous, irresponsible behavior of the crowds that gather during the Pandemic those nights – no masks, no social distancing – I find them stupid. And they’ll probably gather tonight, Wednesday, after the market and do it all again. Some guy has a DJ playing loud music and it’s a party-party-party.

So, here are three remedies for OBceans to take in dealing with the stupid crowds.

Read the full article → 11 comments

San Diego County Moves to Enforce COVID-19 Health Orders – But Is It Too Little and Too Late?

August 5, 2020 by Source

By Gary Warth, Morgan Cook / San Diego Union-Tribune / Aug. 4, 2020

The county is beefing up its enforcement of its health orders to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus and is putting more money toward child care and food services to help people struggling during the pandemic.

Under a plan approved by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, the county will spend $1.8 million over the next six months for 22 staff members to respond to businesses violating the public health orders. The move is part of an effort for the county, rather than law enforcement, to take the lead in enforcing its health order.

The violators targeted in the new effort are separate from those considered egregious violators, defined as a willful and sustained disregard of the county health order, posing a significant risk of spreading the virus.

Read the full article → 4 comments

‘Enough Is Enough!’ Says Ocean Beach Town Council Over Large and Irresponsible Wednesday Night Crowds

August 5, 2020 by Frank Gormlie

The Ocean Beach Town Council is crying “enough is enough!” over the large, irresponsible crowds that gather Wednesday nights after the Farmers Markets.

In a public letter sent to political and government leaders, the Town Council implores those in authority “to do something about the unacceptable levels of crowds gathering in our beach community during this public health crisis,” particularly on Wednesdays, where “hundreds of people closely gathered on the lawn with live amplified music, unpermitted food and craft vendors, drug sales, and more.”

It’s not just the size of the unrestricted crowds, it’s their noise and sounds which “continue into the early hours of the morning disrupting our residents,” and the trash and mess they leave for the rest of the community to clean up.

The letter was sent to Councilwoman Jen Campbell, Mayor Kevin Faulconer, Supervisor Nathan Fletcher, SDPD Officer David Surwilo, and Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten.

In the very timely letter, the OBTC also cites “the double standard” for local businesses and residents, where businesses must adhere to restrictive regulations to re-open safely, but there are no restrictions as yet on the crowds that gather without masks and safe distancing.

Read the full article → 9 comments

The Widder Curry Wants to Know Why Feeding the Birds Is Illegal?

August 4, 2020 by Judi Curry

Don’t Shoot the Messenger

By Judi Curry

Several days ago I read a report on “Next Door” from someone stating that it was not legal to feed the birds in the neighborhood. I looked around my backyard and my 6 hummingbird feeders, my five bird-seed stations, and the plate of peanuts I put out to keep the crows at bay and I wondered if my life was going to change – again – for the worst.

I decided to do some research to find out if the information was correct. And you know what? It is! Damn!

First I contacted the “Fish and Game” department here in San Diego. I asked the nice woman that answered the phone if there was someone there that could answer my question. She said that she could. I asked her “ . . . is it illegal to feed the birds” and without hesitation she told me “yes.” Then I asked her if it was illegal to feed the humming birds and she said she would have to check.

Read the full article → 8 comments

← Older Articles