Author: Staff

All kinds of OBceans and Point Lomans arrived at the local polling sites to cast their votes early on Election Day.

By Geoff Page

A week ago editor dude asked Rag writers to write something about “…the things and aspects of American democracy that you will miss once…” Meaning if the man with the orange hair wins. While no one who knows me would describe me as a wild-eyed optimist, I am definitely not a complete pessimist. To put such thoughts to paper just feels like admitting defeat. That I cannot do.

This is not a comment on editor dude’s request. Several people have risen to that in a number of ways. At a time like this, with something so historical taking place, I don’t feel like my opinion matters much to anyone, or will have any effect on anyone. This is also a function of age after a lifetime of not even being able to get family to see how brilliant I am, how perfectly correct my opinions are. Go figure.

But, in this case, since my opinion is not completely negative, I thought I’d write something a little bit positive.

The problem is modern media, the media that most of the country sees and reads. In an effort to outdo the other guy, the media looks for and creates sensational stories. The most obvious example of this is in weather reporting.

Just look at the names they have cooked up to make weather sensational. A big rainstorm is now an “atmospheric river.”

There’s one week until Election Day, November 5th, and law enforcement officials across the country are having to deal with a rising wave of threats to election workers and political activists, plus having now to contend with fires in mailboxes — all foreshadow a presidential contest hurtling toward an aftermath that could include unprecedented violence and disturbances.

According to today’s Union-Tribune:

Last week, the Justice Department unsealed a complaint against a man in Philadelphia who had vowed to skin alive and kill a party official recruiting volunteer poll watchers. The next day, the police in Tempe, Ariz., arrested a man in connection with shootings at a Democratic campaign office, which resulted in no injuries, and other acts of political vandalism.

The news that neither the Washington Post nor the Los Angeles Times will endorse Kamala Harris for president has shaken the media world and shows clearly the risks of billionaires owning major newspapers — especially during this crucial, nation-defining moment.

According to KQED

Both newspapers’ editorial boards, which operate independently of the newsrooms, had reportedly drafted endorsements of Vice President Kamala Harris. But the decisions to not endorse ahead of a neck-and-neck race between Harris and former President Donald Trump were influenced by the outlets’ billionaire owners, whose other businesses have lucrative contracts with the government.

Last “Workshop” Under-Attended Partly Due to Refusal of Union-Tribune to Announce It

By Geoff Page

The City of San Diego held the final Ocean Beach Pier Renewal workshop, concerning the eventual replacement of the San Diego Municipal Fishing Pier, Saturday, October 26, at the Liberty Station conference center. This event was not nearly as well attended as the previous four workshops. The Union Tribune was partly responsible for that — and ironically, so was the City.

It seems word of this last pier workshop did not get out as well as it had for prior events. The OB Rag published the event information ahead of time on for over a week before the event.

The Union Tribune not only did not carry any advance notice of the event, the newspaper actually refused to run the notice when requested. Jon Schmid, of Cook and Schmid, the consulting firm that has handled the public outreach efforts, confirmed that the UT was asked to run an advance notice and refused, with no explanation.

By Geoff Page

Usually, people judge politicians by the big picture stuff like convention centers and ball parks that they claim to have delivered. But, it is the little things that tell the real story. While they are dazzling everyone with the “big” accomplishments, they are quietly picking our pockets. Like $155,000 to count bicycles.

Former Assemblymember Lori Saldaña alerted this writer to the existence of a bike counter at the intersection of Pacific Highway and Beech Street. After having written about the bike counter disaster on 30th in some detail, the existence of another one was a surprise.

A visit to the site confirmed that a new counter was in place. It was a smaller, less impressive version of the one on 30th. The new one is so unobtrusive that Saldaña at first thought it was one of the new downtown digital advertising signs. It is doubtful that anyone has noticed the device because there is no obvious signage saying what it is.

One of the largest apartment complexes in Ocean Beach is now up for sale. The 64-unit, 3-story complex called Mar at Seaside at 2401 Seaside sits on one and a half acres.

Constructed in 1962, the huge complex dominates the northeastern edge of Ocean Beach and is comprised of 4 studio/one-bathroom units, 51 one-bedroom/one-bathroom units, and 9 two-bedroom/ two-bathroom units.

Here is the OB Rag 2024 General Election Ballot Guide. Ballots began arriving in San Diego County mailboxes the week of October 7, while the first vote centers open October 26.

So, this is a guide to the major state and county candidates, issues and ballot measures in the election. (For some races and offices, there’s no need for discussion.) What we’re not covering are the school board and other-than-City of San Diego races, generally. (Our recommendations are next to the office or initiative listed.)

President – Kamala Harris

Senate – Adam Schiff -(D)

Adam Schiff, a 12-term Democratic Congressman from Burbank, is of course going after the seat held by the late Dianne Feinstein and is going against Republican Steve Garvey, a former Dodgers and Padres star who is seeking his first public office. Garvey is a two-time supporter of Trump. Note that you have to vote for your candidate twice — both to fill two months of Feinstein’s unfinished term, and then for the full six years beginning in January.

A woman motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries when her bike crashed while she was traveling eastbound on Midway Drive Tuesday night, October 8.

The unidentified person suffered a collapsed lung, fractured collarbone, multiple rib fractures, as well as lacerated liver and spleen.

She was traveling east in the 3100 block of Midway Drive around 8:30 p.m.

The Rag has been buffeted recently by lots of requests or inquiries on whether we’re putting out some kind of election guide, and the answer is yes!

The 2024 Election Guide is coming soon —

A string of burglaries have hit local Ocean Beach restaurants, and the businesses are trying to get the word out in hopes that people will be vigilant.

OB Noodle House 1502 has been hit twice within the last 3 weeks. Restaurant owners on the same block said burglars have been targeting their business too. There was another burglary at Pizzeria Luigi not too far away.

Late last week, on Thursday morning someone had broken  in 1502 and used a pry bar to remove a plywood covering of broken glass, entered the building, and left with the restaurant’s surveillance system.