The OB Rag – Now More Than Ever – An Appeal to Our Readers

Cover of original OB Rag -early April 1973

The denizens of Ocean Beach – as well as the blue-leaning Point Lomans – need the OB Rag now more than ever. This weekend will show that.

What with issues of fake news embedded in our social media and the mainstream press pushing their elite agendas based on the bottom line, and with Trump’s threats of corralling the press, sources of truth become scarcer and scarcer.

We like to think that our uber local OB news focus, the discussion platform we offer to the community on issues, our efforts to keep a grip on changes in OB, in San Diego, nation-wide – and the world beyond – put us in the running for providing you, our readers, with a semblance of needed news, analysis and some truth.

Which leads us to this:

Our Fall Appeal for Donations – Keep the Press Local and Free

We are beginning today a weekend of fund-raising and donations. Our goal is to raise $2,000 over the weekend and during next week.Why that amount?

Over the last 6 months, here is what we have spent from our shoe-string budget:

• $900 – Rent to Green Store for our office
• $510 – yearly cost of server
• $295 – to our writers (not much, we agree)
• $112 – subscriptions – to help keep us in the know
• $ 60 – statcounter
• $ 40 – image program – since ended
• $ 64 – PO Box and postage
• (notice what’s not added, like gas and other cost reimbursements)
  $1981 – Total

Here’s why OB needs the OB Rag – just from recent coverage:

The attention and analysis given to local issues is like none other, such as short-term vacation rentals, progress of OB and Point Loma developments, gentrification, surveillance cameras …. For example –

• The controversial Ebers – Greene Project; since June we’ve alerted the village to this checkered construction project; along with local neighbors – we helped to bring the issue to the OB Planning Board; with those same neighbors – we organized a rally at the site last month. We continue to keep the pressure on …

• We covered the campaign to save the Torrey Pine on Saratoga Avenue – which was unsuccessful; we’re supporting folks in the Friends of Peninsula Trees and their efforts to have all OB’s Torrey pines designated Heritage Trees.

• We helped shed light on the Point Loma project at Emerson and Evergreen.

• We continue our vigilance on the issue of the 30-foot height limit and watch for threats.

• The OB Rag continues to be a thorn in the side of SeaWorld – recently criticizing their move to beautiful the exterior of the  Orca’s tanks without enlarging them.
• We provide coverage of some of the more community-oriented public meetings, such as the OB Town Council and the OB Planning Board – and occasionally the other Peninsula planning committees.
• We support small and local businesses with our continued series of “News on Newport Avenue”, and keep residents up on the comings and goings of local merchants.

How to Support Us

Send us a one-time donation via our PayPal button on the homepage;

Become a regular monthly contributor; via PayPal on the homepage;

Send us a check made out to “OB Rag” to:

OB Rag
PO Box 7012
Ocean Beach, CA 92167

Have a business or non-profit – take out an advertisement – we have great rates for locals;

Send us photos, poetry, musings, observations, or volunteer to help us cover local events and meetings.

So, help us keep the OB Rag alive and well – send us a donation during this Fall campaign (we hold 2 every year – last one was in June). The original OB Rag was first published in the fall of 1970 – and we’re still here 46 years later – okay there’s been some gaps – but with your help, we’d like to be around another 46 years.

Original OB Rag – Early January 1974