Articles by Staff

Staff has written 2336 articles for the OB Rag!

Parents and Students Rallied at Correia for Safety Concerns and Due to ‘Dismissive’ Response by School Officials

September 11, 2023 by Staff

Forum at Correia Planned for Monday, Sept. 11.

Last Thursday morning, Sept 7, a group of parents and students stood outside Correia Middle School on Valeta Street before the bell rang with some holding signs that read “See something, say something,” “Believe them,” and “Zero tolerance for guns at school.”

The small rally was organized by parents concerned about reports of a gun on campus being brandished plus allegations of sexual harassment by boys from over a dozen girl students. Also, part of parents’ grief was the milquetoast response by school officials that denigrated parents’ concerns and students’ claims.

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Report From OB Planning Board: Wireless at St. Peter’s Parking Lot, Update on Terminal 1, and Bylaw Changes

September 11, 2023 by Staff

By Geoff Page

The agenda item that generated the longest discussion at the Ocean Beach Planning Board meeting, Wednesday, September 6, illustrated that long-running concerns about wireless transmissions and health are still alive and kicking.

There was also an interesting update on San Diego Airport’s Terminal One construction progress. And, there was a discussion of by-laws changes that need to be made to have the OBPB “recognized” next year by the city as the planning group for OB.

DISH Wireless

DISH was seeking approval for a wireless project located in a parking lot of St. Peter’s by the sea Lutheran Church. The church sits on a large lot bounded by Point Loma Ave., Sunset Cliffs Blvd., Adair Street, and an alley on the east side. There is a parking lot across the alley next to the laundromat that belongs to the church.

The work involves placing two 30-foot-tall light standards with DISH equipment at the top in a “24 by 24” enclosure. The original design for a “48 x 48” enclosure was down-sized when the OBPB Project Review subcommittee criticized it by saying it looked like a refrigerator on a tall stick.

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OB Planning Board Meeting: Dish Wireless at St. Peter’s, Bylaw Changes to Bend to City’s Draconian Rules, Terminal 1 Update — Wed., Sept.6

September 5, 2023 by Staff

The Ocean Beach Planning Board meets Wednesday night, Sept. 6 at the OB Rec Center at 6 pm.

There is one project on the agenda. St. Peter’s By-the-Sea at 1371 Sunset Cliffs Blvd has submitted an application for a conditional use permit and coastal development permit to install a Dish Wireless with 3 panel antennas and 6 remote radio units and a bunch of ancillary equipment.When the Project Review Committee looked at the application on Aug. 16, they decided not to make any recommendation and simply forwarded the issue to the full Board without a denial or approval. (See agenda below) Here are the documents : Dish Wireless – 1371 Sunset Cliffs Blvd

An update on the airport’s Terminal 1 project will also be provided by a rep from the Airport Authority.

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City Leaders in Northern San Diego County Concerned Senate Bill Will Undermine 1972 Coastal Act Protections

August 28, 2023 by Staff

By Luke Harold / Pt Loma – OB Monthly / Aug. 27, 2023

A group of elected leaders who represent cities in San Diego County’s coastal zone sent a letter this month to state lawmakers about their concerns over a bill that would streamline development along the coast.

Senate Bill 423, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, chairman of the Senate Housing Committee, would remove a 2025 sunset provision for Senate Bill 35, which created a “builder’s remedy” that streamlines housing development in cities that are behind on their state-mandated housing goals.

More notably, SB 423 would extend the streamlining to cities in the coastal zone.

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OB Rag Fundraising Goal Exceeded by $500

August 22, 2023 by Staff

The OB Rag annual fundraising drive, begun on August 11, has exceeded our goal of $1500 by more than $500.

And we expect a few more checks to flood in to our PO Box.

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Navy Mum as It Evaluates Shortlist of Redevelopment Teams for NAVWAR Property

August 14, 2023 by Staff

Having received proposals from redevelopment teams for the NAVWAR property last week, the Navy is absolutely mum on the number and types of proposals and who are the teams and their financial models and development schedules. It’s the final leg of the eating frenzy to select who will remake this huge prime piece of real estate.

Jennifer van Grove at the U-T reported late last week:

The United States Navy has moved into the final leg of a real estate competition to replace its obsolete NAVWAR facilities and remake the rest of the 70.3-acre military campus that bumps up against Interstate 5 in San Diego’s Midway District.

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Water Advisory Still In Effect at Dog Beach

August 14, 2023 by Staff

The County is still issuing a water advisory for Dog Beach in Ocean Beach due to high levels of bacteria and are advising people and pets to avoid water contact.

The advisory for Dog Beach has been in effect since August 3.

Station: San Diego River outlet to 300′ South (FM-010)
Status Since: August 3, 2023
Bacteria levels exceed health standards. Avoid water contact in the advisory area.

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OB Rag Fundraising: We’re Over 3/4ths to Our Goal – Help Us Hold San Diego Politicians Accountable

August 14, 2023 by Staff

The OB Rag fundraising campaign which we began on Friday is over three-quarters to our goal of $1500!

Help us make the rest today.

And help us hold San Diego politicians accountable. Somebody has to keep pushing for transparency in our city government. And county.

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San Diego Mainstream Media Parrot City’s Account of Homeless Camp Site

August 10, 2023 by Staff

By Geoff Page

On Monday, August 7, The Rag requested a tour of the city’s “hot lot” camping site at the City Operations facility as a follow up on The Rag’s two previous stories about the site. Some of the media had previously requested a site visit but had been rebuffed on privacy grounds. The Rag decided to try anyway.

Three hours after the email requesting the tour, the city responded informing The Rag about a media event scheduled for the next day, Tuesday, August 8. A link was provided that brought up an invitation for the media to tour the site. It was dated the same day as The Rag’s email, Monday, August 7.

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Ocean Beach Pier Jump Fundraiser — Monday, Aug. 7

August 7, 2023 by Staff

The Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego is holding its second Ocean Beach Pier Jump Fundraiser – today, Monday, Aug. 7 from 7:30 AM to 4 PM. There is a $150 minimum donation/ticket purchase for each participant.

The public is invited to join the Prevent Drowning Foundation of San Diego and the San Diego Junior Lifeguards at the OB Pier Jump!

Important Jump Information:

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OB Planning Board Nixes Roundabout at Bacon and Brighton

August 4, 2023 by Staff

By Geoff Page

The clear highlight of the Ocean Beach Planning Board’s monthly meeting August 2 was the board, and the attending public, driving a stake into the heart of the Bacon Street roundabout proposal. If the city is true to its word, that idea is dead. We’ll see.

Bacon Street and Brighton Ave. Roundabout

The proposal for a roundabout at Bacon and Brighton came before the OBPB in May. It came back in June . The third time Wednesday was not the charm.

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Retaining Wall Proposed for Ocean Front Street Residence in South OB

August 3, 2023 by Staff

A cliff side retaining wall with concrete piers is being proposed for 1409 Ocean Front Street in South OB by the owners.

The city’s Development Services Department issued a Notice of Application on July 28 that an application has been filed with the city “for the construction of a secant pile retaining wall which would include placing concrete to form piers and a retaining wall for reinforcement.”

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The Rag Revisits Gloria’s ‘Hot Lot’ Homeless Encampment

August 3, 2023 by Staff

By Geoff Page

It has been three weeks since The Rag’s story on the city’s homeless encampment at the city’s Central Operations Station. The hot lot. A return visit was in order to see if the facility was doing any better after all of the criticism in the media. Sadly, not much better at all.

There have been changes. During the last visit, the facility consisted a large fenced area with one interior fence. There was a large area for tents and a small area for a trailer, restrooms and wash stands. The trailer appears to be an office.

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OB Planning Board Agenda: 5 ADUs for Review, Plus Updates on Bacon St. Roundabouts and the OB Pier Project — Wed., Aug.2

August 1, 2023 by Staff

The OB Planning Board has two action items on its Wednesday night agenda. The first one is a permit to construct 3 ADUs at 2171 Abbott Street over an existing commercial building, and the second one is a permit to demolish 2 units at 4732 Del Monte and construct 2 ADUs. That’s a total of 5 ADUs up for consideration.

Also on the agenda is an update on the OB Pier and on the proposed two roundabouts on Bacon Street.

The Board meets at 6 pm at the OB Rec Center, 4726 Santa Monica Avenue.

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OB Run Club Marathon — Saturday, July 29

July 27, 2023 by Staff

The Ocean Beach Run Club is holding a 26.2-mile full marathon through the community on Saturday, July 29 starting at Dog Beach.

Their Club Instagram post stated:

“If you’d like to be part of the start, arrive at the OB Dog Beach parking lot at 6 a.m. The course is in four sections …”

Here’s the schedule:

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OB Rag Looking for a Few Local Writers

July 11, 2023 by Staff

The OB Rag is searching for a few local writers from Ocean Beach or Point Loma to take on assignments from editordude. We are able to pay a small fee for articles.

Please contact editordude at obragblog@gmail.com for more information.

We’re also looking for photographers and poets who’d like to showcase their talents.

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Keith Finley Passes — Former Publisher of The Beacon and Owner of OB Books

July 10, 2023 by Staff

It’s with sadness that we report that Keith Finley, 60, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2023.

Keith is remembered as a very prominent, if not soft-spoken, figure in Ocean Beach back in the late 80s and early 90s. In 1987, he began publishing The Beacon — a real community newspaper for OB and Point Loma — and later sold it to a small-newspaper publishing group that still prints it under the basic same name.

Keith also owned Ocean Beach Books, a secondhand bookstore

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Neighbors for a Better San Diego Speaking on Senate Bill 10 in Point Loma — Wed., July 5

July 5, 2023 by Staff

A leading member of the group, Neighbors for a Better San Diego, will be speaking tonight, Wed., July 5 on Senate Bill 10, at The Thursday Club at 1224 Santa Barbara Street in Point Loma.

The event is at 6 pm.

Neighbors for a Better San Diego has been leading the fight against Senate Bill 10 (SB10) and sponsored a string of neighborhood rallies in early May against the measure.

However, they have not been active in OB or Point Loma,

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Ocean Beach Pier Officially Designated as San Diego Historic Resource

July 5, 2023 by Staff

At their June meeting, the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board designated the Ocean Beach Pier as an historic resource.

Here is the description in the July-August newsletter of Save Our Heritage Organization:

Ocean Beach Pier, western terminus of Niagara Street, Ocean Beach, was the longest concrete pier on the West Coast when it was completed in 1966, after years of planning, fundraising, and construction.

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Okay OB, What’s the Verdict on the Drone Light Show on the 4th?

July 5, 2023 by Staff

What did you think of  OB’s first ever drone light show on the 4th? We’re looking for reactions and comments on OB’s Luminosity’s efforts to bring back a light show for July 4.

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San Diego’s Privacy Board Recommends City Reject SDPD Purchase of Smart Streetlights with Automatic License Plate Readers

June 23, 2023 by Staff

On Thursday, June 22, San Diego’s Privacy Advisory Board recommended that the City Council reject a police proposal to buy a new streetlight camera system and pair the technology with automatic license plate readers.

As Voice of San Diego reported:

The board members who were present at the meeting voted unanimously to pass along a 15-page analysis of SDPD’s proposal that challenges the department’s claim that the cameras don’t constitute an invasion of Fourth Amendment rights.

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Fundraiser for Monica Montgomery Steppe, Who’s Running for County Supervisor — Sunday, June 25

June 20, 2023 by Staff

There’s a special election coming right up for San Diego County’s Fourth Supervisorial District — it’s a special primary on August 15, 2023.

And Monica Montgomery Steppe, who’s currently on the San Diego City Council, is running.

Wouldn’t you know it, but there’s a great fundraiser for her on Sunday, June 25. Plus, thePoint Loma & OB Democratic Club just recently endorsed her

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Will the OB Pier Reopen in Early July? Come to Workshop Sat., June 10 at Liberty Station

June 8, 2023 by Staff

The Ocean Beach Pier Renewal Project Community Workshop  is occurring this Saturday, June 10th, from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Liberty Station Conference Center, 2600 Laning Road. This is the 2nd in-person Community Workshop on the pier held by the city.

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Cass Street Bar & Grill and Harry’s Taco Shop Opens at Former Sapporo Restaurant in Ocean Beach

June 7, 2023 by Staff

The owner of Harry’s Coffee Shop has opened a new outpost of sister concepts Cass Street Bar & Grill and Harry’s Taco Club in Ocean Beach’s former Japanese restaurant, Sopporo at 5049 Newport Avenue. Sopporo was a favorite of locals and was the first Japanese eatery in OB to offer sushi.

Earlier this year, the space was taken over by the local hospitality group operated by John Rudolph, who owns Harry’s Taco Club and Cass Street Bar & Grill in Pacific Beach. The space briefly housed JJ’s Bar & Grill.

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Breakfast Republic Sued by Employees for Failure to Pay Wages, Overtime, Tips and Provide Meal Periods

June 1, 2023 by Staff

Breakfast Republic — the well-known eatery — is being sued by its employees for a swath of violations of California labor law.

According to the class action lawsuit, Breakfast Republic’s eight corporate entities, including its Ocean Beach site at 4839 Newport, allegedly violated California Labor by failing to:

(1) pay minimum wages;
(2) pay overtime wages;
(3) provide required meal and rest periods;

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OB Slumlord ‘Transitioning’ Into Short-Term Rental Business

May 26, 2023 by Staff

Michael Mills has a reputation in Ocean Beach among our renter population. He owns over 300 rental units exclusively within OB, and is purchasing more.

These are all multi-family structures ranging from 2 to 37 units.

He is a convicted slumlord, and was forced by the court to turn over management of his rentals to a 3rd party. (For more background on Michael Mills, see this Rag article from 2016.)  Here’s a quote:

Mills owns a lot of property in Ocean Beach – many rental units. And he has a long history buying up properties, raising rents, and maintaining sub-standard living conditions.

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Homeless Encampments Swept Out from Downtown End Up in Riverbed and on Ocean Beach Bike Path

May 23, 2023 by Staff

Wesley Hill, a 25-year resident of Ocean Beach, is upset. While riding the Ocean Beach bike path on his bicycle, after dodging trash and debris from homeless encampments along the pathway, he ran into a skateboard, crashed head first, cracking some teeth and costing him dental bills.

Hill told Brian White of CBS8:

“The bike path has been a mess for months, if not years. Encampments, other people using it to do drugs, it’s become a public toilet. Frequently, you see shopping carts all over the place.”

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Father of Hit-and-Run Victim Led ‘Community-Wide Detective Squad’ to Ocean Beach Suspect, Who’s Arrested

May 22, 2023 by Staff

The father of a Point Loma teen severely injured in a hit-and-run incident led a “community-wide detective squad” to find and locate an Ocean Beach person suspected of causing the incident.

Tim Ash is the father of Alex who was wrapping up a ride on his E-bike on Catalina Blvd on a recent Friday night when he was hit by an SUV that then took off. Alex fractured his pelvis in 3 places and he had internal bleeding in his bladder which was life-threatening. After his son was injured and hospitalized Tim and other family members and friends went to work, in search of the SUV, believed to be a black Jeep Grand Cherokee.

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Peninsula Planners Rescind Request for Stop Sign Along Voltaire

May 22, 2023 by Staff

By Geoff Page

There were two main items of interest at the Peninsula Community Planning Board’s regular monthly meeting, Thursday, May 18: traffic and cell towers.

The PCPB has resumed in-person meetings at the Point Loma/Hervey Library the third Thursday of each month. Zoom meetings have been discontinued.

Voltaire Street traffic

The traffic issue on Voltaire drew a number of people to the meeting.

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Annual OB Kite Festival at Robb Field — Sat., May 20

May 17, 2023 by Staff

The Annual OB Kite Festival is this Saturday, May 20, at Robb Field. Plus there will be carnival and “Off” Street Fair of artisans, community booths, and food trucks.

It’s all from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Robb Field is officially at 2525 Bacon Street in OB 92107.) For those coming for the kites – fly your newly made kite, or bring a kite from home and show it off. You can make and decorate your own, and there will be free materials, and instructions, and help with kite making.

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