Articles by Staff

Staff has written 2285 articles for the OB Rag!

Peninsula Planners Told By City It Will No Longer Review Proposed Accessory Dwelling Units

January 31, 2023 by Staff

By Geoff Page

The Peninsula Community Planning Board’s regularly monthly meeting, Thursday, January 19, was relatively unremarkable until a certain piece of very remarkable information popped up, almost routinely.  It appears the evisceration of the planning board system has begun.

About one hour into the meeting, the PCPB reached the point in its agenda called “Applicant-Initiated Action Items.” Board chair, Fred Kosmo, pointed out that there were no projects on the agenda and explained why. Kosmo said that the PCPB’s Project Review subcommittee chair, Joe Holasek, informed him of a change at the city.

The planning boards will no longer be reviewing projects involving accessory dwelling units or ADUs. So, how does removing projects – the most common and of numerous projects these days – from planning board review square with the following?

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Ocean Beach Library Will Be Last to Fully Re-Open

January 20, 2023 by Staff

As the San Diego Union-Tribune reported today, “The long-awaited return of Sunday public library hours in San Diego could come this spring as library officials say they’ve made significant progress filling a rash of 275 employee vacancies spurred by the pandemic.”

Some branches will reopen on Sunday over the next two months. But not the Ocean Beach Library.

As the U-T stated: “San Diego was also relatively slow to reopen its branches on days other than Sundays, with four branches remaining fully or partially closed until last year and with Ocean Beach still not fully re-opened.”

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‘Bigger Than Roe’ Women’s March in San Diego — Sunday, Jan. 22

January 19, 2023 by Staff

This weekend, beginning on Friday, Jan. 20, there will be Women’s Marches across the country.

Here in San Diego, there’s a march on Sunday, Jan. 22, from 12noon to 2pm at Waterfront Park, 1600 Pacific Hwy, San Diego 92101.

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Is a Temporary ‘Ranch’ on Empty Land at Miramar Air Base San Diego’s Solution for the Unhoused?

January 18, 2023 by Staff

Let’s have this discussion. San Diego needs to have it.

Bill Walton — probably San Diego’s most famous personage — and George Mullen, the CEO of Sunrise Ranch, have just penned an opinion showcasing their vision of a solution to San Diego’s unhoused.

They offer up something called Sunrise Ranch to be built as a camp for unhoused people on 2,000 acres of empty land at the Miramar Marine Corps Station, the former Camp Elliot weapons range.

They write:

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Thousands of Stoned California Elders Are Heading to Emergency Rooms

January 13, 2023 by Staff

According to researchers at UCSD, 12,167 California elders — people over the of 65 — made trips to emergency rooms in 2019 for cannabis-related issues.

Reporter Eric Page at 7SanDiego cited the study conducted by the University of California San Diego School of Medicine that “just 366 Californians over the age of 65 visited ERs in 2005 for cannabis-related concerns. By 2019, that figure had skyrocketed nearly 3200%, when 12,167 seniors made trips to emergency rooms for that reason.”

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It’s Friday the 13th for Sidewalk Vendors

January 13, 2023 by Staff

The Sidewalk Vendor Ordinance goes into effect in Ocean Beach and other beach and shoreline neighborhoods today, Friday the 13th.

Beginning today, Jan. 13, 2023, vendor permits are required throughout San Diego. There will be about a two-week grace period as permit enforcement will not begin until February 1.

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OB Planners’ Committee to Decide Rules of Next Election for Board — Interested Candidates Encouraged to Attend Zoom Meet — Jan. 16

January 12, 2023 by Staff

Details on Voting and Being a Candidate for Planning Board

Next week the Ocean Beach Planning Board’s Election Committee will be holding a Zoom meeting to decide the rules of their upcoming board election held from February 22, 2023 through March 1, 2023 at 9:00 pm. (See details below.) The meeting is on Monday, January 16th at 5 pm. You can register for the meeting here.

Anyone interested in running is encouraged to attend this meeting or the next regular meeting of the board on February 1st (Attendance however is not required).

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‘Wild Things Pizza’ Is Gone, to Be Replaced by Specialty Dessert Shop

January 12, 2023 by Staff

For some of those who’ve recently walked or driven by Wild Things Pizza & Beer at 2163 Abbott Street have noticed that the business has vacated the property. Commenters to the Rag noted in early December that the pizza place had been closed since December 1 (without giving the employees — many of whom were local OBceans — any notice).

SanDiegoVille in a Jan. 10 article has confirmed that Wild Things “has suddenly ended its short run in San Diego’s Ocean Beach neighborhood …”

The online local eatery guide also announced that a specialty dessert shop named SugaLab has already taken over the space with plans to open in February.

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San Diego Residents Urged to Oppose One-Mile Transit Proposal at Land Use and Housing Council Committee – Thursday, Jan.12

January 10, 2023 by Staff

It has been confirmed that the City Council’s Land Use and Housing Committee will discuss the proposed “Sustainability Development Areas” zoning change at its Thursday, January 12, 2023 meeting.

This ill-conceived proposal would allow high-density, high rise, and multi-unit ADU projects within one mile of an existing or planned bus or trolley stop. The planning department claims — without any evidence and in the face of contradictory facts — one mile is a reasonable “walking, riding, rolling” distance from a residence to a transit stop. (The widely accepted definition of “transit-friendly” development is one-half mile from a major transit stop.)

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San Diego Rally to Demand Accountability and to Mark the 2 Years Since the Assault on Our Freedoms – Friday, Jan.6

January 6, 2023 by Staff

San Diegans have organized a rally today, January 6, to demand accountability and to mark two years since the January 6th attack on our Capitol.

It’s from 2 to 4 PM at Balboa Park’s Bea Evenson Fountain (between the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center and the Natural History)

It’s part of events nationwide that will raise our voices for accountability and broad democracy reforms.

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3 ADUs Planned for 4954 West Point Loma in Ocean Beach

January 6, 2023 by Staff

The City has just announced that an application has been filed to create 3 brand new ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units – or “granny flats”) at 4954 West Point Loma Boulevard in northwest Ocean Beach.

The application filed by “ADU Geeks” is for a Coastal Development Permit to convert the existing attached garage of a single-family residence into a new 480 square foot ADU and the creation of a new two story detached structure containing two 414 square feet ADU’s. The application was filed on December 6, 2022 with the city.

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400 Unhoused People From Ocean Beach to Lakeside Driven From San Diego Riverbed by Flooding and Rain — GoFundMe Page Set Up

January 4, 2023 by Staff

Michael McConnell, who has helped and advocated for the homeless for more than a decade, has set up a GoFundMe page in order to help unhoused individuals that lost their belongings from the rising levels of the San Diego River and the recent rain.

The continuous rain has flooded several areas in the San Diego Riverbed, which has impacted an estimated 400 people who call the San Diego Riverbed their home.

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Winning Photos in OB Rag King Tide Contest

December 30, 2022 by Staff

Here are the winning photos in the OB Rag King Tide Photo Contest of December 2022:

First Place: Pescadero Stairs by Sally Brown

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Where COVID Was in San Diego County One Year Ago

December 29, 2022 by Staff

Take a long look at these charts inside. This was San Diego County exactly one year ago, Dec. 28, 2021.

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Water Advisory Still In Effect at Ocean Beach and Other San Diego Beaches and Bays

December 29, 2022 by Staff

A water advisory issued by San Diego County health officials on Wednesday to avoid contact with ocean water due to recent rain that could have carried bacteria into the ocean and bays is still in effect.

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality issued an advisory that warns surfers, swimmers and other water users that “rain brings urban runoff which can cause bacteria levels to rise significantly in ocean and bay waters, especially near storm drains, creeks, rivers and lagoon outlets. Swimming, surfing and diving should be avoided during rain and for 72 hours following the rain event.”

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Entries in OB Rag King Tide Photo Contest

December 28, 2022 by Staff

Here are the entries in the OB Rag photo contest of King and very low tides (in no particular order).

No. 1 above —Santa Cruz Beach, Point Loma; 12/23/22 8:00am

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King Tides Have Very Low Tides as Well – Last Day of Photo Contest

December 27, 2022 by Staff

Here is a recent entry into the Rag’s King Tide Photo Contest. The view is of South Sunset Cliffs. And it reminds us that along with King Tides, there are extremely low tides as well.

Today, Tuesday, Dec. 27, is the last day of the contest.

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Latest Entry in OB Rag’s King Tide Photo Contest

December 24, 2022 by Staff

This is the latest entry, taken Dec. 21. The OB Rag is sponsoring a photo contest of the King Tides expected to show up at our coasts beginning Wed., Dec. 21 until Tuesday, Dec. 27.

A generous member of our staff, Kathy Blavatt, has donated $100 specifically for the photo contest. $100 will go to the winning photo with second and third place finishers getting a copy of Kathy’s books, either the one on OB or the one on Sunset Cliffs Park.

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OB Rag King Tide Photo Contest – Dec. 21-27 – $100 to Winning Pic

December 22, 2022 by Staff

The OB Rag is sponsoring a photo contest of the King Tides expected to show up at our coasts beginning Wed., Dec. 21 until Tuesday, Dec. 27.

A generous member of our staff, Kathy Blavatt, has donated $100 specifically for the photo contest. $100 will go to the winning photo with second and third place finishers getting a copy of Kathy’s books, either the one on OB or the one on Sunset Cliffs Park. There are no rules, except the photos submitted must be of this year’s King Tides from Dec. 21 through Dec. 27– we provide a tide chart inside —

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First Arrest Made in Nov. 18 Assault on Newport Ave in Ocean Beach

December 16, 2022 by Staff

The first arrest has been made in the November 18 assault and battery of an OB man on Newport Avenue.

Dajour Hardaway, 24, was arrested by Murrieta Police on just after 10 p.m. on Sunday, December 11 on felony assault charges stemming from an incident where Woody Boethel was attacked by four people as he walked his dog in the 5000 block of Newport.

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What’s to Become of the Antique Street Lamps in Loma Portal?

December 13, 2022 by Staff

“Especially around the holidays, the vintage street lamps in Loma Portal are hard to miss.”

The Peninsula Newsletter of the PLA is looking into the “unreliability of the vintage street lights” in Loma Portal. But they’re also looking into what the city’s plans are for them – given the controversy in over the unannounced replacement of their historic streetlamps.

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Police Searching for Man Who Detonated ‘Cricket Bomb’ in Dusty Rhodes Park Restroom Sunday Morning

December 12, 2022 by Staff

San Diego police are searching for a man responsible for detonating a so-called “cricket bomb” in a restroom at Dusty Rhodes Park Sunday morning, Dec. 11.

One man was in the restroom at the time of the explosion but was not injured, although he did suffer ringing in his ears. He called police around 8:45 am. The victim told police another man had exited the restroom as he walked in. Now, police are looking for a 45 to 50-year-old suspect described as a 6 feet tall white male wearing a red shirt and pants.

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OB’s Christmas Tree Arrives

November 30, 2022 by Staff

The Christmas tree for Ocean Beach arrived early Tuesday morning and the 65-foot tree was erected at the foot of Newport Avenue. It had just been chopped down that morning from a home  in the Midway District.

It’s the 42nd year of the annual tradition for the village. Unlike other years, however, it not only had a police escort as it was hauled to OB, but had a large police officer presence at its erection. In fact, officers from SDPD made up a large portion of the small crowd that witnessed the event.

Corey Bruins, president of the OB Town Council, was interviewed by Fox5 News:

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Parents and Staff Given Week’s Notice Before Child Care Center in OB Closed

November 29, 2022 by Staff

A week before Thanksgiving, parents were told that Honey Bear Daycare and Child Care Center would be closing for good the day before T-day. The day care center at 4426 Mentone Street has been in existence for 55 years, so it was quite a shock to parents — and staff.

Teachers were given a week’s notice to find a new job — which was very abrupt but even worse because it was during the holidays.

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San Diego Extends Street Vending Rules to Coastal Areas

November 16, 2022 by Staff

On Monday, November 14, the San Diego City Council voted to tentatively expand its recent street vending ordinance to the city’s coastal areas, including Ocean Beach. The council will take its final vote on the issue probably December 7, which will make it official and then go into effect in 30 days by early January 2023.

The council was able to take the vote because of a deal the city made with the California Coastal Commission. Up to now, it has been assumed the Commission had to give its approval before it went into effect in the coastal neighborhoods because the new law — passed on June 22 — would require a change to Local Coastal Programs, which serve as planning documents for coastal communities.

The August deal between the city and the Commission allowed the city to move on expanding enforcement of the ordinance into the coastal areas, provided it agreed to add a regulation prohibiting vendors from blocking public shoreline access.

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OB Planners at a Loss as to Why City Is Allowing Narragansett ADU to Exceed Floor Area Ratio

November 9, 2022 by Staff

Seems there’s always a nugget…

By Geoff Page

An ear-catching revelation about how the city is treating a project that seriously exceeds the Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.) requirement sparked some interest at the OB Planning Board meeting, November 2. It seems that the city dismissing the extra 400 square feet as no big deal.

At least this was how the explanation from the project designer representing the owner came across. The designer said she had an email from city planner Kyle Goossens telling her the 400 extra square feet was not an issue. The designer did not know what this decision was based on.

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Campbell Holds onto District 2 Council Seat Over Lukacs

November 9, 2022 by Staff

According to the Voice of San Diego:

Councilwoman Jen Campbell appears to have held onto her seat, representing much of San Diego’s coastal area. Campbell’s district favors Democrats 2-1, the U-T reported. But Campbell’s lead over Republican Linda Lukacs did not represent nearly such a wide margin.

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Entries to the Coastal Access Photo Contest

November 4, 2022 by Staff

For two weeks the group Keep the Coast 30 ran a “Coastal Access” photo contest and here are the entries.

There were two categories: the “Best” and the “Worst” view of coastal access. The winner of each category receives an $100 award. (Names of photographers are withheld for unbiased views.)

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City to Restrict Parking Along Sunset Cliffs

November 4, 2022 by Staff

It does appear that somebody with authority is about to restrict parking along the beautiful Sunset Cliffs. Between  Osprey and Froude.

These yellow “Notice of Pending Permit” signs showed up in the small parking lots along the Cliffs. And they appear to be from the California Coastal Commission regarding “A Permit Application for the development on this site is pending before the Calif Coastal Commission,” by the “Applicant: City of San Diego, Parks & Recreation Dept.”

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The Saga of Pickleball at Robb Field Continues at Mission Bay Park Committee

November 4, 2022 by Staff

By Geoff Page

The saga of pickleball’s attempt to find a home at Robb Field continued Tuesday, November 1, with an appearance before the Mission Bay Park Committee, at the Santa Clara Recreation Center in Mission Beach.

Stephan Boyland and Mike Shinzaki made the pitch on behalf of the Pickleball Association of San Diego. The pitch involved three possible options to have pickleball at Robb Field.

#1 – Share the existing 12 tennis courts. There are six courts in one fenced-in enclosure and six in another. Pickleball would like to have six of the 12 courts.

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