Month: April 2025

This April 18th letter of protest was sent to San Diego Planning Director Heidi Vonblum by Neighbors for a Better San Diego as a warning in advance of the May 1 San Diego Planning Commission hearing at City Hall.

Ms. Vonblum:

On March 4, the San Diego City Council passed a resolution requesting the Planning Department to return in 90 days with a recommendation for eliminating the Bonus ADU program in single-family residential (RS) zones with a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet.

A second part of the resolution requests that the Planning Department consider further revisions to the Bonus ADU program in the remaining RS zones, in keeping with the more thorough process of a Land Development Code (LDC) Update.

However, it appears from the Planning Department’s 2025 LDC Update webpage that the upcoming May 1 Planning Commission hearing will include all proposed revisions to the Bonus ADU program and not just the exclusions of certain residential zones.

This is contrary to both the expectation of the Council’s March 4 resolution

by Jeanne Kuang / CalMatters /  April 23, 2025

Amid a post-2024 wave of Democratic interest in the burgeoning pro-development “abundance” movement, this seemed to be an easy year for California’s yes-in-my-backyard housing development activists. Democratic leaders in the state Legislature declared their intention to tackle affordability this year. Gov. Gavin Newsom and other politicians have since embraced the “abundance” platform, which argues that Democrats must do more to quickly deliver housing, transportation and other infrastructure projects to their constituents.

Lawmakers have introduced ambitious bills that would, for housing developments in existing neighborhoods, blow a hole through the longstanding thicket of environmental reviews and regulations that often slow down projects and add costs. One of those passed its first committee on Monday, April 21.

Still, YIMBY-ism hit a stumbling block Tuesday, April 22, in the form of the Senate housing committee. The committee, led by Sen. Aisha Wahab, nearly killed a closely watched bill to require cities to allow taller, denser apartments and condo construction near public transit stations.

By Paul Krueger / Special to OB Rag

There’s no dispute that Troy Scholder is a Hells Angel. And Scholder’s lawyer now concedes that his client stabbed a Black man in the chest on Newport Avenue.

But the jury in Scholder’s criminal trial heard two very different stories about why Scholder attacked that victim, and what crime, if any, he’s guilty of.

In closing arguments on Wednesday, April 23 this year prosecutor Miriam Hemming urged the jury to convict Scholder of attempted murder and two allegations of felony assault with a deadly weapon causing great bodily injury.

“Troy Scholder was spoiling for a fight, and there is absolutely no reason to stab someone in the chest without an intent to kill,” Heming told the jury. She said the evidence — which includes surveillance video of the stabbing — helps prove that Scholder’s actions were “willful, deliberate, and premeditated.”

The June 6, 2022 stabbing was the culmination of a dispute over comments the victim made to the girlfriend of a Hells Angels’ associate outside a Newport Avenue bar.

Leonard Teyssier, a cherished member of the San Diego community, passed away on April 11, 2025, at the age of 97. Born on August 9, 1927 in San Diego, California, Leonard lived a vibrant life filled with love, service, and an unwavering connection to the coastal town he called home. Here is a tribute to Leonard by Rag writer and OB Pier expert, Geoff Page.

Leonard E. Teyssier, proposed acknowledgment as “Master Builder”

Throughout his illustrious and prolific career, Leonard Teyssier exemplified the qualities of a Master Builder, blending his expertise as a designer, engineer, and builder.

He played a pivotal role in shaping San Diego’s architectural landscape, constructing some of its most iconic structures. His remarkable portfolio includes the landmark Starlite Express Elevator and Skyroom Lounge atop the historic El Cortez Hotel (1956); the recently designated historic San Diego Municipal Fishing Pier in Ocean Beach (1966), and the Le Rondelet luxury condominiums at the entrance to Shelter Island in Point Loma (1967).

At just 29 years of age, Leonard won the bid to construct the new Skyroom Lounge at the renowned El Cortez Hotel in downtown San Diego. The project also included the development of street-level retail shops and the groundbreaking Starlite Express elevator, the world’s first outdoor glass elevator. The project’s architects, Paderewski, Mitchell & Dean, were commissioned by hotel owner Harry Handlery.

It’s deja vue all over again. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget cuts resonate with history and closely resemble the cuts that then-Mayor Jerry Sanders wanted back in 2008. Today, our Democratic mayor sounds like the former Republican mayor, 17 years later.

Earlier this week, Gloria unveiled his proposed budget which included slashing funding for arts, libraries and recreation centers, among other targets.

He proposed to close all 37 city branches every Sunday and Monday, and proposed cuts to recreation centers by slashing hours from either 60 or 65 down to 40 a week. And Sanders years ago, wanted to some similar cuts. As we reported :

Three years into his first term as mayor, Sanders … (was) faced with a huge budget crisis — wanted to solve it by making substantial cut-backs to key public services. And he chose San Diego’s libraries. In order to balance the city’s budget, he threatened to close all San Diego libraries — including the OB Library, of course — or seriously cut back their hours.

Surfrider Foundation Launches “Love Your Beach” Tour to Rally Support for California Coastal Act

As noted in our recent post, Under Siege: California’s Coastal Commission and the Fight for Public Beach Access, federal officials and state electeds have threatened to undermine the Coastal Act. For anyone who benefits from a safe, accessible, healthy coast in California – which is everyone! – the time is now to remind lawmakers to stand up for California’s coast.

Surfrider is here to help with that! We’re hitting the road on April 19 and making our way from San Diego County to Humboldt to give voice to all the people who love and value our beaches. Each stop will offer opportunities to talk about your favorite beach and how the Coastal Act protects it, and ways to take action to ensure your access and that protection continue.

By Surfrider Foundation / Santa Barbara Independent / Apr 23, 2025

California — In a grassroots homage to the historic “Save Your Beach” campaign that inspired the passage of Proposition 20 in 1972, the Surfrider Foundation has launched the Love Your Beach Tour — a coastwide activation in support of the California Coastal Act and the California Coastal Commission.

The tour spans from San Diego to Humboldt County, energizing communities to take action in defense of the coast.

The blue-eyed grass is San Diego’s new official flower.

Part of the iris family and native to the area, this plant was selected through the San Diego Bird Alliance’s NCAA bracket-style tournament that drew more than 7,750 votes from the public. [The SD Bird Alliance is the former Audubon Society.]

Using a plethora of plant-based puns on Earth Day, City Council unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday, April 22, for the blue-eyed grass to represent the city.

The flower beat out the bush sunflower in the finals to replace the non-native carnation, which was chosen in 1964 through a secret ballot.

From KPBS – City News Service

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday, April 22nd, approved a contract with nonprofit Jewish Family Service of San Diego to continue running the city’s Safe Parking Program, including the new H Barracks site.

The barracks site, near San Diego International Airport, is intended to have 190 spaces for people using the program. Tuesday’s approval by the council is a one-year contract with Jewish Family Service.

On Saturday, April 26, from 9:00am to 11:30am, the Point Loma Rotary Club is hosting a morning of community service at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park. This hands-on event is a chance to give back to our beautiful coastal environment while connecting with neighbors and fellow volunteers.

Event Details:

• Time: 9:00 AM (no later than 9:30 AM) to 11:30 AM
• Location: South end of the Ladera Street parking lot, accessible via Sunset Cliffs Blvd. (from Point Loma Ave.) or Cornish Dr. (from Hill St.)
• Lunch: Complimentary sandwich lunch provided by Chick-fil-A

What to Expect:

By Lynne Miller

Three issues:

1.  Please listen to your constituents.  The people of Ocean Beach and Point Loma are opposed to the 4591 Pescadero overbuild.  I am pretty sure you know the reasons already.

Drive around San Diego and see the horrific changes that the city has forced on the residents.  Please stop this now.  Stop enticing Big Builders to come to San Diego and destroy it. Stop waiving laws that protect our land, our safety, our life style.

Imagine for a moment a disaster in San Diego, say a fire or a tidal wave.  There is no way out of many areas, including coastal cities.  People will be trapped, just like they were in Maui and Paradise.

Stop cramming people into small places, taking away land needed for storm runoff, and pretending that this is a solution to affordable housing and homelessness.  Run the numbers.  How many actual affordable housing can you count?  The city/state formula for qualifying as high density, low income housing tells the real story. Putting all these structures, high and dense, around the city without proper infrastructure is creating unsafe conditions.

Time for bullied San Diegans to fight back, only starting with trash fee

Editorial Board / San Diego Union-Tribune / April 17, 2025

San Diegans already disillusioned with City Hall have new reasons for angst. In a bizarre story that raised eyebrows around the world, the Union-Tribune revealed Sunday that newly elected City Attorney Heather Ferbert has allowed a top aide to receive pay and accrue vacation benefits while on a four-month global cruise.

Ferbert’s reputation may be permanently damaged by her obliviousness to the message this sends during the city’s latest budget crisis — and by her refusal to take basic follow-up questions about the immense favor she granted to attorney Jean Jordan on top of her nearly $300,000 in annual compensation. “There’s nothing else to add,” Ferbert’s spokesperson said in an email to a reporter, only adding to the amateur hour vibe of the matter. Of course there is. Let the public record requests begin. Let’s see how much work Jordan is actually doing while at sea.

By Linda Taggart

Subject: Urgent Concerns Regarding Proposed Cuts to San Diego Humane Society Funding

Dear Mayor Gloria,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed 20% cut ($3.5 million) in the City of San Diego’s contract with the San Diego Humane Society, as outlined in the draft budget.

I understand you have publicly stated there would be “no cuts to public safety,” but I, along with many others, respectfully disagree. Humane Law Enforcement is a critical component of public safety, for both animals and people.

These proposed cuts would have devastating consequences for the residents and animals of San Diego. The San Diego Humane Society provides essential services that directly impact the safety and well-being of our community. Specifically, these cuts would eliminate the following: