Month: October 2012

With Election a Toss-Up, Progressives Could Influence Outcome and Prevent a Romney Victory

By Daniel Ellsberg / Reader Supported News / October 18, 2012

It is urgently important to prevent a Republican administration under Romney/Ryan from taking office in January 2013.

The election is now just weeks away, and I want to urge those whose values are generally in line with mine — progressives, especially activists — to make this goal one of your priorities during this period.

An activist colleague recently said to me: “I hear you’re supporting Obama.”

I was startled, and took offense. “Supporting Obama? Me?!”

A new young couple moved into our neighborhood in south Ocean Beach two years ago and over that time I have had conversations with them. I worked with Heather and taught her to make jam; I called on Mark to help with a few heavy things that needed to be done around the house; I fed their dog treats when Buddy and I take walks together.

So, I was thrilled when she called me and asked if I would like to go the “Women for Filner” fundraiser at the University Club on Wednesday, October 17th. Although there was a $100 donation, (which I could not make) I am not sure how Heather worked it so that I could attend, but attend I did, and had a great evening.

The power in that room was overwhelming. So many of the “big guns (gunnettes?) of the San Diego female world were in attendance

San Diego Chicano Activist to Be Laid to Rest – Tina Was on the Front Lines of Chicano Rights; She Walked Farmworkers’ Union Picket Lines in High Heels

By Vincent deBaca

Tina C. de Baca (mother, friend, sister, and compañera) is now at peace and she sits happily with our ancestors in heaven where the world cannot hurt her. She requested the sacraments to the end and she knew God’s love, patience, and forgiveness. Compounding other illnesses, Tina fell into unconsciousness after suffering two strokes on October 3rd and she passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 14, 2012.

She was born Celestina Maria Marquez at the family ranchito in Anton Chico, New Mexico. Family teased her as “The Slick Chick from Anton Chic.” She was the only woman ever seen walking UFW picket-lines in the 1960s dressed stylishly “to the 9s” in high heels. A stunning beauty, Tina possessed a great sense of humor and a strong dedication to human rights in good and bad times.

The Ocean Beach Historical Society presents:

Local Birds & Life in O.B.
by O.B. Photographer Steve Rowell
Thurs., Oct. 18th, at 7 PM
P.L. United Methodist Church,
1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B.

Steve Rowell programs are always a visual treat with great insight into both our local 2 and 4 legged residents.

Editor:The following – by Megan Baehrens, Executive Director of San Diego Coastkeeper – is a response by their organization to our post on Tuesday questioning their “partnership” with SeaWorld in cleaning Mission Bay. It has not been edited.

By Megan Baehrens /San Diego Coastkeeper

Hello Frank and OB Rag readers.

First of all, Frank, thank you for maintaining a level of journalism in San Diego that holds the community accountable. We indeed asked ourselves some of these same questions nearly a year ago as we weighed our options for how to work with SeaWorld—as you note, a significant presence on our waterfront. Ultimately, as Jill pointed out, we believe it’s important to build relationships and respect—all while maintaining integrity–in order to open doors to much harder (and much more important) dialogue.

The U-T San Diego is reporting yet another sexual assault in Ocean Beach. This one was in south OB, in the Ocean Front alley between Del Mar and Coronado Avenues.

In this latest incident, which occurred Wednesday morning – Oct. 17th – a young woman walking in the alley was assaulted by a man who approached her from behind. He struck her on the head, told her to be quiet and he wouldn’t hurt her, fondled her breast and then ran away.

Ask around. It does seem like there’s an uptick in crime around Ocean Beach, doesn’t it?

Or at least, we seem to more aware of it.

The sexual assaults, the peeping tom, and now all these assaults and stabbings around Newport Ave, the Pier, and Oktoberfest…. There’s been so much concern of late, that an OB Citizens’ Patrol has been formed, and has been out on its rounds in northwest late-night Ocean Beach. Fliers are circulating warning women not to walk alone at night.

Our community nerves have been shaken. Our antenna are out – and some of us are more aware.

The OB Citizens’ Patrol – set up in response to several sexual attacks and peeping tom in northwest Ocean Beach – will hold its second meeting tonight, Tuesday, Oct. 16th at 7pm. The group meets at Tower Two Cafe – owned by Tim Nolan, who has been organizing the patrols.

Last Friday, Oct. 12th, the patrol had its first launch, with people going out from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., and then again at midnight until 3 a.m. But they just missed a stabbing at the Oktoberfest.

Here is the agenda for the Project Review Committee of the OB Planning Board, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 17th. The sub-committee of the full Board is chaired by vice-president Landry Watson and starts sharply at 6:30 pm. All their meetings are held at the OB Rec Center at 4726 Santa Monica Avenue.

Something smells fishy. The other day we received a press release from San Diego Coastkeeper – actually, it was a joint press release, from them and from SeaWorld – talking about how they are both “teaming up” together to “keep Mission Bay beautiful”. They’re planning a “clean the Bay day” on October 27th – and volunteers will get prizes including passes to SeaWorld.

While we applaud any organization’s efforts to clean Mission Bay – heaven knows it needs it – something just doesn’t sit well with us on this announced partnership.

Why is that? What’s wrong with a strong environmental organization with a solid reputation partnering up with a corporate entity to beautify the surrounding area?

A Million a Day in TV ads can buy lots of confusion

by Stacy Malkan/ Yes on 37 / October 15, 2012

The world’s largest pesticide companies are spending One Million Dollars a Day to confuse California voters about Proposition 37 — a simple label that will give us the right to know what’s in our food.

A Million a Day in TV ads can buy lots of confusion, but it can’t buy facts.

Here are the facts about Prop 37:

• No cost to consumers: Adding a few words to labels costs nothing. Labeling didn’t raise costs in 50 other countries and won’t raise costs here. It won’t add red tape or bureaucracy either, and the only independent study on Prop 37 confirms these facts. Read the Truth about Cost.

Alternet / By Steven Wishnia / Oct. 11, 2012

For the first time in two decades federal courts will consider the science behind medical marijuana — and today there is more evidence than ever.

Once again, medical-marijuana advocates are taking to the courts to eliminate the biggest barrier to legal use—the federal law that classifies marijuana as a dangerous drug with no valid medical use.

On Oct. 16, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, the federal appeals court that usually handles cases involving government regulations, will hear oral arguments on Americans for Safe Access v. DEA. .