Hello Neighbors!

As we look forward to the holidays (with the gift of rain), there’s clearly a lot to celebrate here in San Diego. I’m proud of the progress that we’ve made so far.

The Biggest SDPD Recruiting Class in 25 Years – Addressing our police force’s recruitment and retention issues have been a high priority for me since coming into office. One big step towards increasing the size of the police department was in the budget we passed, which increased pay, funded a better marketing campaign to recruit officers from other departments and bonuses for those who join. That work is paying off, with more officers on the streets and the largest recruiting class SDPD has seen in 25 years. While there are more spots to fill, more officers means more community policing, safer neighborhoods and increased quality of life.

Clean Power Coming to San Diego – As an alternate to the board of San Diego’s new community choice energy program, I’m seeing firsthand how quickly our region is moving towards a clean energy future.

Here’s the Ocean Beach Holiday Calendar for this glorious week, the first week of December 2019.

Holiday Tree Arrives at the Beach – Lower Newport – December 3, help decorate Dec. 4

OB Holiday Auction, December 5, 5:30-9pm at Sunshine Company

OB Elementary Decorates Holiday Tree with Santa – December 5

40th Annual OB Holiday Parade – December 7, 5:05pm (OB TIme) – Come join editordude as he does his announcements at Newport and Sunset Cliffs.

And don’t forget these:

General Rain Advisory in Effect

The Department of Environmental Health has issued a GENERAL RAIN ADVISORY for the coastal waters of San Diego County due to contamination by urban runoff following rain.

Swimmers, surfers, and other ocean users are warned that levels of bacteria can rise significantly in ocean waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers, and lagoon outlets that discharge urban runoff – such as Dog Beach and the San Diego River.

Activities such as swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided for 72 hours following rain. The most recent rain event occurred November 28, 2019.

There’s a general rain advisory in effect right now for all of San Diego County’s coastal waters. Please be advised to not go into the ocean waters of OB and the other beach areas due to high levels of bacteria from urban runoff. Especially the Dog Beach area since it’s the mouth of the San Diego River. This applies to dogs too. And it’s in effect for Mission Bay and San Diego Bay

This is from the County’s Department of Environmental Health and they say surfing, swimming and diving should be avoided for 72 hours following rain. The most rain fell November 20th, Wednesday – 48 hours ago.

The Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO), San Diego’s premier historical preservation group, has added the La Playa Piers along the Point Loma Bayfront to their 2019 list of endangered historic resources. Here is what SOHO says generally about their yearly list:

SOHO releases a list of endangered sites throughout San Diego County each year to raise public awareness about the valuable historic and cultural resources that are currently threatened with demolition or irreparable alteration by development, deterioration, or neglect.

SOHO has a 50-year track record of saving important historic buildings, sites, and landscapes

From November 2019 Newsletter – Ocean Beach People’s Organic Food Market

[Editordude’s note: the following appeal is directed at People’s members.]

People’s Co-op’s Board of Directors (the board) is made up of member-owners like you. There are four open seats to be filled in the upcoming election, which will conclude at People’s Annual Meeting in April, 2020.

Qualifications include an interest in the continued success of People’s Co-op, experience working cooperatively in a group, and the willingness and ability to make a regular time commitments. Each director contributes approximately five to ten hours per month for up to a three year term. Most meetings are held on Monday evenings after 5 p.m. A few times a year, directors are required to attend weekend events such as People’s Annual Meeting and People’s Birthday Party.