Month: June 2025

Dear Rag Readers:

I just got off the phone with Editordude Frank Gormlie. He certainly didn’t sound like a man who just underwent successful bypass surgery. Frank’s voice was clear, and his mood was mellow. But knowing Frank, that mood is transitory: The morning after his surgery, he was irked because the hospital was late in bringing him breakfast. It was an early and sure sign that he’s well on the road to recovery.

From San Diego Union-Tribune & City News Service / June 2, 2025

San Diego police officers fatally shot an allegedly suicidal man armed with a knife in Ocean Beach on Saturday after he crashed a car into another vehicle while being pursued by officers.

The incident began when a police officer was sent to check the welfare of a man standing in the middle of Coronado Avenue who was blocking traffic around 9:15 a.m.. The man, who was making suicidal statements, got into a car and drove off as other officers were called to assist, authorities said.

The man led officers on a short chase on surface streets before crashing into a Jeep blocking the intersection at Ebers Street and Bermuda Avenue, sheriff’s Lt. Juan Marquez said in a statement.

By Lisa Mortensen / June 2, 2012

Remember the days when being a voter and a community member gave you access to City Hall free of charge? Judging from the invitation to the Building Industry Association of San Diego’s June 4 “Beers with the Chiefs” event at a Bay Park brewery, that access now costs $120.

Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera (District 9) and Kent Lee (District 6) have both spoken out as champions for equity in their districts. So it was a surprise to see Elo-Rivera Chief of Staff Molly Weber and Lee Chief of Staff Sara Kamiab serving as co-hosts of this pay-to-play PAC event.

Meanwhile, taxpayers are losing municipal services, library access, and recreation hours of operation. Balboa Park visitors will now be charged for parking. Public restrooms will be closed, and beach fire rings are being taken away. If ordinary San Diegans paid $120 at the door of City Hall, would we get more than one minute of speaking time at public meetings?

By Neighbors for a Better San Diego / June 2, 2025

While Neighbors For A Better San Diego has been focusing on San Diego’s revisions to the Bonus ADU program, a bill is moving through the California State Senate — Senate Bill 79 (SB 79) — that could radically change for the worse single-family neighborhoods across the state, including right here in San Diego.

SB 79 would allow housing developments up to 6 stories tall (65 feet or more) in single-family zoned neighborhoods within a half-mile of bus rapid transit (BRT) or trolley lines — all under the pretense of climate action and transit accessibility. This could include transit stops that are planned but may never be built.

Neighbors For A Better San Diego strongly opposes SB 79.  Our objections are detailed in our white paper.

While some of our objections arise from the specific conditions of San Diego, others apply to all California cities: