Month: March 2019

There was tension in the air at Wednesday nights Ocean Beach Town Council meeting as a couple dozen people apparently had attended to voice complains about people living in vans in their neighborhoods and the homeless in general.

But cooler heads prevailed as Mark Winkie, the OBTC president, commiserated with those upset while trying to guide their frustration into action ….
It was also announced that the police trailer in the OB Pier parking lot would be removed.

Introduction

March 28 is the anniversary of a wild and crazy day in the history of Ocean Beach. It was the day in 1971 when a peaceful gathering in what’s now Collier Park of hundreds of Ocean Beach anti-Vietnam war activists, environmentalists and college students were charged by a platoon of baton-wielding San Diego police officers – resulting in what became known as the Collier Park Riot.

This most violent day in OB history came to become a significant watershed event in that same history and pushed Ocean Beach to become the community it is today.

Wait – you might say. What is the Collier Park? And who is Collier? Keep reading.

Late March in Ocean Beach nearly 5 decades ago had a different feel that it does today. It was definitely a different time.

Women surfers push beyond equal pay—even if it means letting men into the water, too

By Laurel Rosenhall / CALmatters / March 21, 2019

Women surfers scored a big win in California last year when an obscure government commission decided it would only lease a public beach to the Mavericks global surf competition if men and women were awarded the same amount of prize money. Experts said the precedent could compel equal pay at marathons, bike races, skateboard contests—any athletic events on public land. …

Now a push to go further is opening a broader debate over how to advance equality for women in male-dominated sports—and whether all-female competitions should be open to men.

The jury found Monsanto guilty of negligence and failing to adequately warn consumers of Roundup weed killer’s cancer risks.

Andrew Emett / NationofChange / March 28, 2019

A federal jury unanimously ruled Wednesday that Monsanto was liable for causing a California man’s cancer and was ordered to pay more than $80 million in damages. The jury found Monsanto guilty of negligence and failing to adequately warn consumers of Roundup weed killer’s cancer risks.

Here’s the fourth installment of Norma Damashek’s series,. The opinions expressed here are of the author’s and do not reflect those of the OB Rag.

Mayoral candidate Cory Briggs (CB)

by Norma Damashek / NumbersRunner / March 26, 2019

Once upon a time in the city of San Diego a much-heralded and wondrous happening took place.

From a crowded field of mayoral candidates (including three sturdy Republicans–Nathan Fletcher, Bonnie Dumanis, Carl DeMaio), voters chose to elect a brash, iconoclastic, independent, politically progressive Democrat to become the city’s mayor. That person was Bob Filner. It was the first and only time in recorded history that an authentic liberal came to power in San Diego.

“Perhaps Most Significant Game Ever Played in Golden Gym”

by Griffin Aseltine / LomaBeat / March 20, 2019

In perhaps the most significant game ever played in the Golden Gymnasium, it felt as if the Saint Martin’s Saints would never go away, as they found a way to cut the PacWest champion Sea Lions’ slimming lead down to just four points with nearly 15 seconds remaining.

By Marjorie Cohn / TruthOut / March 27, 2019

The Mueller report is finally done. On March 23, Special Counsel Robert Mueller sent the confidential report of his 22-month investigation to Attorney General William Barr. Less than 48 hours later, Barr released a four-page letter outlining Mueller’s conclusions and jumping to one as well.

In response to Barr’s letter, Donald Trump claimed, “There was no obstruction, none whatsoever, and it was a complete and total exoneration.” But Mueller did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice.

The Mueller report contains three main findings.

Tom Gawronski just retired from a lengthy stint on the Ocean Beach Planning Board. He’s been chair of the advisory panel of volunteer community planners twice, he told me at a recent Planning Board meeting, and he’s been on the Board for years – the number is in the double-digits.

And, he mentioned with a twinkle in his eye, he might get back on it after a year. The Board’s Bylaws allow residents to return to the Board after being termed out after a vacation of a year. So, if there’s anybody who knows the in’s and out’s of community planning, it’s Tom.

by Ernie McCray

Had myself a smiley day
the other day
from the time I woke up
until the time
I called it a day.

Seemed like mostly everything
put a smile on my face:
the rain dropping gently
instead of flooding the place,
the sun peeking through the clouds,
promising a nicer day
later in the day
and my smile widened
as my day got underway,
beginning with a lyft ride
that had me feeling
warm and cozy inside,
glowing with pride

All are invited to the public monthly meeting of the Ocean Beach Town Council – Wednesday, March 27th at 7:00pm. They meet at the Masonic Lodge, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.

Along with representatives from our elected officials and local organizations, the San Diego Police Department Homeless Outreach Team (HOT) giving a presentation.

The OBTC says: “Due to all that is happening in our community right now, this is an especially important and relevant topic. We hope to see you there!”

Here’s the official agenda:

Mueller may not have found coordination between Trump and his people and Russia, but Trump is still facing a whole raft of investigations that are still on-going. There are at least eight federal criminal cases continuing in this post-Mueller environment. And then there’s all those Congressional committees …

At least 15 investigations in all. It’s way too soon for any Trumpistas to be popping the corks. Trump and his people are not exonerated by anybody.

In general, there are 2 types of investigations: those from within the executive branch – including the Department of Justice and the various offices of federal prosecutors – and those Congressional investigations being launched over wide-ranging inquiries on multiple topics beyond the Russian interference issue.

These DOJ cases will likely continue: