Author: Staff

This morning, Tuesday, a Rag reader was leaving one of the local dog parks and saw these signs posted illegally on Nimitz by the dog park in the OB / Point Loma area.

The signs clearly state that “Nicole Crosby stands with MAYOR TODD GLORIA.” The small print says they’ve been paid for by the Lincoln Club Business League PAC.

Why would someone place them on the sides of local roads? Who benefits? It’s not Gloria’s supporters so it must be Crosby’s opponent in the campaign for the District 2 city council seat, Richard Bailey — or else his supporters, like the Lincoln Club. He can claim denial. They can claim they didn’t put them on the side of the road.

By Michael Angelo

‘No Kings’ in Clairemont/Kearny Mesa/Linda Vista

On Saturday, more than 2,500 ‘No Kings: Vote Early’ events took place all over the United States, mobilizing voters to cast their ballots early for the upcoming midterm elections. On that day, San Diego saw 24 locally organized  ‘No Kings’ events encouraging voters in the county to do the same.

As a Rag writer, I attended two of these events and spoke with event organizers and participants about the importance of early voting and what motivated them to get involved. We’ve already given you a sample of these events, but here’s a closer look at what ‘No Kings: Vote Early’ looked like in Clairemont, Kearny Mesa, and Linda Vista:

The ‘No Kings: Vote Early Climate Canvassing in Clairemont’ Event

Organized by the grassroots climate change advocacy and climate justice nonprofit San Diego 350, the ‘No Kings Climate Canvassing in Clairemont’ event was held at the North Clairemont Park at 4421 Bannock Ave. The event began at nine in the morning with a group of about 10 people ranging from high school students to more senior residents. San Diego 350 staff kicked the event off with an explanation of how the morning would unfold. In groups of 2 or more, volunteers would be assigned turf in the neighborhoods adjacent to the park to go door-to-door, asking people to “Vote Early. Vote Secure.”

Volunteers were given leaflets to distribute, reading “The time is NOW to stand up for Democracy! Overcome Trump’s threats to corrupt the election and tamper with the US Post Office. Cast a secure vote by voting early using a ballot drop box or going in-person”. Also on the leaflets were important dates to remember, including the November 3rd voting deadline, along with more information about San Diego 350.

By Rag Staff

The San Diego Community Coalition publishes this email bulletin to keep our members and the general San Diego public informed about important Council hearings and other city public meetings.

Monday, October 19: City Council, Closed Session, 10:00 a.m.

Agenda:

Item CS-6: January 22, 2024 Flooding Litigation

Why it matters: Two years later, as 57 civil cases against the city move slowly forward, and Southeastern San Diego victims are still struggling to rebuild, we have to ask: Is City Hall better prepared for flood control when the new massive El Nino arrives?

Monday, October 19: City Council, 2:00 p.m.

Agenda:

Item S400: Confirming Appointment of Bethany Bezak to Position of City Manager (Chief Operating Officer)

By Michael Hernandez

It was a night like any other for Ocean Beach resident Scott Martinez, who says he was playing Scrabble in the garage of his next-door neighbor in the 4600 block of Del Mar Avenue when another neighbor popped in with news that left their jaws on the floor. A single-family home in the neighborhood was put up for sale, with a proposal for the construction of a 12-unit ADU “farm” in the backyard. Almost immediately, neighbors began to organize, and Scott found himself swept up in the fight to stop the project in its tracks.

The property at the center of this issue is 4637 Del Mar Avenue. Neighbors say the house used to belong to an elderly woman who lived there for decades. After her death, her children sold the house, and up until recently, it was listed as a short-term rental. However, neighbors allege the property may not have had the proper notices required by the City of San Diego for Airbnbs and other short-term rentals.

Melissa Scherer, another neighborhood resident who has lived on the block for about four years now, is deeply involved in the fight against the potential ADU farm. She recounts how early one Sunday morning in September, a maintenance crew arrived and began to do some work on the lawn and the house. By that afternoon, the crew was installing the frame for a real estate sign.

Rag reporter Michael Hernandez ended up going to two events in his area.

Here’s a series of articles highlighting recent developments over the last few weeks in San Diego development.

 Another Lawsuit Emerges to Challenge Controversial Development at Emerald Hills – It Alleges Racial Discrimination

By Katie Hyson / KPBS / September 30, 2026

Another lawsuit is challenging the controversial development coming to Emerald Hills — 123 homes on a hilltop that neighbors have long hoped would be a park.

Andrea Hetheru was the community planning group chair in 2024. She didn’t understand how the development was allowed. The area wasn’t zoned for that density. It sent her down a long, complicated rabbit hole. “Did I think it was going to take two and a half years of my life? Hundreds of hours? You know, not going to sleep – for how many days have I not had any sleep at all over Footnote 7 and particularly this issue? Heck no,” she said.

The city council voted to add Footnote 7 to city code in 2019. It allowed for much denser development only in the mostly Black, Latino and low-income neighborhoods in southeastern San Diego.

By Staff

The San Diego Community Coalition publishes this email bulletin to keep our members and the San Diego general public informed about important Council hearings and other city public meetings.

Tuesday, October 13: City Council, 2:00 p.m.

Agenda:

Item 330: 2020 SeaWorld Master Plan Update

Why it matters: SeaWorld has a history of forceful expansion (and not paying its rent on time). Major projects on the horizon include a 300-room hotel, a special events center, and marina expansion. The Planning Commission has recommended the update with a caveat: Phase out the controversial fireworks show in the next five years.

Here is a short video by Charles Landon on the 2026 Oktoberfest held in Ocean Beach.
Come inside.

By Staff

The San Diego Community Coalition publishes this email bulletin to keep our members and the San Diego public informed about important Council hearings and other city public meetings.

Monday, October 5: City Council, 2:00 p.m.

Agenda:

Item S400: 11370 Paymogo Court, Appeal of the Environmental Determination

Why it matters: As the project map shows, construction of a 2,653-square-foot three-level single family home would carve into a heavily wooded area, wiping out trees and wildlife habitat. It’s hard to see how such environmental destruction is justified.

By LK Bruce

“Where your hands go, where the light falls, where the shadows make a pattern,
they will lead you. If it comes from the heart it is part of the universe’s song of jubilation.”
James Hubbell

The legacy of celebrated San Diego artist James Hubbell was very much alive at last weekend’s Harvest Moon Fundraiser, where family, friends, artists and admirers gathered at his extraordinary Ilan-Lael compound in Julian to celebrate a life devoted to art, nature, beauty and the power of human connection.

For nearly seven decades, Hubbell created works that transformed public spaces, private homes and gardens throughout San Diego and far beyond. Although he died in 2024 at age 92, the creative spirit he nurtured continues to flourish at Ilan-Lael, carried forward by his family, protégés, fellow artists and the many people inspired by his work.

A remarkable architect, watercolorist, pen-and-ink artist, designer, sculptor and poet, Hubbell was a humble giant who created beauty and serenity through masterworks around the world. In addition to being a gifted artist and craftsman, James Hubbell was a passionate naturalist, devoted friend and inspiring teacher. He mentored countless individuals, using art as a way to communicate compassion and kindness.

Advocacy Group Alleges License Plate Readers Are Invasion of Privacy

A new lawsuit has been filed by a local civil rights advocacy group to end the San Diego Police Department’s use of automated license plate readers as an invasion of privacy. The group, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, is represented by the region’s ACLU and their suit was filed Tuesday, Sept. 30, in San Diego Superior Court.

Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans, which advocates for refugees and displaced people, also wants the city to stop using public money on a program it says violates constitutional rights. They allege that the cameras and the database they create amount to an invasion of privacy rights under the state constitution.

The California Constitution “provides strong and affirmative privacy protections,” said Frederick Carroll, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties, at a press conference Wednesday at a news conference in downtown San Diego.

Carroll added:

“If privacy as guaranteed in the California Constitution is to mean anything at all, it means that Californians should not be subject to mass surveillance, mass data accumulation of their travels, a mosaic compilation of their everyday activities.”