Month: June 2015

A San Diego coalition of activist groups believes it is time for police reform – mainly by strengthening the Community Review Board on Police Practices.

The coalition has issued a call for people to attend tonight’s – Thursday, June 11th- City Council hearing to demand reform. The hearing starts at 6pm in Council Chambers – 202 “C” Street, 12th Floor.

By Lynne Peeples / Huffington Post / June 9, 2015

When Michael and Barbara Fouch first considered replacing their grassy lawn with artificial turf, they researched the growing array of options for the green plastic blades and the infill that holds them in place. They wanted a product that looked nice, but they also wanted something that wouldn’t make any people or pets sick.

By Jeeni Criscenzo / San Diego Free Press

A few weeks back Rep. Darrell Issa (CA 49) tried to defend his statement made during a CNN interview, that “we’ve been able to make our poor somewhat the envy of the world.”

As someone who has dedicated my life to helping our poor, I am compelled to offer an opposing perspective. To be clear, this is not a debate between the left and the right, or liberals vs conservatives, or Democrats vs Republicans.

The Board of Supervisors of San Diego County delayed their vote on a very controversial proposal to limit free speech and assembly in and around the new Waterfront Park that surrounds the County Administration Building.

After some discussion, the Board said it needed more time and unanimously voted to send the proposed ordinance that would in part set up so-called “free speech zones” and require permits for large gatherings back to County lawyers for clarifications and revisions.

Is the City of San Diego about to go for a blanket CEQA exemption for the Mission Valley stadium?

Dan McLellan thinks so. He used to sit on the San Diego Stadium Coalition, was its vice-president for awhile and is a longtime ardent Chargers fan. He departed the group so he could speak out more aggressively, he told us.

Editor: The following is a letter from the Ocean Beach Planning Board, signed by its chair, John Ambert, to Mayor Faulconer of their support for the Climate Action Plan.

The Honorable Kevin L. Faulconer
Mayor of San Diego
… The Ocean Beach Planning Board strongly supports the Climate Action Plan draft as released …

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will today – Tuesday, June 9th – consider a proposal to limit freedom of expression in and around the new Waterfront Park just outside the County’s headquarters, the Admin Center.

San Diegans upset with this proposed ordinance to limit political activities are planning to attend the meeting. If the proposal is passed, the County will consider it again for a final go-around on June 23rd. Under the proposal, large groups of people involved in political acts at the Park could be required to move into or be inside so-called “free speech zones”. The problem is … these zones of “free expression” have been declared unconstitutional by federal courts.

By John Lawrence

Wouldn’t it be nice if money didn’t influence who gets elected and what they do after they get elected? The Clean Elections Initiative aims to get money out of politics so that one vote will truly equal one vote like it’s supposed to in a democracy.

Right now money controls elections and lobbyists have too much influence over elected officials which are in turn dependent on rich donors for their campaign funds.

Today – June 8th – is World Oceans Day, an international celebration officially recognized by the United Nations.

Among the purposes, the United Nations says the day’s intention is to “remind everyone of the major part the ocean has in everyday life” and “information the public on the impact of the human actions of the ocean.”

Woman’s Body Found Near OB Pier Identified

Longest Living Cat Dies in OB

OB Woman Outraged by What She Found on Firefighters’ Website – Which Had Been Hacked

SeaWorld and Its Supporters Play Dirty

Saturday, June 6th, was a busy day in OB.

First there was the community clean-up, organized by CSI-OB (Cleaner Streets Initiative). Volunteers emerged and filled lots of bags with trash.

Greg Crowley, one of the co-heads of CSI-OB, was on hand lending both his hands and feet too. Then, the First Responders’ Picnic was held …

The water leak around Orchard and Froude that we reported on last week, has been fixed by the City.

Local residents are happy about the speedy attention the leak received – once it was published here, in the OB Rag.

City crews came out on Friday, June 5th to make the repairs.