by Lynne Miller
Don’t be disheartened. We are on the path that will win, it will just take awhile, and a commitment from all of you.
The last lines of Starry Starry Nights go like this:
“They would not listen, they’re not listening still
Perhaps they never will”.
My friends inside and outside of Coastal CareTakers sent letters to the city council and submitted comments for the Feb. 24th meeting. Then they showed up, and filled the chambers, and they had a lot to say. And what they said was brilliant! Everyone did their homework, and when each person took the mic and spoke for Ocean Beach and all of San Diego, they were spot on!
The only problem — the Council had decided how they would vote before the meeting. If they had entered the chambers with an open mind, and “really listened” they would have voted to put Package A where it belongs, at the end of the crumbling OB Pier where real sharks could shred it and put it to rest!!!
So, what do we do now?
We fight, legally and with class, but we fight! We are looking into the best lines of offense, and will share with you what we discover. This is not over, not by a long City Block! Thank you to everyone citywide who showed up on OB’s behalf. You are awesome. One way we can legally FIGHT is to get involved with elections, and vote for people who will stop the madness of overbuilding without infrastructure.
It was interesting when Jenn Campbell in her final comments said “Ocean Beach is NOT a historic district. Kelly Stanco who authored the horrific modification corrected her and said OB was a historic district, and then repeated their canned explanation about why it was different. Come On Jenn, you say you love Ocean Beach, but you don’t know that it is historic, recognized at the State and City level? Not a good optic for being our leader! I will say one positive thing about you, and I do mean this sincerely. Jenn, as I stood at the mic and spoke, you are the only council member who smiled at me, not once but twice. That may sound trite, but it was appreciated.
The Council and their minions are not listening– they are shape shifting us into Los Angeles! They have to go.
Some of you brilliant speakers might want a 6 figure job. Run for the Council! Did you ever ask: “what are the qualifications to be elected for the City Council where you are guaranteed at least $100,000 a year? I hope some of you who stood up for San Diego will step up and run for office!! Dismantle this lockstep group!
We are regrouping and will, with Frank’s ok, post articles on The Rag regarding our next steps. Keep the Faith. The City has met their match, and I don’t just mean Ocean Beach. All the neighborhoods are standing up and pushing back against this run-away government.
I will end with another great song from Adam Lambert and Queen,
“We are the champions my friends, and we’ll keep on fighting til’ the end!”
Lynne Miller is a member of Coastal CareTakers and resident of Ocean Beach
Yes, we will fight on! Ocean Beach has always been a community of resisters, fighting for justice and always looking out for each other. Lynne, you gave an OUTSTANDING presentation at the City Council meeting! Coastal Caretakers, SOHO, Mission Hills Historical group, and many other community groups were well represented and gave factual, impassioned speeches that seemed to fall on deaf ears..But communities all around San Diego are fighting back. Let’s organize and join with other community groups to save Ocean Beach and San Diego! Our beloved community is so worth it……Fight on!
Thank you for your friendship and support. You are right! Joining together with all the other groups and neighborhoods across the city will give us the power to beat the bullies. The Community Coalition is organizing that united approach.
Thx for much, Lynne, for this inspiring “call to action” for OB residents, and all San Diegans and visitors who love it, and agree that responsible growth and reasonable density can be accomplished without ruining everything (or anything) that makes Historic OB the treasure that it is.
Thank you Lynn, it takes guts to stand up to a bully.
There are several organizations talking about a law suit. I’m sure you have already thought of this, but we should be united and pool resources (donations). I hope this will be true.
This can be tackled from several fronts.
Historical and Coastal to name a couple.
Thank you Shannon. Yes you are correct. We can stop the bully. It will take a whole city to work together. This is not just about OB. As the many organizations join together we will be a formidable force. We have no choice but to move into litigation. The City government does not seem to remember who they were elected to serve. They forgot the by the people and for the people system of government. Stay tuned. The Rag is a great place to connect and inform. Coastal-Caretakers.com is a great resource. If we can stay connected we can take back what is left of our city!