August 2023

Restaurant Review: Social Thai in Ocean Beach

August 31, 2023 by Judi Curry

Restaurant Review

Social Thai
1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., Ste A
Ocean Beach 92107
619-228-9928
www.socialthaikitchen.com

By Judi Curry

One of the greatest things about being a restaurant reviewer are the calls I receive telling me about great (or not so great) experiences had at our local restaurants.

Last week I received a call from Margaret telling me of the wonderful soup she had at the “Social Thai” on Sunset Cliffs Blvd.  I used to eat at the Thai restaurant that was there before, so was very curious about the new one and told Margaret I would let her know when I was going to review it.

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Urban Art Takeover Coming to San Diego – Saturday Night, Sept.2

August 31, 2023 by Source

A fantastic large-scale San Diego arts and culture event is coming up on Saturday night, September 2nd.

The event is ENVZN Urban Art Takeover and features more than 50 artists and a dozen performing groups from San Diego and Tijuana.

It will transform two city blocks of warehouses and urban spaces in Logan Heights with film, theatre, dance, visual arts, music, fashion and more.  It is being put on by Vanguard Culture, a San Diego 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

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‘Parking for me, but not for thee’

August 31, 2023 by Source

From Neighbors for a Better San Diego

Mayor Gloria and our City Council members clearly agree that parking in San Diego is scarce and expensive. Why else would they expect reserved and greatly discounted parking in the city-owned structure right next to City Hall?

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Developers Building ADUs Could Be Responsible for Huge Slowdown in San Diego Apartment Construction

August 31, 2023 by Frank Gormlie

San Diego Axios, a brand new online daily platform for the metro region, is reporting that ” developers taking advantage of recent city policy changes meant to spur accessory dwelling unit production could be part of the decline” in San Diego’s apartment construction this year.

Let’s grab a hold of this statement from Elyse Lowe, director of San Diego’s development services department, reported by Andrew Keatts — but this seems significant.

The whole point of the city’s push for ADUs was to increase development of in-fill small houses to alleviate San Diego’s crisis in housing. For the last several years, ADU construction has been given the green light by the development services department – and local community planning groups no longer have much discretion in reviewing them.

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10% of Pilots Are Killed in Air Shows or Practices — Join Vets for Peace to Stop Blue Angels from Flying Over Our City — Thurs., Aug.31

August 30, 2023 by Source

Yes, ten percent of the pilots who fly in air shows are killed in either shows or practices.

The San Diego Veterans For Peace, in collaboration with many other local pro-climate groups, are asking the US Marines to stop the Blue Angels from flying over our city. Their proposed September Air Show is an egregious waste of fossil fuel and is contributing to the climate crisis.

The Department of Defense and the US military has long ago identified the climate crisis as our biggest national threat, so we demand that the Marines get on board with that fact and cancel the show. Our 2023 demonstrations against the September Air Show will be on the Carroll Canyon overpass to Interstate 15 from 4 PM to 6 PM on the following days:

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Paradise Point in Mission Bay Accused by Coastal Commission of Suppressing Public Access

August 30, 2023 by Source

By Andrew Chamings / SFGate / Aug 29, 2023

A luxury four-star resort on San Diego’s Mission Bay shoreline has been accused of suppressing public access to a beautiful stretch of California sand.

A California Coastal Commission report reviewed by SFGATE accuses Paradise Point Resort of numerous violations that “impede public use of the area and reinforce the impression that the entire area was private.”

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San Diego County Marine Protected Areas Are Working

August 30, 2023 by Source

In a report just for subscribers, journalist Ana Ramirez at the San Diego Union-Tribune today asked, “San Diego’s marine preserves limit fishing to protect sea life. Could boundary changes be coming?” Here are some excerpts from her report:

The underwater park off Encinitas is one of 11 of San Diego County’s marine protected areas, which were established about 10 years ago in an effort to restore waters depleted from overfishing and to preserve marine ecosystems. A decade later, California Fish and Wildlife is examining if that effort is working. The results of a 10-year review released in January indicated it was,

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San Diego Planners Are Wrong About the Scale of SB-10 and the Residents Who Fought It Are Right

August 30, 2023 by Source

By Geoffrey Hueter / San Diego U-T Op-Ed / August 28, 2023

Much of the commentary following the rejection and removal of the proposed Senate Bill 10 implementation from Mayor Todd Gloria’s Housing Action Package has focused on the imagined outcomes of SB 10 rather than looking at the specifics of the proposed regulations.

It is therefore important to clarify what the issues were and why San Diego residents were right to push back against SB 10. Fundamentally, the problem with the proposed SB 10 implementation was that San Diego did not heed the intended purpose and scale of the state law.

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It’s Nice Having Sha’Carri Back

August 29, 2023 by Ernie McCray

by Ernie McCray

Sha’Carri Richardson.
I just love that young woman.
Watching her win the hundred
in a World Track Championship
puts a smile on my face
like the one she planted there
when I first saw her race,

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Scripps Researchers to Develop Tool to Forecast Ocean Pollution

August 29, 2023 by Source

By Erik Anderson / KPBS / August 29, 2023

California is investing $3 million in an effort to allow researchers to predict when and where ocean waters near Imperial Beach may be contaminated.

The ocean off the coast of Imperial Beach has suffered decades of contamination which includes trash, toxic chemicals and untreated sewage runoff.

Last week, homes in Imperial Beach, Chula Vista, San Diego and on the Silver Strand were under a boil-water order because a test sample came back positive for E. coli contamination.

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Endangered Ridgway’s Rails to Be Released Today — Tues., Aug.29 — in Mission Bay

August 29, 2023 by Source

On Tuesday, August 29th, US Fish and Wildlife Service will release a batch of rusty-colored birds with long orange bills, called Ridgway’s Rail, at the UC San Diego Natural Reserve System’s Kendall-Frost Marsh.

Ridgway’s Rail are federally- and state-endangered, primarily due to the loss of its coastal habitat. They live in saltmarsh wetland with lush and tall vegetation often
composed of cordgrass and pickleweed. Once they are established in a tidal wetland, they spend their whole life there foraging, breeding and nesting.

The USFWS has a Ridgway’s Rail breeding program located at the San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

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It’s Time to Stop the Military Air Shows at Miramar

August 29, 2023 by Source

By Judi Curry and Gil Field

Has anyone noticed that the San Diego Veterans For Peace, a local veterans organization, has for the last six years been educating local citizens about the dangers and environmental damage inherent in the Miramar Air Show, an annual event at MCAS Miramar each September?

They have mentioned the dangers involved with having high speed jets flying all over our city for at least a week each year, given that 10% of Blue Angels pilots have been killed in practices or shows. They have mentioned the significant expenditures of US taxpayer monies this show requires every year, as we add $1.5 trillion to our mounting Federal debt each year.

They have attended the show themselves and found small children, often under five years old, being shown and admiring terrible weapons of war, as if they were toys. 

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PLNU Pastor ‘Convicted’ by Church Jury of Support for Same-Sex Marriage – Controversy Offers View of Ugly Underside of Nazarene Views

August 28, 2023 by Frank Gormlie

Reporter Neal Putnam at the Beacon– affiliated media network has outlined the ugly underside of Point Loma Nazarene College in a recent article about how a Nazarene pastor — Rev. Selden Kelly — lost “his credential to preach after a church jury convicted him of supporting same-sex marriage, which is contrary to the Church of the Nazarene manual about human sexuality.”

“Kelley, who is in his 60s, has been senior pastor of First Church of the Nazarene for 17 years at Point Loma Nazarene University and is popular on campus.”

A 7-man and 2-woman church jury voted unanimously “to convict” Rev. Selden Dee Kelley III (above), of being “out of harmony with the Church of the Nazarene’s doctrine, teaching, beliefs, and practices.”

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City Leaders in Northern San Diego County Concerned Senate Bill Will Undermine 1972 Coastal Act Protections

August 28, 2023 by Staff

By Luke Harold / Pt Loma – OB Monthly / Aug. 27, 2023

A group of elected leaders who represent cities in San Diego County’s coastal zone sent a letter this month to state lawmakers about their concerns over a bill that would streamline development along the coast.

Senate Bill 423, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, chairman of the Senate Housing Committee, would remove a 2025 sunset provision for Senate Bill 35, which created a “builder’s remedy” that streamlines housing development in cities that are behind on their state-mandated housing goals.

More notably, SB 423 would extend the streamlining to cities in the coastal zone.

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Restaurant Review: Long Story Irish Pub — Where OB and Point Loma Can Now Meet for Lunch

August 25, 2023 by Source

Long Story Irish Pub
4204 Voltaire Street
Ocean Beach – Point Loma, CA 92107
(619) 269-0690

By Wally Robertson

Normally there’s nothing new to say about the Long Story Irish Pub that hasn’t been said already. A staple of the neighborhood since opening in 2020, with favorable reviews in the San Diego Reader and elsewhere, it’s an easy favorite of locals to unwind after work for a pint with friends.

Located at the northwest corner of Catalina and Voltaire, in a large, airy space that still feels cozy, it offers some of the best “pub grub” in town when you realize the time or don’t want to bother with trying to cook when you get home.

But for many who work in the area during the day and only know of it as a view on their commute or as they make their midday way to Pop Pie Shop at its catty-corner — or 7-11, Cesarina or Don Tommy’s, as one’s time and budget allows —

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Restaurant Review: Johnny Manana’s (the Former Ortega’s) in Ocean Beach

August 25, 2023 by Judi Curry

Johnny Manana’s
4888 Newport Ave
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
619-222-4205

By Judi Currry

I have wanted to try this restaurant ever since it opened. Ortega’s was one of my favorites of Ocean Beach, and I was very curious to try the restaurant that was taking over for them.  Tonight Steve and I gave it a try.

Let me start by saying that the food was, for the most part, very good. However, there were certain “happenings” that make me unsure if I will go there again.  But first for the review.

When we walked in there were two groups sitting at two separate tables and one lady waiting for her order.  She stopped me and told me I would be absolutely “delighted” with the food and to tell all my friends about it.

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Thinking of a Wonderful Place  

August 24, 2023 by Ernie McCray

by Ernie McCray

I look at a picture of me at a mic
and my son, Guy,
playing the guitar at my right
and I think,
“Man, I’ve had a great life”
because that moment, in the photo,
captured me having the time of my life,
giving a graduation speech,
via a song,
to people I dearly loved
as sure as I was born,
students at Muir,
a K-12 alternative school,

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San Diego City Officials Are Gambling With Our Neighborhoods by Allowing Dense Development in High-Risk Urban Fire Zones

August 24, 2023 by Source

By Bonnie Kutch

Imagine being awaken by the smell of smoke in the dead of night.  You look out your window and see flames coming toward your home.  You get up, quickly dress, herd your family members and pets to the car, and grab what few possessions you can on your way out.

You reach the only exit road, where you’re met with gridlock.  Cars aren’t moving, because hundreds of high-density housing units have been added to your neighborhood, without roads being added or even widened.  And because all these new rental units have been allowed to be built without on-premise resident parking, the streets are lined with parked cars,

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The Saga of the Money Behind the Cañon Street Pocket Park in Point Loma

August 24, 2023 by Source

By Geoff Page

The city held a ground-breaking ceremony on Friday, August 18, to kick off construction of the Cañon Street Pocket Park, on Cañon at the northern terminus of Avenida De Portugal. Actual construction was planned to start on Monday, August 21.

The OB Rag has published numerous stories about the effort to get this park built. It is a sorry saga indeed, right down to the current bloated budget of $3,350,315. All that money to build a park that is two-thirds of an acre and will have no bathrooms and no parking other than on the surrounding residential streets.

It all started with robbing the poorer section of Point Loma to benefit the better off Point Loma folks. Here is a refresher on the history that The Rag has reported on since 2014.

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Community Planning Group in Del Cerro Flexes Its Muscles – Unanimously Opposes Mega-Church

August 23, 2023 by Source

by Kasia Gregorczyk / Fox5 San Diego / Aug 21, 2023

Nearly five years after a controversial plan to build a new church in the Del Cerro community of San Diego was proposed, a local community planning group unanimously voted against recommending the project’s approval.

Discussion of a new All Peoples Church location kicked off Monday’s meeting of the local Navajo Community Planning Group, including a presentation of details relating to infrastructure improvements like a new sidewalk, traffic signal and a bike path. However, residents during the meeting criticized

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Construction of New Apartments Nosedives in Cities on the West Coast

August 23, 2023 by Source

By Andrew Keatts, Emily Harris and Christine Clarridge / Axios San Diego / Aug. 22, 2023

New apartment construction is plunging in the West Coast’s biggest metro areas after officials spent years trying to combat soaring rents.

Why it matters: West Coast metro areas are already grappling with a housing shortage that’s driving an affordability crisis, and experts say the apartment construction slump will make things worse.

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Death of Young Girl by Jet Ski in Mission Bay Brings Calls for Crackdown on Unlicensed Watercraft

August 23, 2023 by Source

By David Garrick / San Diego Union-Tribune / Aug. 22, 2023

Community leaders are calling for more aggressive efforts to crack down on illegal rentals in Mission Bay of recreational water vehicles commonly known by the brand name Jet Ski, after a 12-year-old girl on a paddle board was run over and killed three weeks ago by a person driving one.

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Navy: ‘San Diego Mayor Fully Invested In New NAVWAR Facilities’ — But Not a Word About Affordable Housing

August 23, 2023 by Source

Editordude: This is an official statement about the status of the Navy selection process for the redevelopment of the NAVWAR properties and how Mayor Gloria is all on board. But, fair reader, notice – there’s not one word about affordable housing.

From NAVWAR Public Affairs / 22 August 2023

The Navy revitalization of Naval Base Point Loma, Old Town Campus (OTC) is now progressing to the next stage of the project timeline, with the full support of Todd Gloria, mayor of San Diego.

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Coastal Commission Approves ‘Spaces as Places’ Parking Replacement Requirement for Beach Areas

August 23, 2023 by Source

Enforcement of the new regulations to begin Monday, Sept. 11.

By Elisabeth Frausto / La Jolla Light / Aug. 22, 2023

The California Coastal Commission has approved the city of San Diego’s “Spaces as Places” regulations requiring some businesses in the coastal zone to replace public parking occupied by outdoor dining. The Coastal Commission, however, had concerns about the elimination of parking spots in a narrow strip of San Diego’s coastline known as the “beach impact area,”

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OB Rag Fundraising Goal Exceeded by $500

August 22, 2023 by Staff

The OB Rag annual fundraising drive, begun on August 11, has exceeded our goal of $1500 by more than $500.

And we expect a few more checks to flood in to our PO Box.

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The Storm Was Bad, But We’ve Had Worse. Was Hilary Over-Hyped? Your Say …

August 22, 2023 by Frank Gormlie

A funny thing happened to a good friend on Saturday, August 19, as Hilary approached.

That morning, he went to People’s food store on Voltaire to buy a food item but found some kind of festival going on — a birthday celebration, perhaps — there was a band playing in the parking lot and he saw a whole bunch of hippies grooving to the music, a kids’ jumper was set up — and the parking lot was closed. All the parking spaces on Voltaire were also taken, so he proceeded up Voltaire to Stump’s market.

Once he arrived at Stumps, he witnessed a whole other scene. People were rushing in to get survival supplies, flashlights, water, toilet paper perhaps – it was Armageddon!

And it seemed much of the local media and politicians played Hilary as armageddon.

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First Annual ‘Taste of Barrio Logan’ — Sunday, Aug.27

August 22, 2023 by Source

Sabor Del Barrio

The 1st annual Taste of Barrio Logan will take place on Sunday, August 27, 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, covering all of the Barrio Logan cultural district. Sabor Del Barrio will feature 36 Barrio Logan restaurants, coffee houses, bakeries, breweries, and one of a kind eateries, and include access to local museums and galleries in the historic Barrio Logan cultural district.

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OB Tenants Who Sued Michael Mills – the Short-Term Rental King – Can Remain in Their Homes

August 22, 2023 by Frank Gormlie

In a subscriber-only article in yesterday’s U-T, reporters Roxana Popescu, Lori Weisberg wrote that two OB tenants of vacation rental king, Michael Mills, who had sued him for unlawful eviction and rent raises, will be able to remain in their homes.

Tenants Damin Dixon and Alison Bradford are no longer facing eviction. “Both tenants are still living in their same units,” their lawyer, Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi, stated. The Rag covered the suit.

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‘My Favorite OB Parrots’

August 22, 2023 by Source

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OB Town Council – Town Hall Meeting / Workshop on San Diego’s ‘Cultural Plan’ – Wed., Aug.23 at Pt Loma Library

August 22, 2023 by Source

The OB Town Council is holding a “Town Hall Meeting” Wednesday, Aug. 23, and it looks like a good part of the meeting will be a workshop on the city’s “Cultural Plan.”

It will be at the Point Loma/Hervey Library located at 3701 Voltaire St. and starts at 7 pm.

Here’s what the OBTC had to say in their announcement:

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