March 2013

Should We Be Outsourcing Public Higher Education in California?

March 18, 2013 by Jim Miller

…suggesting we drop existing standards for the wild west of market based online education will do for education what deregulation did for banks and the stock market.

Last week State Senator Darrell Steinberg proposed what he thinks of as a bold new way to reshape higher education in California and to deal with the bottleneck of students who have trouble getting into “gateway” classes in our community colleges and universities. What is Steinberg’s answer to our access ills? Sadly, it is outsourcing higher education to the corporate interests who have long been aggressively lobbying to get a piece of the publically funded pie that is California’s public education system.

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Meet the Candidates: The District 4 City Council Special Election

March 18, 2013 by Doug Porter

This ‘meaningless’ election could change the face of San Diego politics and community development for years to come.

Part One in this series on District 4 (here) presented (an all-too-small) slice of the history of the area with a general overview of the present-day political situation. We also broke the story about the GOP-type dirty tricks campaign going on in District 4.

Here’s a copy of the faux “City” mailing that’s going out attacking Myrtle Cole.

There are nine, count ‘em, nine candidates running for the City Council seat vacated by Tony Young at the end of 2012. A candidate must get more than 50% of the vote to win, and by all accounts that isn’t going to happen on March 26^th. So there’ll be a run-off. The trick here will be picking the top two candidates.

Given that this ‘special election’ isn’t going to be ‘special’ enough to drive much of a voter turnout, any candidate could end up in the running. (We’ll tell you our predictions and predications in Part 3 of this series.)

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Dirty Tricks Fly in San Diego’s District 4 City Council Special Election

March 17, 2013 by Doug Porter

Part One of a three part series: Setting the Scene

There’s a special election coming up in San Diego on March 26^th to pick a City Council person to represent the residents of District 4. Ho-Hum. Expect low voter turnout. Nobody cares, right?

Somebody cares. Somebody cares enough to send out smear mailers from a shadowy group trying to discredit progressive candidate Myrtle Cole. It’s getting nasty out there.

Voters in the 4^th District are getting mail from a group called ‘San Diego County Voters for Progress and Reform’. Last they were heard of was last fall when they funneled $25,000 from California Real Estate Independent Expenditure Committee of Los Angeles in support of the failed city council candidacy of Republican Ray Ellis.

The mailers have the City of San Diego official seal at the top of the page and on the front of envelope. In bold type with a bright red background they say “Urgent City Message to Residents… Open Immediately”.

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Ocean Beach Planning Board Election: “No” to Removing Police Trailer and “No” to Maintenance Assessment Districtt

March 15, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

Shamoun, Bushe and Tom Gawronski returned to the Board

The results of the OB Planning Board election are finally in. These “unofficial results” of the balloting – held Tuesday, March 12 – included 5 open seats for the Board, as well as two propositions.

Both propositions – one for a “maintenance assessment district” and the other to move the police trailer in the Pier parking lot to a different location- went down to defeat. We have yet to be provided with the actual votes, so it is difficult at this stage to fully understand by how much or how far these propositions fared.

The propositions would have only been advisory decisions. The results will be certified at the April 3rd monthly meeting of the Board.

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City Staff to Decide Whether World Oil Gets Extension for Controversial 2-Story Building at Voltaire and Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

March 15, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

A new notice from the City of San Diego has appeared on the wire fence surrounding the corner lot at Voltaire Street and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. Posted on March 7th, it announces that City staff will decide whether the owner of the lot – World Oil – gets an extension on their plans for a two-story “medical building”, called Sunset Plaza.

World Oil and their controversial projects for that corner have bounced back and forth for many years – going back to the late Nineties. Finally in the summer of 2009, the OB Planning Board approved – albeit with conditions – the construction of the controversial building. Critics have called the planned building all kinds of names – one that stuck – to use the vernacular – is “butt ugly”.

World Oil’s project was approved by the Planning Board back on August 5th, 2009 – 3 1/2 years ago. But for whatever their reason, the company has not moved on their concrete and glass-heavy edifice. And now with the deadline on their original construction permit nearing its end, World Oil is pushing for an extension.

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A Brief Update from OB Rag Editordude’s Desk

March 14, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

Howdy, it’s Thursday, March 14th.

OB Planning Board Election Results to Be Announced Tonight

We have been waiting for the election results from Tuesday’s Planning Board balloting. We have heard that a press release will be released tonight. As the Board allowed for mail and email voting this year for the first time, they are just making sure they have all of the ballots back.

OB Rag T-shirt Design Contest to End on the Ides of March – Friday

Just a reminder that our OB Rag T-shirt design contest officially ends tomorrow, Friday, March 15th – the Ides of March. We have a score of design entries already but we are willing to check out anything new that reaches us by the deadline, either email (obragblog@gmail.com) or snail mail (OB Rag, PO Box 7012, OB 92167) or by carrier pigeon. We have a panel of judges waiting to make their decisions. There are prizes for the selected entries. For more info, go here.

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Slightly Stoopid Sponsors Contest Promoting OB Local Shops and Their Hit “Don’t Stop”.

March 14, 2013 by Staff

The OB band Slightly Stoopid is sponsoring a contest in an effort to support local OB shops and the band’s new hit, “Don’t Stop”, and they have created a “Check-In to Win Scavenger Hunt“!

All those who complete the scavenger hunt will receive Slightly’s new album Top of the World, 2 Stoopid lighters, and 2 Stoopid stickers!!

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Slightly Stoopid “Don’t Stop” Vid Covers Ocean Beach

March 14, 2013 by Source

The OB band Slightly Stoopid has a new vid out for their new hit “Don’t Stop”. Check it out – it covers Ocean Beach quite nicely.

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Wells Fargo: California Leader in Predatory Lending and Heartless Foreclosures

March 14, 2013 by Source

by Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment / San Diego Free Press

When it comes to foreclosing on Californians, it looks like Wells Fargo may take the prize. According to a report released today, Wells Fargo is responsible for more homes in the foreclosure pipeline in California than any other single lender.

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Power Outage in Ocean Beach and Near Lindbergh Field

March 14, 2013 by Staff

UPDATE: SDG&E now say hit-and-run car crash caused outage; all power should be restored by 1 pm
Close to 3,000 SDG&E consumers awoke this morning – Thursday, March 14, without power. Customers in Ocean Beach, the Midway District, Old Town and other neighborhoods near San Diego’s Lindbergh Field lost power in the wee early hours, beginning right after 4 a.m.

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Healthy Cypress Tree on 4900 Block of Del Mar Saved … for the Moment

March 13, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

A local OB activist has saved a large Cypress tree on the 4900 block of Del Mar Avenue from being cut down … and for the moment, the tree appears to have been saved.

The tree at 4958 Del Mar Avenue had received a complaint from a neighbor across the street. Although, it looked healthy, and appeared to have new growth from the recent rains, our activist friend spoke to a city arborist who told her the tree crew was taking it out. But to our friend, it looked like one of the healthiest in the area, and perhaps needed some trimming.

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The Old OB Hippie Speaks: Life in the Village

March 13, 2013 by Source

Editor: With the following post, we begin a new, irregular column called “The Old OB Hippie Speaks” by a long-time resident who still calls himself a hippie. Check it out and tell us what you think about it in the comments.

Life in the OB Village

Life in this beautiful village goes on – and it’s daily. My aim is to keep you up on the very soul of the community by sharing news, observations, and tid-bits that cross my reality. I plan to speak truth to you. And you can reciprocate by sending me stuff, either as a comment to this post or via email ( address to “old hippie” and send to obragblog@gmail.com ).

Still Counting Ballots for Planning Board Election Results

One big thing that is going on in OB is the Ocean Beach Planning Board election. The balloting was yesterday, Tuesday, but I’ve heard that they are still counting the “provisional ballots” and have not announced the results yet. I’m told by the editordude that once the OB Rag hears the results – it will immediately publish them.

The Gawronskis and Mount Kilimanjaro

Speaking of the Planning Board, our friend Jane Gawronski – who is Chair – and her hubby Tom – who just stepped down after being on the Board for a total of 10 years – have just returned from their trek to Africa and to Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Restaurant Review: OB Kabob

March 13, 2013 by Judi Curry

OB Kabob
4994 Newport Ave
San Diego, CA 92107
619-222-9700

Driving down Bacon Street the other day, I happened to see the “OB KABOB” restaurant near the corner at Newport. I was surprised that I hadn’t seen it before, but I later found out that it had just opened in February of 2013 – only a few weeks ago.

I called Scott, my friend from the Beacon, and asked him if he would like to go with me to try it out, since he has accompanied me three times already to review restaurants. He jumped at the chance.

We went on a Tuesday for several reasons. It is “Taco Tuesday” and I felt that it would not be crowded because of the specials being offered at other neighboring restaurants.

The menu was extensive – but I was unprepared at how small the restaurant is – 4 tables; 4 high tables; and a variety of counter space. (Come inside for details and the Widder Curry’s grades.)

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Debate Over San Diego Lifeguards – Diversity, Gender, Salaries and Politics

March 12, 2013 by Source

Editor: We found an important debate going on in the pages of the Point Loma Democratic Club, and decided to repost the following positions. The first is by Michael Russell, a former San Diego lifeguard, who raises serious questions about gender, diversity, salaries and politics of the lifeguard union, Teamsters Local 911. The second is a response by Ed Harris, union steward for Teamsters 911 (quotes in italics are from Russell’s piece).

San Diego Lifeguards – Questions Raised Concerning Gender, Diversity and Salaries

by Michael Russell / Point Loma Democratic Club / March 8, 2013

Thank you for inviting me to your monthly meeting to listen to Ed Harris present his case for your support. As a former San Diego Lifeguard, I was interested in hearing his plea to Democrats for help in swaying the San Diego City Council. His quest as Union Steward for Teamsters 911 is to build and replace three Lifeguard Towers in Ocean Beach, South Mission Beach, and North Pacific Beach.

I agree that these City infrastructure projects are probably ripe, because of the low cost of current construction in this economic recession. Having worked at all these towers in the past, I agree that they are out of date and require constant upgrades, for such beach safety stations are necessary and appropriate. They are all major projects, costing millions, and must take into account long-term issues like sea level rise and changing beach demographics.

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Starving Sea Lion Pups Along Southern California Coast Near Crisis

March 12, 2013 by Source

SeaWorld Has Rescued 11 Sea Lion Pups in Just 3 Days; 18 Rescued by Laguna Beach Group in 2 Days

By Greg Bledsoe and R. Stickney / NBC 7 / March 12, 2013

An increasing number of California sea lion pups have been stranding along the coast of in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties.

The number of pups needing emergency care is so great that one rescue organization has declared a state of emergency.

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In America We Have the Power to Change (Thoughts of Freedom)

March 12, 2013 by Ernie McCray

Freedom. What a concept, huh? One of the sweetest words in the world’s vocabulary.

I learned a long time ago that the pursuit of freedom will make one do almost anything. Sometimes in the spur of a moment. I used to love to hear my maternal grandfather tell about how he woke up one day on a sharecropper’s plot of land in Hawkinsville, Georgia, thinking to himself, “God, I don’t know what all is out there in this world but I just know You created something better than this.”

At about the same time “big boss man” came riding up on his horse rallying what were supposed to be “free men” to the fields, “yelling and spitting tobacco every which-a-away” my grandfather would say and the next thing he knew he had snatched the man off his horse, gave him the ass-kicking of his life and then ran for that very life until he reached the Gulf of Mexico – to what, he didn’t know. He just knew he had to be free.

I thought of him a little while back at a forum at the Malcolm X Library that featured four of a group of people who stand tall in my mind and soul: The Freedom Riders. Yvette Porter, of the Walter J. Porter Educational & Community Foundation, brought them to town.

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Neighborhood Business Review: John Baker Picture Frames

March 12, 2013 by Judi Curry

An Introduction to a Neighborhood Business

John Baker Picture Frames
4735 Point Loma Ave.
San Diego, CA 92107
619-223-5313

A year or so ago, I was in a hurry to frame a picture I was going to be giving as a gift, and rather than drive down to Midway and Rosecrans to either Michael’s or Aaron Bros. I decided to stop in at John Bakers Picture Frames on Point Loma Avenue. I am embarrassed to say that in the 36+ years I have lived around the corner, I had never been in the store. I was amazed at the selection he offered his customers. Perhaps one of the things I liked the best was that “Murph” – his dog – greeted me at the door.

The next time I went in the shop I had some doggie biscuits with me, only to find that Murph had gone on to another place. And I found out that John had retired and the business had been purchased by an employee of his of over 14 years. Let me introduce you to Mary Maslanik.

I watched Mary work with a customer today while I waited for Chris Baker to complete a picture frame for me. (Yes, Chris is John’s son.) Mary worked with this woman – for almost an hour. The scene reminded me of a woman trying on shoes and not finding anything that she liked. Mary brought out all kinds of samples of matting, frames, etc. until there did not seem to be anything left in the front or back room.

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OB Planning Board Annual Election: Tuesday, March 12th

March 11, 2013 by Staff

The annual election for the Ocean Beach Planning Board will be held Tuesday, March 12th. Balloting will occur from 4 pm to 7pm at the Ocean Beach Recreation Center, 4726 Santa Monica Avenue.

All OB citizens are eligible to vote, as long as they live, own property, or represent a business in the Ocean Beach Planning Area (see map).Voters should show up with some kind of proof of their residency in OB (utility bill suffices).

Half of the 14 Board positions are up for election. Voters in the 7 Districts elect their represenatives.

Also on the ballot are two advisory propositions.

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Leonard Poma Passed

March 11, 2013 by Frank Gormlie

Leonard Poma – who started “Poma’s” on Bacon Street – passed last Wednesday, March 6th. He is reportedly to have died at home around 5 a.m. with his family.

Leonard, or “Len”, had been battling cancer for awhile now. But his body finally gave out. He was 62.

Poma’s became synonymous for wonderful roast beef sandwiches. Those and his cheese-heavy pizzas have been mainstays in the Ocean Beach restaurant scene since the 1960’s.

Services will be held Thursday, March 14, at 11 at the Gateway Church in El Cajon (1280 North Johnson Avenue). All are welcome.

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Fukushima, San Onofre and Our Health

March 11, 2013 by Michael Steinberg

It’s been two years since Fukushima’s multiple meltdowns. San Onofre in the Southland has been shut down for over a year.

Time to look back and gaze forward. This article will concentrate on nuclear power plants’ radioactive emissions and their effects on our health.

To do this I’ll be drawing on a recent book, Mad Science: The Nuclear Power Experiment. This book came out last year, authored by Joseph Mangano, executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project (radiation.org). The RPHP has been studying nuclear power plant radioactive releases effects on human health for several decades.

Numerous peer reviewed epidemiological and clinical studies published in various scientific journals by Mangano and his associates in the RPHP have found that children living within 50 miles of nuclear power reactors have higher amounts of radioactivity in their teeth; have higher rates of cancer, including leukemia; and that such rates drop after reactors shut down.

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Report of the Ocean Beach Planning Board March 6th Meeting

March 11, 2013 by Source

By Brittany Bailey

Wednesday night’s meeting (March 6) of the Ocean Beach Planning Board met with a short agenda; issues included updates from Councilmember Faulconer’s office, a presentation on the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan, and the renewal of a Conditional Use Permit for a Verizon Wireless Antennae site.

The only discussion item on the agenda was a presentation by Angie Jamison from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority on the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. The purpose of the plan is to provide policy guidance for land around the airport. Policy recommendations are implemented by local agencies and apply only to new development and redevelopment. Currently the Environmental Impact Review is in the scoping period with a draft available for public review starting March 13h. For more info, contact Angie Jamison at ajamison@san.org.

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Transient Ischemic Attack … ‘I Had a What?’

March 11, 2013 by Judi Curry

Monday morning dawned bright and early and I looked forward to going to my physical therapy appointment at 7 a.m. I love driving over Pt. Loma Avenue early in the morning to see the sun coming up over the mountains.

This day was no exception. My therapist, Eddy, worked me especially hard that morning because, after having breast cancer surgery 18 years ago, within the past 6 months I have developed a severe case of lymphedema. There does not seem to be a cure, and we are trying to get the lymph fluid to flow out of the elephantine arm that used to be my left arm. It doesn’t hurt – just restrictive at times.

Following my therapy I had an appointment to see my primary care physician for a routine check up and all was normal. I left her office; did some shopping at Ralph’s, and walked in the door about 11 a.m. One of my former students – Corrine – was coming in the front door as I was walking in the back door. She had an armload of tomato plants with her that she was going to plant in the backyard.

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Obama’s End Game: Not With A Bang But a Neoliberal Whimper?

March 11, 2013 by Jim Miller

Well after all the bluster coming from the Democratic camp about President Obama’s “upper hand” leading into the sequester showdown, it turns out he had no game at all. The result: score another one for the Tea Party who got to take a hatchet to government spending and hold the line on taxes. As I wrote after the “Fiscal Cliff” showdown:

Grover Norquist is happy. After the fiscal cliff deal was passed in the House, he pointed out that Obama blinked on his $250,000 line in the sand on taxes and that, by locking in the Bush tax cuts for 98% of Americans, the Democrats’ ability to defend the legacy of the New Deal has been greatly diminished. He’s right.

And now Grover and company are even happier as the Republicans just said no to more taxes and let the ax fall indiscriminately on government spending. The “liberal media” may think badly of them and their national approval rating may be in the toilet but they simply don’t give a rat’s ass because they are winning nonetheless.

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SAN ONOFRE: Secret report confirms Edison knew of major problems

March 8, 2013 by Source

Friends of the Earth: ‘Bombshell’ for plans to restart crippled reactor

From Bill Walker / Friends of the Earth

A secret Mitsubishi Heavy Industries report released today confirms that Southern California Edison knew about serious problems in the radically redesigned replacement steam generators for the San Onofre nuclear reactors years before the defective equipment was installed, yet failed to make changes to fix the problems. The report was released today by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission after Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.) revealed its existence and demanded it be made public.

The report documents that Edison knew of specific safety concerns with the replacement steam generator design as early as 2005, and failed to incorporate changes proposed to fix it because they would trigger a more lengthy and public review by the NRC. It fatally undermines Edison’s case for restarting one of the plant’s crippled reactors and for receiving any compensation from the California Public Utility Commission.

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International Women’s Day Events in San Diego

March 8, 2013 by Doug Porter

Last Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives followed the Senate in re-authorizing the Violence Against Women Act with bi-partisan support. The timing was particularly appropriate: Friday, March 8th is International Women’s Day. The overall theme this year is “The Gender Agenda: Gaining Momentum,” while the United Nations theme for the day is “A promise is a promise: Time to end violence against women.”

San Diego State

On Friday, March 8^th, San Diego State University’s Women’s Studies department Femininist Research Colloquia series will host Kum Kum Bhavani, an author and Sociology Professor from UC Santa Barabara, whose research interests lie within development, feminist and cultural studies.

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Fake Video About San Diego ACORN Yields $100,000 Settlement; Wingnuts Continue Their Defamation of Group

March 8, 2013 by Doug Porter

You’d think the right wingers would give it a rest. But the myth of the evil-doers at ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) continues to live.

Four separate investigations by various state and city Attorneys General and the GAO released in 2009/2010 cleared ACORN of any illegal activities. Law enforcement officials found its employees had not engaged in criminal activities and that the organization had managed its federal funding appropriately. Videos purporting to show illegal activities were found to have been deceptively and selectively edited to present the workers in the worst possible light.

So it’s with some small satisfaction that former members of that group were in a celebratory mood yesterday after court documents were released revealing that James O’Keefe, the conservative activist whose hidden-camera stings were at the center of the controversy, agreed to pay $100,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former employee of ACORN.

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Coastal Commission Nixes Navy Sonar Program Due to Harm to Blue Whales and Other Sea Life

March 8, 2013 by Staff

To a packed meeting room on Friday in San Diego, the California Coastal Commission voted unanimously to reject the US Navy’s sonar training program scheduled off Southern California because of harm to endangered blue whales, other marine mammals and sea life.

The Commissioners ruled that the Navy had insufficient information to support its claims that the explosives and sonar training program would have negligible effect on marine mammals. Scheduled to proceed in January, Coastal staff had recommended that the Commission require more protections to the wildlife before authorizing it.

Estimating that their proposed training program would kill 130 marine mammals and cause hearing loss in 1,600 over five years, the Navy rep argued to the Commission that the Navy was set against any additional conditions that they said would reduce the realism or scope of the training. Navy rep Alex Stone stated that the program has enough protections for the wild sea life. Stone directs the program.

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Restaurant Review: Pho Point Loma & Grill

March 8, 2013 by Judi Curry

“Pho Point Loma & Grill”
2788 Midway Drive
San Diego, CA 92110
619-226-6502
www.phopointlomagrill.com

After a day that became more stressful hour by hour, I decided that I did not want to cook dinner for my one remaining student – Monica – and suggested that we have a meal out. The physical therapists at the office I go to three times a week had talked about “Pho Point Loma” yesterday, and, knowing that Monica likes pho food, thought it would be a fun experience for both of us.

I used to go to the restaurant when it served Chinese food and always marveled at how large it is. There is the regular dining room; a huge dining room in the back part of the restaurant, and a smaller, more cozy room to the side as you come into the building. It should be noted that there were patrons in all of the rooms and for a Wednesday night they were doing a thriving business.

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Point Loma’s historic ‘Building X’ home hits the market – used during WWII as center on submarine research

March 7, 2013 by Source

NBC News

This historic home overlooking downtown San Diego and the Pacific Ocean is for sale for $1.77 million

2422 Alcott Court, San Diego, Calif.

For sale: $1.77 million

Grand and imposing on its cul-de-sac lot, this historic home has sat overlooking downtown San Diego and the Pacific Ocean for over 100 years.

“The home is rife with history,” said listing agent Markus Feldman. “Sprawling grounds, lush landscaping… the house is a magnificent estate.”

Amelia Timken Bridges, daughter to roller-bearing inventor Henry Timken, built the Point Loma property for a substantial $130,000 in 1911.

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La Jolla’s Anti-Semitic Past Still Reflected in Community Christmas Parade

March 7, 2013 by Judi Curry

What is the difference between a “Holiday Parade” and a “Christmas Parade?” Not much, actually. But the fact that La Jolla continues to call their December parade a “Christmas Parade” bothers some residents of this snobby, exclusive city.

Many years ago – 1965 – to be exact, my husband and I decided to take a trip to La Jolla. We knew we would be moving to the San Diego area shortly, because my father-in-law was quite ill and lived in Chula Vista. We decided to make a vacation of it, and driving down from Berkeley where we were going to school we stopped off at a hotel in La Jolla. I was wearing a beautiful Star of David given to me on my 18^th birthday by my ex-husband. My current husband – Bob – was not Jewish, but the star was so pretty that I wore it frequently.

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