Month: August 2017

By Jeeni Criscenzo /San Diego Free Press

Let me start with an apology. At the San Diego Select Committee for Homelessness meeting on Monday, July 24, I made some comments in response to a report by the new CEO of the Regional Taskforce on the Homeless, Gordon Walker, which came out sounding critical and petty.

By Michael Steinberg / Black Rain Press

Nuclear Shutdown News chronicles the decline and fall of the nuclear industry, in the US and abroad, and highlights the efforts of those working to create a nuclear free world. Here is our July 2017 report:

Hackers Hit US Nuke Plants

On July 6 the New York Times published, “Hackers Are Targeting Nuclear Facilities, Homeland Security and FBI Say.”

“Since May hackers had been penetrating computer networks of companies that operated nuclear power stations of companies that operate nuclear power stations and other energy facilities, as well as manufacturing plants in the US and other countries,” the Times reported.

By Geoff Page

What will the Point Loma pocket park along Cañon street be called? Cañon Street Pocket Park? Or Portuguese Village Park? … or some other name?

That eventual decision was part of the discussion at a very interesting meeting on Wednesday, July 26 billed by the city as the “Cañon Street Pocket Park Workshop #1.” This was the name the city’s Public Works Department used on its postcard and the name on the Park and Recreation Department’s notice posted at the Cabrillo Recreation Center.

This has been a month of graduations. My grandson – one of twins – graduated with his Master’s in Social Work. (His twin graduated last year with the same degree.) Two of my grandsons graduated from high school, and one of them won a wrestling scholarship to Central University in Iowa. (If you have been reading my columns for awhile, you might remember the article I wrote about my grandson going from the dance floor to the wrestling mat.)

This article really isn’t about my grandson, per se, but his graduation is the catalyst for this article being written.

The Ocean Beach Planning Board is anticipating a large crowd at their meeting on Wednesday, August 2nd as the main item on their agenda is an “Open Discussion” about the future Target Express store coming into OB.

That’s why the Board has moved to a much larger venue for the discussion and will be holding their monthly meeting at the Masonic Center at 1711 Sunset Cliffs.

There will be a presentation from Target representatives, plus a discussion with San Diego police about the process for off-site alcohol permits, and then an open community discussion about the project.

Santa Susanna Lab in Ventura County Suffered Meltdown 58 Years Ago

By Michael Steinberg / Black Rain Press

The worst meltdown in our history? And we’ve never heard of it?

That’s Right. Wikipedia characterizes the meltdown as “the worst in US history” and asserts “the radioactive releases are thought to be much more than at Three Mile Island in 1979.”

And where? Less than 30 miles from downtown Los Angeles and less than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean.

Authors Felt It All Was an Enlightening July 26th Workshop on Avenida de Portugal Park

By Jon Linney and Don Sevrens

Our thanks to the more than 100 persons who attended the Portuguese Hall workshop July 26, on our coming pocket park on Avenida de Portugal.

Everyone who chose to speak or ask a question was allotted two minutes. The views expressed ran the gamut, and answers to probing questions were enlightening. All present appeared to learn something, including landscape architect firm KTU&A, which was told the park needed to be special, not mundane.

City project manager Mark Calleran said the budget is funded at $1.16 million and the completion date is projected at summer 2020.

Restaurant Review

Hector’s Mexican and Seafood Restaurant
1224 Rosecrans St.
San Diego, CA 92107
619-221-9138

Several weeks ago I met someone that asked me if I had tried Hector’s. He said it has been in Pt. Loma for years, and, to be honest, I had never even heard of it. (It is located on Rosecrans as per address, but I was directed to take Locust Street and then Carlton to get to it. It is very close to West Marine, and it is easy to miss because it is on the back of the parking lot of the Mail Boxes Express.)

The person that told me about Hector’s said that he makes the best breakfast burrito in town, and has an excellent homemade salsa.

OB Has Long History of Bias Against Large Mega-companies

By Frank Gormlie

It’s axiomatic that residents and businesses in Ocean Beach have an anti-corporate bias. OB is known for this attitude of distrusting huge, mega-companies – and it goes back a long ways. At least back to the 1970s.

And this anti-corporate bias has now translated into a stiff wind of opposition to the plans by Target to open up one of its Express stores right here on Newport Avenue, the main commercial street of the bohemian enclave.