Month: July 2023

By Kevin Hastings

On Monday, July 24, the city held a meeting on the community planning group (CPG) reform and reapplication process. (It was a hybrid meeting.  I think only 8 were there in person.)

It was pretty disgusting. Their presentation kept harping on member diversity and demographics as the criteria going forward… none of the other issues brought up in the entire reform process and grand jury report.

In a discussion about possible new groups competing for recognition, I asked how those new groups could come to exist to begin with, since they have to exist before they can apply. Would they have to first hold a community-wide election compliant with 600-24, could it just be a group that created themselves? Answer: they would not have to be elected, they could be anyone. Just wild.

The Ocean Beach Town Council is holding what they’re calling a “Town Hall Meeting” tonight, Wednesday, July 26 at 7 PM, and it’s at the Point Loma/Hervey Branch Library, 3701 Voltaire Street — where they promise plenty of parking.

Tonight, they’re back to their “classic format’ – the OBTC Town Hall Meeting, which features an opportunity to give non-agenda public comment, plus hear updates from elected officials, public safety, community leaders and OBTC committee representatives.

If you can’t make it in person –

Family Plans Celebration of Life August 13

Sadly, we mark the passing of one of Ocean Beach’s true photographer extraordinaires – Steve Rowell.

His family is planning a Celebration of Life in Robb Field on August 13, 4 to 6pm.

It’s always worthwhile to be able to put a human face or two on corporations that do things and affect us yet wish to remain faceless.

And over the years as the San Diego U-T kept getting batted about from one owner to another we at least could put a face on the Copleys and Manchesters and Soon-Shiongs.

But now, with hedge fund Alden Global Capital becoming the U-T’s sixth owner in 14 years, I don’t think I’ve seen one human face from Alden or its subsidiary MediaNews Group.

That changes today.

by Ernie McCray

Hey,
Maria Ester Nieto.
I was just thinking
how many years ago
we used to refer to our girlfriends
as our “old lady,”
with no thought
that a day might come
when your squeeze is just that,”
an old lady,
a beauty like you
turning eighty,
rocking it,

There is what appears to be some beginning construction / demolition activity at the former Ranchos restaurant and market at Pt Loma Avenue and Ebers. A reader sent the photos.

Project Review Committee’s Review of Proposed Twin ADUs on Del Monte

By Connor Greth

On Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the Project Review Committee, a sub-committee of the OB Planning Board, met to review two proposed Accessory Dwelling Units at 4732 Del Monte Avenue.

There are currently three dwelling units on the 7,000 square foot lot.

By Geoff Page

One item listed on the Thursday, July 20, Peninsula Community Planning Board’s agenda piqued some interest. It was about a laboratory project but the title and description were insufficient to understand what the lab was for.

EMTS Lab Remodel at NTC

The title of the agenda item was:

2392 Kincaid Road. EMTS (Monitoring and Technical Services
Laboratory) – NTC. PRJ – 450-790-08-00

Come Inside for text and details.

According to out Rag writer, Colleen O’Connor, there’s been a power outage in Shelter Island since 2:30 this morning, Monday.

And as of 8:30, city crews were still working to determine its cause.

There’s a battle brewing right now in San Diego between privacy advocates and those who support the SDPD’s installation of “Smart Streetlights” and license plate readers.

Just this past Tuesday, the City Council extended the deadline for the Privacy Advisory Board to review the city’s surveillance and other technologies by 3 years. The initial deadline was one year, but by time that point was reached, the volunteer board had not reviewed one technology.

But then on Wednesday the city’s Public Safety Committee voted to support SDPD’s smart streetlight proposal.

From wildfires and floods to record heat, it’s clear we’re at the point of needing to save what we can while we can.

By David Helvarg / The Progressive / July 18, 2023

Since before the release of the first United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  report in 1990, scientists have been warning that, without global action to quickly reduce carbon dioxide emissions, we could shift from a dangerous to a catastrophic climate situation.