Month: October 2016

Sanders Speaks Out in Support of Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act

By Bernie Sanders / Los Angeles Times RSN / October 21, 2016

Prescription drug prices in the United States are the highest in the world — by far. Californians on Nov. 8 have a chance to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry’s greed and spark a national movement to end this price-gouging. Today, no laws prevent drug companies from doubling or tripling prices. So they just do it. The most recent flagrant example is the emergency allergy injection, EpiPen. Its maker, Mylan, jacked up the price of this 40-year-old medication by 461% between 2007 and 2015. During that same period, compensation for Mylan’s CEO rose 671%. And that’s just one company and one drug.

Proposition 61, the California Drug Price Relief Act, would bar the state from paying more than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs does for the same drugs.

The OB Rag today – Friday, October 21st – received a courtesy message that the City will be removing a Monterey Cypress tree at 4866 Del Mar Avenue on Friday, October 28th.

According to Anthony Santacroce, Senior Public Information Officer for the city, arborists –

“… have diagnosed it as dead and decaying at the roots, trunk and branches as well as suffering from a preponderance of wood boring insects. The assessments recommend the tree be removed immediately, as it cannot be rehabilitated and poses a public safety risk to both lives and property.”

Here is the message:

Residents of the coastal neighborhoods who have been fighting short term vacation rentals (STVRs) are happy right now – relatively speaking – as it appears that the City of San Diego is finally posed to act on them.

One of the key organizations in this fight is Save San Diego Neighborhoods, and they are trying to mobilize their supporters for two critical meetings coming up, October 25th and November 1st.

From SSDN website:

First, on Tuesday, October 25, the Community Planners Committee (CPC) meeting will host City Council President Sherri Lightner. The CPC meets from 7 to 9 pm. at the Metropolitan Op. Ctr. II Auditorium, 9192 Topaz Way, San Diego.

Sub-Committee Report from the Pacific Beach Town Council Meeting, Oct 19, 2016

By Micaela Porte

In regards to the PB Town Council meeting last night with City Attorney Candidates, Robert Hickey and Mara Elliot, and discussion of Prop 64 (legalizing cannabis) and Prop 57 (criminal sentencing, non-violent crimes) among other things, it would seem that the City of San Diego is suffering from a deplorable crisis in definitions.

San Diego doesn’t know how to define:

• visitor accommodations
• night clubs
• where the 30 ft height limit is measured from*
• non-violent crimes.

The “Movers and Shakers of Ocean Beach” are invited to an OBcentric design charrette – a local event on Tuesday, October 25th from 6-8pm, being hosted by the OB Planning Board and Main Street Association.

The charrette is is part of a month long celebration of architecture and design, Archtoberfest, sponsored by the AIA of San Diego.

This is a follow up to the Newport Visioning workshop held on August 24th, and will be held at Steve Lombardi’s Office, 5035 Newport Ave, San Diego, CA 92107

By Judi Curry

Seven years ago you left to go who knows where. The time of diagnosis and death was so very short. Sunday will be your birthday; cut short by the 3 packs a day you smoked for 30 years. Diagnosed with lung cancer after stopping smoking for 34 years, it still got you in the end.

I remember the day when the diagnosis was made, and I remember you saying that if you knew smoking would still get you, you never would have stopped. Your craved that cigarette for some 60 years, and often substituted Irish Whiskey (what else?) after dinner. What you really wanted was a smoke along with the Irish.

Did you know that on Saturday, October 22nd – the Ocean Beach Library is hosting a “Death Cafe” at 2 pm?

Now what, you may ask, is a “Death Cafe”?

OB Planning Bd. approved Project Plans 2 Years Ago – But Local Residents Say What’s Being Built Is Different

Ocean Beach residents are concerned about another construction project that appears to be breaking the 30-foot height limit. They’re also afraid that the actual construction does not conform to the original plans that were submitted and approved by the city and the OB planners. This one is in south OB, at 4741 Del Mar Avenue. Locals have observed that the builders have added a solid deck wall above the house roof that is different from the approved plans the showed it below the roof line. Also, the roof line may also be above the 30 foot limit.

Some of these residents have contacted the OB Planning Board about the project and requested that they check out what is being constructed compared with the plans. Just about two years ago exactly, the OB Planning Board approved the project as presented – but it was a close vote, 7 to 5.

They call themselves marine mammal protectors – the organizers of a rally this Saturday to protest what they call the Navy Dolphin Gitmo. Their goal, they say, is to “expedite humane end to Gitmo like Navy Marine Mammal Program due to tax waste, national security threat and inadequate dolphin/sea lion housing and care.”

From their press statement:

Navy Dolphin Rally

Welcome to ALL concerned, peaceful citizens, taxpayers, military spending/national security advocates, elected officials & marine mammal protectors! We invite you ALL to attend or support the Navy Dolphin Gitmo Rally!

WHEN: Oct. 22nd 9:30 am-1pm (10/22/16)

WHERE: San Diego @ Harbor Dr Bridge next to Spanish Landing across from San Diego Airport.

Rally event on facebook:

New Drawings Still Label New Construction just As an “Addition”

Eyewitnesses report that up to 8 workers entered the property of the controversial project at Ebers and Greene Streets this morning – Friday, October 21st – and began doing various jobs at the site.

One worker was seen getting up on the roof and appeared to be removing some plywood. Curtis Nelson, the owner, was also seen on the site. The construction site is behind fencing that prevents any clear views of what’s going on – for at least the ground floor.

In fact, a few workers were seen on the site on this past Sunday, October 16th – the day after there was a rally of 60 OBceans protesting the project in front of the site.

This is the same site, of course, that a town hall meeting was held about on Wednesday night – the 19th, at the OB Rec Center.

By Jeeni Criscenzo / San Diego Free Press

I haven’t been one of your biggest fans and I still think that the DNC used some dirty tricks to defeat Bernie Sanders in the primaries, but today I’m ready to put that behind me. Until last night, my only reason to vote for you over Jill Stein would have been to make certain that Mr. Trump is not elected president of our country.

Since I live in California, I thought I had the luxury of waiting to see how the election was going in the rest of the county before casting my vote. And that was my plan – to wait until the last hour to choose you or Jill Stein. Since California is not a swing state, it was highly likely that I could have used my vote as a form of protest without risking Trump winning.

Wednesday night my plan changed. When I listened to Donald Trump hedge about ceding to the winner during the debate, I knew it isn’t enough just to make sure you win, it is paramount that you win in such overwhelming, indisputable numbers that Mr. Trump’s accusations of rigging look ludicrous.

The Business of America is No Longer Business — It’s Finance

By John Lawrence

The rich today are making money not from making things, but by manipulating money. This is being done in such a way that it is driving the inequality process. It is ruining the middle class while exporting their jobs.

The tax structure of the US engineered by Ronald Reagan, Alan Greenspan and their Republican followers has incentivized the creation of great wealth in a few hands while driving the majority of people into poverty.