Month: October 2023

Ocean Beach’s Iconic Surfside Cottages Up for Sale

 Frank Gormlie  October 5, 2023  33 Comments on Ocean Beach’s Iconic Surfside Cottages Up for Sale

OB’s iconic Surfside Cottages on the cliffs near the OB Pier are up for sale. Built in 1955, the series of  small cottages at 5072-5078 Niagara Avenue are being touted by the sellers as ocean front property located at the entrance to the pier — which they are of course.

The sellers are also pushing that the cottages are:

  • Located In One Of Southern California’s True Beach Communities
  • Hotel/Airbnb Potential
  • Located In Front Of Famous Surf Break
Continue Reading Ocean Beach’s Iconic Surfside Cottages Up for Sale

Feds Gives $10 Million for City’s ‘Urban Forest’ Despite Gloria’s Track Record in Keeping Trees

 Frank Gormlie  October 4, 2023  16 Comments on Feds Gives $10 Million for City’s ‘Urban Forest’ Despite Gloria’s Track Record in Keeping Trees

I had to laugh sarcastically this morning when I read in today’s Union-Tribune about how “San Diego plans to boost the city’s urban forest with $10 million in federal climate funds that will help it plant thousands of trees in vulnerable neighborhoods and preserve many threatened trees.”

A good part of the article was about how trees help mitigate heat. City Forester Brian Widener even was quoted as saying:

“Trees provide shade, ecosystem services and a host of other benefits to make a greener and more livable San Diego. We are thrilled to receive this funding which will improve San Diego’s urban forest in our city’s historically underserved communities with new trees and expansion in growing space around our existing trees.”

Continue Reading Feds Gives $10 Million for City’s ‘Urban Forest’ Despite Gloria’s Track Record in Keeping Trees

Kaiser Workers Go On Strike in San Diego and Across the Country in Largest Health Care Strike in US Historoy

 Staff  October 4, 2023  2 Comments on Kaiser Workers Go On Strike in San Diego and Across the Country in Largest Health Care Strike in US Historoy

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente health care workers went on strike this morning, Wed., Oct. 4 at hospitals and medical offices in San Diego and across the country.

Kaiser has failed to reach a deal with a coalition of unions to renew a contract that expired Sept. 30. Union leaders are fighting for more staffing and higher annual pay raises, arguing their wages have not kept up with the rising cost of living and inflation.

Continue Reading Kaiser Workers Go On Strike in San Diego and Across the Country in Largest Health Care Strike in US Historoy

Midway Rising Drops Middle-Income Family Units From Redevelopment Plan – Council Members Angered

 Frank Gormlie  October 3, 2023  84 Comments on Midway Rising Drops Middle-Income Family Units From Redevelopment Plan – Council Members Angered

Midway Rising, the redevelopment team selected to remake the 48 acres at the Sports Arena property, has dropped the 250 middle-income family residential units from its plan. Instead it will build “market-rate” units. The 200-room hotel has also been removed from its plan. These moves have angered some City Council members

Housing for middle-income families is distinct from affordable housing, and includes units deed-restricted for families making between 80 percent and 120 percent of the area median income.

As U-T reporter Jennifer van Grove reported:

Continue Reading Midway Rising Drops Middle-Income Family Units From Redevelopment Plan – Council Members Angered

Up for Review at OB Planners: Valvoline Station and Dish Wireless — Wed., Oct.4th

 Staff  October 3, 2023  1 Comment on Up for Review at OB Planners: Valvoline Station and Dish Wireless — Wed., Oct.4th

There’s 2 projects up for review at the Wednesday, Oct. 4th monthly meeting of the OB Planning Board.

The first one is the Valvoline Oil Changing Station at the corner of W. Pt Loma Blvd and Sunset Cliffs Blvd at 4805 WPL.

The second project is the Dish Wireless at the Masonic Lodge.

Continue Reading Up for Review at OB Planners: Valvoline Station and Dish Wireless — Wed., Oct.4th

Robb Field Park Improvements — Community Meeting Tues., Oct.3

 Source  October 2, 2023  1 Comment on Robb Field Park Improvements — Community Meeting Tues., Oct.3

There is a community meeting of the Robb Field Community Recreation Group on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, at 6:00pm. The City is inviting community members to attend and where the city will continue deliberating on long-term plans for improvements at Robb Field.

Continue Reading Robb Field Park Improvements — Community Meeting Tues., Oct.3

Surfer Urges Use of Rubber Surfboard Fins After She Sliced Femoral Artery in Freak PB Accident

 Source  October 2, 2023  2 Comments on Surfer Urges Use of Rubber Surfboard Fins After She Sliced Femoral Artery in Freak PB Accident

By Chas Smith / Beach Grit / October 2, 2023

As surfers, as seafaring adventurers, we are well aware of the dangers we face every time we step foot in the vast ocean. From sharks to stingrays, extra chilly temperatures to sunburn, trouble lurks everywhere to make no mention of the surfboard itself. The fiberglass and foam missile, either Patriot or SCUD (longboard), is the vehicle for fun, certainly, but get out of line and wham-o. Right in the kisser. Or worse.

Continue Reading Surfer Urges Use of Rubber Surfboard Fins After She Sliced Femoral Artery in Freak PB Accident

The Nanny vs. the Nanny State

 Source  October 2, 2023  1 Comment on The Nanny vs. the Nanny State

 Only one thing can save us from predatory AIs: our own data

by John Robb and Jacob Siegel / Tablet / Sept. 25, 2023

As Hollywood recycles comic book remakes with funding from China, the once-great cultural capital appears to be in a state of steep decline. But in one area, at least, the movie industry is offering a bold and inspiring vision for the future. The writers and actors who went on strike to prevent studio owners from using artificial intelligence (AI) to exploit and expropriate their work are on the front lines of a new data war triggered by the explosive growth of AI. This past July, Fran Drescher, former star of the popular sitcom The Nanny, and now president of the SAG-AFTRA union,

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Our Beautiful and Dangerous Sunset Cliffs — The Video

 Source  October 2, 2023  4 Comments on Our Beautiful and Dangerous Sunset Cliffs — The Video

This awe inspiring video, Our Beautiful and Dangerous Sunset Cliffs, by Charles Landon is a must see.

Original music by Phil Rockhold.

Continue Reading Our Beautiful and Dangerous Sunset Cliffs — The Video