Month: January 2017

OB Library Friends to Meet in the New Library Annex – They Need You and You Need Them

 Source  January 16, 2017  1 Comment on OB Library Friends to Meet in the New Library Annex – They Need You and You Need Them

The Ocean Beach Library Friends sent out an online newsletter with their upcoming calendar the other day and we want to share it with our readers:

The OB Library Friends proudly announce that the OB Woman’s Club has awarded us $1,500! We will use the money for programs and the summer reading program. Thank you to the OB Woman’s Club —you are such a backbone for the Ocean Beach community.

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“How Do I Explain to My Grandchildren that a Dis-Honest Man Is About to Take Over the Country?”

 Judi Curry  January 16, 2017  33 Comments on “How Do I Explain to My Grandchildren that a Dis-Honest Man Is About to Take Over the Country?”

For the life of me I cannot understand why there is still going to be an inauguration later this week. The papers regaled us this past weekend – and practically every day – with more and more dishonesty emanating from the President-Elect. The fact checkers are on overload, checking the lies that are being told and yet nothing – absolutely nothing – is being done to prevent this monster from ruining our country.

If you haven’t been following the news, here are just a few samples:

That report dated January 10th, 2017 has also been posted on the FEC official website and is available for public consumption.

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Where Do We Go From Here? – Lessons from Martin Luther King Heading Into the Trump Era

 Jim Miller  January 16, 2017  0 Comments on Where Do We Go From Here? – Lessons from Martin Luther King Heading Into the Trump Era

“A nation or a civilization that continues to produce softminded men purchases its own spiritual death on an installment plan.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Strength to Love

By Jim Miller

A few years ago, I made use of this space on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to discuss my favorite speech of his, “Where Do We Go From Here?” and ponder its relevance to the present:

When dealing with the issue of poverty, King notes that, “We are called upon to help the discouraged beggars in life’s marketplace. But one day we must come to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”

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Observations on “Gentrifying” Venice, California Have Lessons for Ocean Beach

 Frank Gormlie  January 13, 2017  7 Comments on Observations on “Gentrifying” Venice, California Have Lessons for Ocean Beach

Back during the 1970s, a group of OBceans (although we didn’t call ourselves that then) were looking into whether OB could separate itself away from the City of San Diego and become an independent municipality of our own. We were so disgusted then at how Ocean Beach was being treated by the larger metropolis that engulfed us, that a viable alternative seemed to be to set up the community as its own city.

We looked around for other examples where people were itching to remove their neighborhoods from a large city – and we didn’t need to look far – as we found a similar movement up in the coastal community of Venice –

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San Diego Sierra Club Rallies Members to Oppose Trump Agenda – Sat. Jan. 14th

 Frank Gormlie  January 13, 2017  0 Comments on San Diego Sierra Club Rallies Members to Oppose Trump Agenda – Sat. Jan. 14th

From Sierra Club

Sierra Club San Diego will rally members and supporters to oppose the Trump administration’s agenda of increased fossil fuel usage and to promote ways of securing a path to 100% clean energy in the San Diego region through Community Choice Energy. The event will provide the public with opportunities to voice their concerns and get involved in local efforts to resist the Trump administration.

3:00 PM, Saturday, January 14, 2017

Mission Valley Public Library
2133 Fenton Pkwy
San Diego, CA 92108

Background:

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Trump’s Goldman Sachs Connections

 John Lawrence  January 13, 2017  0 Comments on Trump’s Goldman Sachs Connections

Restocking the Swamp

By John Lawrence

Treasury DepartmentTrump’s new pick for Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, his top campaign fundraiser, was a Goldman Sachs executive. Mnuchin spent 17 years working at Goldman Sachs where he became a partner.

He also worked for hedge fund manager George Soros, founded a hedge fund of his own and was the lead investor in IndyMac, a failed subprime lender that turned into a “foreclosure machine” during the housing crisis.

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Duncan Hunter Pulls a Trump-Like Distraction as He Pulled Down Award-Winning Painting

 Frank Gormlie  January 12, 2017  1 Comment on Duncan Hunter Pulls a Trump-Like Distraction as He Pulled Down Award-Winning Painting

It appears that our own Rep. Duncan Hunter has pulled a “Trump-like” distraction in order to manipulate the press away from something else that was embarrassing. It’s a case of Animal House.

Donald Trump has become infamous for making tweets or taking efforts to manipulate the press that are often distractions to more questionable or controversial elements of his campaign and transition. For instance, his press conference on Wednesday, Jan. 11th – the first in 6 months – was a distraction to embarrassing and controversial statements by his cabinet nominees, whose hearings were being held at the very same day in Congress.

And now Hunter has pulled a rabbit out of his Trump hat.

On Friday, Jan. 6th, Hunter pulled down an award-winning but controversial painting from a wall in a Capitol hallway. The painting depicts a street clash between police and protesters, most of whom are Black. The painting shows some police officers and protesters as animals.

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DA Dumanis Exonerates El Cajon Police Officer Who Killed Alfred Olango

 Frank Gormlie  January 12, 2017  1 Comment on DA Dumanis Exonerates El Cajon Police Officer Who Killed Alfred Olango

Bonnie Dumanis, the District Attorney for all of San Diego County, has just exonerated the El Cajon Police officer, Richard Gonsalves, who fatally shot Alfred Olango last September.

Olango was an unarmed African-American man whose death at the hands of police sparked large protests in the streets of the east county city. One of the demonstrations included a sit-down by hundreds of protesters on Broadway in El Cajon, non-violently confronting helmeted and baton-wielding sheriff’s deputies.

Dumanis declared at a news conference at the Hall of Justice:

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City Attorney Targets High-End Restaurants in Ocean Beach and Point Loma for Adding Surcharges

 Frank Gormlie  January 12, 2017  11 Comments on City Attorney Targets High-End Restaurants in Ocean Beach and Point Loma for Adding Surcharges

We’ve been following the developing story of how the new San Diego City Attorney, Mara Elliott, is targeting high-end restaurants for adding illegal surcharges to customers’ bills – or misrepresenting the additions – all due to the January 1st increase in the minimum wage within the city.

A number of these restaurants are located in the Ocean Beach and Point Loma communities, as they are part of larger chains. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that –

“restaurant industry officials … estimated that about 30 local operators are adding surcharges of about 3 percent to bills in response to the minimum wage hike. They include … the Brigantine chain [and] Cohn Restaurant Group….”

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Homeless Advocates Plan Response Tonight To Mayor Faulconer’s 2017 State Of The City Address

 Source  January 12, 2017  0 Comments on Homeless Advocates Plan Response Tonight To Mayor Faulconer’s 2017 State Of The City Address

By Women Occupy San Diego

Press Conference & Performance by the Voices of Our City Choir
THURSDAY, January 12, 2017, about 7:30-8:30pm (following Mayor’s State of the City)
Horton Plaza Park (Near 4th & E/across from the Balboa Theater)

After attending the Mayor’s 2017 State of the City address at the Balboa Theater, Women Occupy San Diego, Voices of Our City Choir and other concerned San Diegans will gather nearby to share reactions to what he proposes as solutions to homelessness.

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Barrio Logan’s Chicano Park Is Now Our National Treasure

 Brent Beltran  January 12, 2017  0 Comments on Barrio Logan’s Chicano Park Is Now Our National Treasure

By Brent E. Beltrán

DesdeLaLoganLogo

Editor Note: Chicano Park was designated as a National Historic Landmark on January 11, 2017. This 2013 article from the San Diego Free Press archives chronicles Chicano Park’s placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

On Friday, March 15, the Ides of March, there was a press conference at Chicano Park in my beloved Barrio Logan. The press conference was put together to announce Chicano Park being added to the National Register of Historic Places. In other words, Chicano Park was officially recognized as being a national treasure of the United States. Those of us who live in Logan and the various barrios throughout San Diego, California, and beyond already recognize this fact. But, through the fine work of Chicano Park co-founder, Josie Talamantez, the nation now officially recognizes this.

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Trump’s First Press Conference in Nearly 6 Months Confirms His War on the Press

 Frank Gormlie  January 11, 2017  0 Comments on Trump’s First Press Conference in Nearly 6 Months Confirms His War on the Press

For the first time in nearly six months, today, January 11th, Donald Trump held a news conference. You remember news conferences, you know, those lop-sided but necessary events where politicians actually have to appear to answer questions from reporters. His last one had been on July 27th – almost half a year ago and none since his election.

During today’s 90 minute spectacle – which I dutifully watched – Trump actually answered some of the questions thrown at him by reporters.

Yet, one thing was instantly and crystal clear – Trump is continuing his war on the press. This press conference confirmed it.

The much-anticipated presser, ostensibly held for Trump to explain how he is distancing himself from his businesses and conflicts of interest, got off with explosive start when VP-elect Mike Pence launched salvos at Buzzfeed News and CNN – because they had published reports of a controversial dossier that was supposedly included with Trump’s intelligence briefing held last Friday.

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