July 2016

Suspect in Homeless Attacks Arrested and OB Victim Identified

July 8, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

Suspect Imprisoned 6 Years Ago for Lighting Homeless Man on Fire

The suspect in the serial attacks on homeless men was arrested Thursday, July 7th, and the Ocean Beach victim of one of his fatal attacks has been identified.

Anthony Alexander Padgett, 36, was arrested by San Diego Police in Chula Vista about 10 a.m. Thursday. The arrest occurred near H Street and Broadway. He was booked on 5 felony counts altogether, two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and one count of arson.

San Diego homicide Capt. David Nisleit told the media :

“At this time, we have probable cause to arrest Mr. Padgett for these heinous crimes.”

homeless attacks OB Vict Shawn Longley

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Friends of the Ocean Beach Library Have High Hopes for its Expansion

July 7, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

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The Friends of the Ocean Beach library and its staff have high hopes for the expansion of the branch – one of the oldest in the City’s system.

It was in a cool, air-conditioned backroom where I sat down with head librarian Matt Beatty and Laura Dennison, one of the co-chairs of the Expansion sub-committee for the Friends to discuss the library’s expansion plans.

The basic idea is for the library to take over either parts of or all of the building next door, which is already owned by the City – bought over a decade ago in anticipation of the OB Library’s rehab and expansion.

The next door building – now inhabited by law firms – all with leases with the City – is so close to the Library, that the hopes are that they can be connected at some point, with a computer lab, meeting rooms and staff offices for the librarians.

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“They are not allowed to just kill people like this, Lord,”

July 7, 2016 by Source

Black lives st Paul screen capt

Cop Fatally Shoots Black Man in St. Paul – Victim’s Girlfriend Records Tragic Aftermath

A graphic video shows Philando Castile bleeding in the car while his girlfriend’s young daughter watches.

By Carla Herreria / Huffington Post / July 7, 2016

Police shot and killed a man Wednesday in the St. Paul suburb of Falcon Heights, Minnesota, and his girlfriend recorded the aftermath in a graphic video shot using the Facebook Live feature.

The video shows the man bleeding from gunshot wounds as his girlfriend films from the driver’s seat. The police officer “shot him three times because we had a busted tail light,” the woman filming can be heard saying.

Officials have not officially released the victim’s name, but his family identified him as Philando Castile, local news station WCCO reported. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and relatives told The Star-Tribune he died at the hospital.

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The OB Green Activist Calendar

July 7, 2016 by Staff

Hands AcossSandPic2

July Events in Ocean Beach and Point Loma

July 14th Thursday 7 p.m. Film night “The Future of Energy” – Ocean Beach Green Center

July 21st Thursday 7pm – OB Historical Society” The OB Pier Turns 50!

ALSO EVENTS NOT IN OB OR POINT LOMA INSIDE …

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Video of Suspected Killer of Homeless Men

July 6, 2016 by Staff
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Here’s the video that has been released of the suspect of the vicious assaults on homeless men at a convenience store buying goods. It was released by the Homicide department of the San Diego Police Department.

If you have any information on this person please call Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of $1,000.

COME INSIDE FOR THE VIDEO – IT CANNOT BE PLAYED FROM OUR HOME PAGE.

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Other Victims of Killer of Homeless Men Identified – Including Ocean Beach Man

July 6, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

The other victims of the vicious attacks on homeless men have now been identified.

In the Midway District of the 4th of July, the killer assaulted his second victim who has been identified as Manuel Mason, 61, who was stabbed and found at Greenwood and Kurtz streets at about 4:50 a.m. The good news is that he is expected to survive, but is still in in critical condition.

An hour or so later near tennis courts at Robb Athletic Field in Ocean Beach, Shawn Longley, 41, was found dead with wounds to the upper torso.

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News from Ocean Beach and Point Loma

July 6, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

OB cliff rescue 7-6-16Man Falls to His Death from Sunset Cliffs

An unidentified man fell to his death, Tuesday, July 5th, off Sunset Cliffs, near Ladera Street. …

Is Reader Article on “Aggressive Homeless” Inappropriate Right Now?

There is a new SD Reader article out, published online on July 6th, about how OB is on edge – not because of the killer of homeless on the loose, but because of “aggressive transients”. Badtaste? …

Poke Hotspot Heading to OB

Poke is currently blowing up in San Diego, and the latest hotspot will be take-out hub It’s Raw Poke Shop, heading to Ocean Beach by early August.

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Chargers Convadium Plan: Lipstick on a Pig

July 6, 2016 by John Lawrence

chargers design 5Part 2 in a series

By John Lawrence

I previously reported on the 110 Pages of Gobbledygook that represents the Chargers’ proposal to build a combination football stadium and convention center expansion in downtown. It looks like it’s not going to happen because Mayor Kevin Faulconer and a lot of conservative businessmen are against it.

Perhaps the Chargers assumed that Faulconer would immediately climb on the bandwagon and start cheering for the so-called convadium.

Faulconer, however, to his credit has been cautious, questioning the $1.15 billion in new debt the City would have to take on as its part in this endeavor. The Chargers casually gloss over this in their gobbledygook proposal. And they say nothing about the $50 million still owed on Qualcomm Stadium as if that’s not even something worth mentioning.

As if this wasn’t bad enough, recent state Supreme Court ruling means that the Chargers will probably have to have a two-thirds approval from the voters in November instead of a simple majority.

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Killer of Homeless on the Loose – Severely Injured Fourth Victim Set on Fire in Downtown San Diego

July 6, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

This is an update on the series of grisly and vicious attacks on homeless people that have occurred this week – that have now claimed their fourth victim. A homeless man was set on fire early today – Wednesday, July 6 – in downtown San Diego.

One of the first victims – the other victim whose body was burned – has been identified as Angelo De Nardo, 53. An autopsy determined that he had been killed before being doused with gas and set afire.

The other attacks occurred around Mission Bay; one in Ocean Beach – in Robb Field where a sleeping houseless man was beaten to death; another in the Midway area, where a man was beaten, but survived and is now hospitalized with life-threatening injuries; De Nardo’s death occurred just east of Mission Bay. The victims from OB and the Midway have not been identified.

Police say that the 4th victim’s injuries match the pattern of the earlier attacks.

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OB Planning Board Agenda for July 6, 2016

July 5, 2016 by Staff
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Here is the official agenda for the Ocean Beach Planning Board’s monthly meeting, Wednesday, July 6th. The Board meets at the OB Recreation Center, 4726 Santa Monica Avenue, and the meeting starts at 6pm.

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Reflections on What July 4th Means to the Working Class – 2016 Summer Chronicles 3

July 5, 2016 by Jim Miller

class

By Jim Miller

As the Fourth of July is the day when we celebrate the Declaration of Independence, it’s important to remember Jefferson himself believed that each new generation needed to make the American creed their own.

And everyone from slaves to women to working people did just that as we see in Frederick Douglass’s great speech “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”, the early feminist manifesto “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions, Seneca Falls,” and the much lesser known “Working Men’s Declaration of Independence.”

This last is centrally important to remember because while Americans are largely aware that the battle for inclusion involved long and heroic abolition, civil rights, and women’s movements, struggles around issues of class have all-too-frequently been relinquished to the dustbin of history.

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“Art Box” Gallery and Supply Store Opens on Cable Street

July 5, 2016 by Source
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By South OB Girl

Art Box at 1919 Cable Street – right off Newport – is now open. And has been open for 8 weeks now.

Owner Catt Catterdon has been living in Ocean Beach since 1998 and this is his dream come true – to open this art supply store, which is a gallery space and where painting classes are being offered.

Canvases, sketch books, paints, and more are available.

For a fee, one can join the class offerings. For example, on July 12th, from 6 to 8 pm, they offer:

Paint with JJ. Come be inspired to “be all you… you are the only you there has ever been and the only you that will ever be.” We will supply everything you need. (You bring the wine if you like) “May it be a night of freedom and fun, community and creativity, all done a little differently as we enjoy the mess.

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“I’m Just Saying … What about All the Lonely People with No One to Celebrate With?””

July 5, 2016 by Judi Curry
Thumbnail image for “I’m Just Saying … What about All the Lonely People with No One to Celebrate With?””

By Judi Curry

This should not be construed as a “poor me” article. It isn’t meant to be seen that way; rather it should be an insightful message to those more fortunate to have people around them that care, that are concerned, and are aware of mental status.

The Fourth of July. It used to be such a fun day when my husband was alive. We did all of the things that people do on the fourth; BBQ, watch the fireworks, and, when legal, even had our own show. Frequently we would take the boat out and catch some fish for homemade ceviche or sushi.

He’s been gone almost seven years now and the Fourth of July is only another day; a day of keeping my dog calm because of the assh*les that insist on shooting off fire crackers all day by the beach. Shadow doesn’t mind the fireworks – Sea World in their infinite wisdom of continuing with their polluting noisy 9:50 pm show – has allowed him to become somewhat immune to the percussion’s he feels every evening. Oh yeah, he still tries to get away from it, but he is much better than my other dogs that tried to get under the carpet to hide.

No, this is not about Shadow, but about all of the lonely people that have no one to celebrate with.

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Will the Balboa Park Make-Over Include Rockscaping for the Homeless?

July 5, 2016 by Doug Porter

Yesterday the sweeps continued- Photo via Michael McConnell

By Doug Porter

What kind of a city is it that entertains funding a new stadium, a convention center expansion, a major events arena, gondolas, and a parks make-over, but can’t figure out a short term solution to homelessness other than criminalizing it?

That would be San Diego.

Yes, I know it’s apples and oranges–different pots of money are involved, some are subject to voter approval and others will only be indirectly supported by the taxpayer…

But … where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Presently there are a lot of moving parts in play when it comes to the future of America’s Finest City. Let me lay out a couple items for your consideration.

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Man Suspected in 3 Vicious Attacks on Homeless – Kills 2 – One in OB – Seriously Injures 3rd

July 5, 2016 by Frank Gormlie

UPDATED: One of the victims has been identified as Lorenzo. And the local NBC affiliate spoke with the clerk who sold gas cans to the suspect.

COME INSIDE FOR MORE OF UPDATE …

NBC 7 spoke to a Hector Roman who told them he knew the burned victim as Lorenzo. He told the media that Lorenzo came by his store often, and would buy sandwiches, soups and candybars:

Homeless attacks July 2016 map

There is a suspect in vicious attacks on three homeless men over the July 4th weekend – attacks that killed two – including one in Ocean Beach, and seriously injured a third.

The suspect – as yet unidentified – is in photos here. He is described as a white male, 40 to 50 years old, who was wearing a tan or brown jacket or sweatshirt, a green Army hat or baseball cap and tan khaki pants, and carrying a backpack.

Here is what happened, as best as we can put together:

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Questions Raised About Ocean Beach Project at Ebers Street and Greene

July 1, 2016 by Frank Gormlie
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More questions have been raised about the project going up at Ebers Street and Greene Street in Ocean Beach.

Why does the current project not conform to the scope of the construction? Were the plans misrepresented to the City? Why didn’t this project come before the OB Planning Board?

Curtis Nelson of Nelco Properties, LLC is the contractor and Jennifer Quan is the agent/ applicant of this project at 2269 Ebers Street.

So let us get this straight.

The original permit only called for an “addition” to an existing single dwelling unit. The addition included a new attached 3-car garage with “storage” and with two floors above the garage area. The second floor is to include the living area, the third floor would include the master bedroom and bath, with a roof top deck.

The original scope of the permit called for a “New hallway to attach new garage to existing SDU (single dwelling unit)”. In a scope change, the applicant revised the garage down from a 3-car garage to a two car one.

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The GDP is a Poor Measure of Progress

July 1, 2016 by John Lawrence

By John Lawrence

GDPGross Domestic Product does not measure the well-being of human beings.

War, natural disasters, incarcerations all add to positive GDP growth. Profits from casinos, drug sales, cigarette sales, junk food all add to economic growth.

Stock buybacks contribute to GDP. GDP is based on distorted values. If I pay down my debt, that does not add to GDP. If I borrow more money and go into debt and go out and buy stuff, that increases GDP.

Wall Street insistence on short-term profits, as opposed to long-term growth, does add to GDP. GDP is f’d up, yet for every politician and government functionary it’s the sine qua non of economic indicators. Every swindler that parts someone with a buck contributes to GDP growth.

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Murder Suspect in Point Loma Shooting Pleads Non-Guilty Due to Self-Defense

July 1, 2016 by Frank Gormlie
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This murder suspect in the June 22nd shooting in Point Loma pleaded not guilty to murder and a gun-use allegation at his arraignment in downtown San Diego, Thursday, June 30th.

Thomas Francis Burke, 32, arrested for the murder of Jess Matthew Robles, who was in his mid-30’s, is being held on $10 million bail. During the arraignment, Burke’s attorney said his client fired at Robles in self-defense.

Now that the suspect’s attorney and the prosecutor had their say in court, a picture of what was happening between Burke and Robles has emerged.

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