Month: September 2017

In the past few days – probably after everyone received their new water bill, I have been inundated – not to be confused with the terrible floods on the east coast – with calls from people asking me if I saw a difference in my water bill this month. Without exception, everyone that called found huge increases in spite of the fact that their water consumption had not increased.

By Beau Grosscup

As we enter the early weeks of the 2017 football season, the issue of political protest at sporting events is dominating media venues.

A long debated issue (e.g. former NBA star MahmoudAbdu-Raul-Rauf refused to stand for the National Anthem in 1996) San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick rekindled the debate by kneeling during National Anthem in the 2016 NFL season (since joined by others at every level of football/sporting events).

The NFL owners alleged conspiracy to keep Kaepernick from NFL employment, followed by pro-Keapernick protests at NFL headquarters in New York City, have so inflamed emotions

By Dale Williams / San Diego Free Press

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve just north of San Diego is a majestic wilderness with views to the ocean, scenic sandstone cliffs and is home to one of the world’s rarest pine trees, the Torrey Pine. Anyone who has visited Torrey Pines Reserve in the past two years will have seen the large numbers of trees that died.

You see them along both sides of the main road to the visitor center, along Guy Fleming Trail, and several other locations. As I watched them die, I wondered why nobody was testing the soil, analyzing tree samples, or doing anything that might help determine the cause. I wanted to do something but didn’t know what. The media reported that the die-off was due to drought and beetles,

By South OB Girl

By now most San Diegans are aware of the Hepatitis A outbreak in the city. If you would like some information about the availability of free vaccination — read on.

Free hepatitis A vaccinations will be available at the San Diego Central Library on September 19 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Kumeyaay Resistance and “Abusive” Art at Mission San Diego and the San Diego Presidio By Richard Carrico

Richard Carrico, local historian and anthropologist, will delve into the “dark art” that the Kumeyaay used to continue their ancient artistic practices and their use of symbology under the Spanish. Carrico usually makes an appearance once a year in Ocean Beach to share his vast knowledge of the history, culture and experiences of the San Diego area native Americans.

We had to chuckle the other day when we read the listing for the sale of Helm’s Brewing Company on BizQuest which included a description of their OB tasting room at the corner of Newport and Cable as “the most desirable corner in Ocean Beach”.

Really?

Is the corner which includes 4896 Newport Avenue really “the most desirable” in all of OB?

Lessons from Naomi Klein – Part One

Last week at the San Diego Free Press, Sharon Carr provided a nice overview of Naomi Klein’s new book No Is Not Enough: Resisting Trump’s Shock Politics and Winning the World We Need. These next two weeks, I’d like to follow up Ms. Carr’s good work by underlining what I see to be the two central insights in Klein’s book and why they matter.

In essence, Klein’s book is centered on two key points: 1) Despite all the drama and spectacle, Trump is nothing new; and 2) Neoliberal incrementalism is a dead end and we require bolder vision and practice to win the world we need. This week, we’ll consider the first proposition.

Editor: It’s important for people living north of the US-Mexico border to know and understand important events and dates for people living south of the border.

And today, September 16th, is one of those days, as it’s Mexico’s Independence Day, a celebration of the anniversary of the beginning of the war against imperial Spain. It’s equivalent to July 4th on this side of the border.

by Fleur De Lys

September 16th is that time of year when all Mexicans from around the world are celebrating Mexican Independence Day. On September 1810 Mexico began a 10-year war for independence with Spain and since the country gained its independence, things came a long way but violence is still too high. … The traditional shout-out in Mexico for Mexican Independence Day is “Viva Mexico!” After the 1910 revolution that toppled dictator Porfirio Diaz, Mexicans were free to live in their own country, to have their own government and be able to shout out loud (or gritar) “Viva Mexico!”

The Annual OB Pier Pancake Breakfast is happening this next Saturday, September 23rd, and it’s usually one of the best social events of the year in the village. And of course the proceeds benefit the OB Town Council’s holiday events and the annual OB Toy and Food Drive. The whole affair is bolstered by the dozens of table sponsors – there’s 38 in all.

But that’s just it. The Pancake Breakfast needs a dozen more sponsors.

So, please – if you and your group are thinking about it or maybe just now thinking about it – now is the time to move on it.

See all this

By John Thickstun, Esq

In 2015 the City Attorney’s office, under former City Attorney Jan Goldsmith prosecuted Rachel Smith, who was operating a short term vacation rental (STVR) – renting rooms to tourists – out of her home in the neighborhood of Burlingame in North Park. She was advertising the rooms on Airbnb.

In the Matter of Rachel Smith v. City of San Diego, Administrative Hearing Officer Catriona Miller ruled in favor of the City. She concluded that Rachel Smith had “violated the law by operating a bed and breakfast establishment without a permit.”

New photos of the suspect in a fatal knife attack that occurred in Ocean Beach last June 22nd have been released by San Diego County Crimestoppers.

Walter “Ras” Riley was found with multiple stab wounds on a sidewalk on Bacon Street near Newport Avenue around 12:30 a.m. on June 22. Riley, 65, died from his injuries at UC San Diego Medical Center.

A man believed to be the suspect was captured by the camera at a local business off Newport Avenue, just moments before the attack happened, police said. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and dark colored pants.

Editor: We received this letter sent to Target corporate headquarters in Minneapolis by Kevin MacDonald and think it expresses the feelings of many in Ocean Beach.

Director,

I am a loyal Target customer. I shop at the super store, 3 miles form my home, on Sports Arena Blvd, in San Diego.

I have Target stock in my portfolio.

I implore you, as strongly as I possibly can, DO NOT PUT TARGET EXPRESS ONTO NEWPORT AVE IN OCEAN BEACH!