OB Community Foundation Flirts With Informal Meetings at the Harp Pub

OBCF Hosts Second Kickback

By Jillian Butler

The Ocean Beach Community Foundation (OBCF) hosted its second “kickback” style meeting, on Monday, July 20. Hosted at the Harp Irish Pub on Newport Avenue about 20 various community members were present.

Founded in 2000, the OBCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit centered around promoting the greater good of Ocean Beach and its residents. The group operates off of the values of community, collaboration and inclusivity, respect, creativity and innovation, and civic engagement. It is responsible for a multitude of events, including the lighting of the Crooked Tree and food and toy drives.

Unlike specific task force and community forum meetings, the kickbacks are intended to be a more casual get together. Community members are able to support a decades old ocean beach eatery and meet in a laid-back setting.

The meeting was led by Cody Machado, the organization’s new president and a lifelong Ocean Beach resident. Other board members were present, as well. As per Machado’s observation, the size of OBCF has grown since the kickback meetings began. It is his hope that one day OBCF will be able to fill the Harp and speakers will have to use the stage to speak.

The Advocacy Committee was the first to present itself.They meet online on the second Tuesday of every month, directly after the kickback. Within the Advocacy Committee is the Ocean Beach Homeless Task force, run by Phillip Cenedella and Samantha Dawidocicz. They gather a head count of people living on the streets of Ocean Beach and present their results on the last Sunday of the month at 7am.

The Homeless Task force was formed following the hit and run death of 59 year old Tracy Condon in November 2025. This week, the task force was able to bring medical care and other services to the homeless community and theyl provide crucial care to some of Ocean Beach’s most vulnerable residents.

While one committee focused on addressing homelessness, another looked ahead to some of Ocean Beach’s most recognizable traditions. The Engagement and Events Committees also meet monthly. The Events Committee is preoccupied with planning the Ocean Beach Annual Pancake Breakfast. They will partner with Sunset Cliffs Auto Show and Saved by the Sea Church to put on this event.

The holiday season is also on their purview, with this year’s Annual Holiday Parade theme being “Jingle Jungle Boogie”. The Events Community is also responsible for the Holiday Toy Drive.

The Improvement Committee is still running a monthly community cleanup with a subsequent get-together at Pizzeria Luigi. Additionally, they are planning both a mural in honor of the two Ocean Beach brothers who were killed several years ago in Tijuana. They are also starting a service learning program for students interested in civic engagement.

As the meeting wrapped up, conversation turned to another issue that continues to loom over Ocean Beach: the future of the Ocean Beach Pier. Due to the turning out of  current City Councilmember Jen Campbell and the financial crisis under Mayor Todd Gloria, the OBCF fears that there is not enough political traction in the City of San Diego, and construction of a new pier will remain stagnant.

Although discussion ranged from homelessness to murals and the pier, Machado said the larger goal of the evening was simply bringing neighbors together. By replacing formal meetings with casual conversations, the Foundation hopes more residents will become involved in shaping Ocean Beach’s future.