San Diego Cops and the OB Rag Finally Agree on Something

“OB Time” Sees Common Appreciation of Homeless

By the Old OB Hippie

Yup, that’s right. San Diego cops and the OB Rag finally agree on something. And it has to do with the homeless and how things keep getting repeated.

At a recent Ocean Beach Town Council meeting, two high-ranking police officers were seen and overheard shaking hands and speaking with Frank Gormlie, editordude of the OB Rag, back at the rear of the large room at the Masonic Center before the meeting began.

It turns out, the officers were thanking the Rag for publishing an article about how “good citizens” complained about the hippies back in 1968 and their “aggressive panhandling” and “public urination” – which had then been updated and re-worded; everywhere “hippie” was written in the article, “homeless” was substituted in.

The original article was written by John Lawrence writing for the original San Diego Free Press. (Today, John Lawrence writes for the new online version of the SDFP as well as for the OB Rag.)

The cops liked the re-written article so much, Gormlie was told, that they had printed it out and were passing it around back at HQ Western Division. They all quite enjoyed it.

And this is not a bad thing. The OB Rag and the cops agreeing on something.  But what exactly are they agreeing on?

The re-worded recent version demonstrates that the very same complaints being made by residents and merchants today about the homeless are the same that were made about hippies 47 years ago.

The police appreciate this as they are constantly being pressured “to do something” about all the homeless.There are certain constraints – like human rights, the Constitution, civility. Things like that.

But, San Diego has in effect criminalized homelessness and relies on the police to deal with a social and economic issue. The cops understand this – even when they crack down on the homeless, like threatening arrest of those who feed the homeless or those who are sleeping in our parks and beaches.

The police understand that when “the good citizens” or “Peninsulans aroused” bring pressure to bear on the police meager resources, their lack of sergeants, and their low morale, it’s the citizens that are not appreciating the civility – or lack of – of the moment.

Homelessness is not a police issue. But we treat it like it is. And when those who consistently and persistently advocate for the rights of the homeless / houseless strike a chord with those who are pressured to make it a police issue, common ground is attained – even only for a fleeting moment.

Here is the re-worded John Lawrence article, posted Jan. 16, 2015:

Complaints About Homeless Have Echoes

By John Lawrence

The solid citizenry of Ocean Beach are aroused. For some time now, there has been a virtual state of war existing between businessmen and merchants, on the one hand, and homeless on the other. The growing homeless community in OB has been met with growing alarm on the part of the established citizenry.

Those with Establishment interests want to drive the homeless out of OB since they view them as a treat to their businesses and are offended by the mores and folkways of the homeless youth culture. Homeless contribute very little economically to established businesses and tend to scare away more conventional people who would have patronized these businesses. Homeless people have been refused service at several places of business and in turn have taken revenge through acts of vandalism and theft. Because of this, insurance companies have raised the rates charged to OB businessmen.

Recently, there have been several public acts of sexual intercourse including screwing on the front lawn (an all-time first in San Diego according to some sources) which established citizens feel set a bad example for their own families.

The panhandling scene flourishes in OB, and businessmen are chagrined when they are hit up for spare change which is not spent in local businesses. They are also sometimes vexed at the epithets hurled at them when they refuse a panhandler’s request.

There is a large drug scene in OB which mortifies established citizens immensely since they do not was their own offspring influenced to such wiles and temptations.

A group calling themselves the Peninsula Aroused Citizens went to the City Council last week to demand better law enforcement on Ocean Beach. This group, composed primarily of the merchants and businessmen who for over a year have been waging a relentless was with the homeless, is intent on driving them out of San Diego.

They contend that the majority of homelss are from out of town (which is probably true of a majority of San Diegans) and have come to San Diego as a result of the heat at beaches up north. Their plan is to kindle the heat to the homeless boiling point here so that they will evaporate leaving OB clean and pure and sterilized – once again fit for the enjoyment of decent folk.

One of the strategic focal points in the campaign is a place called the SeaWall where homeless are fed. Located on Newport Avenue, the SeaWall homeless feeding was brought into existence by the Point Loma Methodist Church. At the present time there are also a number of other churches involved in sponsoring the feeding of homeless. The Peninsula Aroused Citizen’s view it as a den of iniquity and a sanctuary for fornicators, dope peddlers, and revolutionaries of all stripes and colors. They wring their hands over the alleged fact that churches are supporting such shenanigans.

According to informed sources, the San Diego police feel their hands are tied in “combating crime” at the homeless feeding at the SeaWall because the place is church-sponsored. The police cannot afford to lose their considerable prestige by placing themselves in the position of attacking a church. The Aroused Citizens are trying to get the churches to pull out their support so that the police can move in with good conscience and a free hand and clear all those filthy homeless out of there. It is generally acknowledged by the SDPD that they would like to see the homeless feeding at the SeaWall closed.

According to informed sources, the Aroused Citizens are not only aroused but dedicated and well-heeled. It seems as if they have blitzed the homeless with their spring offensive putting the homeless on the defensive.

Meanwhile, the police are opening a Community Relations Office in OB.

Editor: The above article is lifted word for word right out of the July 1968 issue of the San Diego Free Press, except for our substituting the words “homeless” for “hippies” and the “Inbetween” for the “SeaWall and homeless feeding” and some other minor editing. It was originally written as a serious article and it is not satire nor tongue-in-cheek. This article shows that since 1968, OB merchants and the well-heeled citizens of the area have been complaining about the hippies, their pan-handling, their sex, their drugs and graffiti. The so-called “Peninsula Aroused Citizens” was a real group. Also, the Inbetween is mentioned and discussed – it sat right on the last block of Newport Avenue. Have yourself a good laugh – and a history lesson.