We’re going surfing – boogie-boarding to be exact. I have a new board and new fins and plan on meeting JEC down at Tower 2.
In the meantime, here is an open thread – on issues of Ocean Beach. Leave your comments, observations, opinions, and thoughts in the comment section below. And if you don’t like the issues we suggest, raise some of your own.
Here are some discussion points:
- Marshmallow/ marshmellow wars – Do you think they’re ready to be banned or brought under control some how? And how and who will do this? Who should pay for the clean-up? We personally think that the police should be kept out of it, that volunteers and locals need to deal with it.
- OB’s new draft Community Plan update. … What? … Yes, the City has issued a new community development plan for OB. All OBceans need to familiarize themselves with the new plan, the old plan, planning issues, and history.
- Gentrification. This occurs when new development sweeps in and sweeps out the people who used to live in the old development and who cannot afford the new development.
- Police surveillance at the beach. We have the police tower on occasion, the surveillance camera at the end of the OB Pier. Problem or re-assurance?
- Lack of good public transit.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ll jump in Gentrification. That is a big word with lots of different meaning to it not always good. It seems that means that the big developers are kicking the poor locals out so they can build a big development and make lots of $$$ to spent somewhere else.
I don’t think that is true always while it may be true that some small homes are being torn down to make way for new ones they may not be being built/remodeled by a big “greedy” developer. I bought a house here years ago, borrowed heavily, to do it and after a couple of yrs I added 1400ft to it, tripled the size. I also added 2 to my family and needed the room to avoid either murder or divorce. While I didn’t built out my lot I wish I did now looking back at it. It would have been pennies on the dollar now. How many of the other homes we see going up are folks in the same situation. I will agree there are some butt ugly homes being constructed on a small lot near the OB rec ctr most likely by a developer but I’ll bet not all are some folks need more space. They bought an old funky home in disrepair and just need and want a nice home that will accommodate their growing family. I’ll bet many are going in to deep debt to do it too. I am not really sure that is gentrification.
As building age they need to be remodeled and fixed up, my house needs it now it has been 20+ yrs. I don’t think gentrification is bad it just means at least to me that change & progress is happening. It is our job as citizen with input into the planning process to see that it happens in an acceptable manner.
I’d like to discuss the street repairs that have been going on in front of my place for almost three years. It started with little notice. When my car got a flat tire from the connecting bolts on the pipes in front of my garage, I wrote a letter to the city claims department only to be rejected for the cost of the new tire. Shortly thereafter, they piled up some black asphalt to cover the pipes and bolts. Though now, I cannot drive my VW Golf TDI into my garage.
Only the government and contractors can get away with such terrible planning and execution. I do understand that the project is probably difficult, but this is ridiculous. And at the same time, there doesn’t seem any relief in terms of parking enforcement.
As far as gentrification goes, yes, this is a problem as well… in all of California.
What’s the Rag’s take on this developing story…
San Diego Mayor Bob Filner asked to resign from office
Letter cites sex harassment claims against mayor
http://www.10news.com/news/investigations/mayor-bob-filner-asked-to-resign-from-office07102013
Trying to stick to the subject… (yes the street repairs seem never-ending and sloppy and they’re busting all kinds of things)
The marshmallow war: it’s totally out of control. It isn’t good for our Ocean or our Beach. No one wants to be responsible, no one wants to pay for the clean up, so while our own and out of town drunks who plastered OB with the white crap all night are asleep in bed, the people who do love the Ocean and the Beach are out there cleaning up after them. It’s just friggin wrong. Maybe we need an OB Referendum process to express OB’s wishes.
All issues in one…
The new community plan should provide for police officers to stop, frisk, and physically assault anyone exiting a bus or other mode of public transit while in possession of (or suspected to be in possession of) marshmallows for the possible purpose(s) of roasting on a bonfire/tossing at passersby, thereby clearing out the undesirable element of the community and making OB more appealing to the wealthy crowd that will further the gentrification agenda.
Win/win, no?
I’m all in!!
How about the really cool way the community has handled the lack of public restroom facilities in OB?
Gentrification, change and progress.
Is it possible to stop gentrification ?
Should we still be selling lots in O.B. for $ 100 ? should wages still be $ .17 cents an hour ? should rents still be $ 2.50 per month ?
Change and progress allows for growth and success for all.
After picking up broken ceramic tiles off of the street and sidewalk for 2 days this past week, I have a neighborly suggestion that residents who wish to “recycle” remove whatever “treasures” from the front of their house (or where ever) after a few days, when it is more than obvious no one wants the stuff. Otherwise, destructive idiots/drunks see fit to vandalize and spread broken junk all over our neighborhoods. And being one of the few people that bothers to pick up after others, I’m getting SICK OF IT.