Category: Culture

By Anonymous #4

Trump wants to use the 250th anniversary to validate his presidency and portray this era as a “golden age” he restored. His opponents focus on Trump’s many crimes and on his vile coarseness. Administration messaging through Freedom 250 stresses a heroic, mythic narrative of the Founding Fathers and America’s destiny. It encourages citizens to embrace patriotism and national pride. It’s impossible to take in this drivel and not list some aspects of our history that are nothing to be proud of:

• Native American Genocide
• Slavery
• Jackson: The Indian Removal Act
• McKinley: Imperialism
• Women can’t vote until 1920
• The National Security Act of 1947
• McCarthyism
• Vietnam and COINTELPRO
• Political Assassinations
• The Global War on Terror, including Palestine and Iran

Most of us are more comfortable with a traditional approach to July 4, which considers both American achievements and failures, and invites at least the pretense of national self-examination.

The key fact is that the American Revolution is a priceless example of radical political change for the better. The founders overthrew royal tyranny by force. There is a reason virtually every revolution since ours has quoted from the Declaration of Independence. We still love the ideal of liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the constitution. These principles are as seductive – and as subversive – as they were 250 years ago. We see them as fundamental to the American character.

By Kate Callen

In the news profession, journalists are supposed to be fired for breaching ethical standards. They are not supposed to be fired for upholding them.

Terence Shepherd is suing his former employer, KPBS, for doing just that. In a lawsuit filed in May in Superior Court, Shepherd, who was KPBS News Director from August 2021 until September 2025, alleges he was terminated for wanting to comply with rules set down by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The incident in question was KPBS Reporter Alexander Nguyen’s TV news report of a September 17 event at Encinitas City Hall protesting the tactics of U.S. Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE).

The lawsuit states, “Shepherd became aware that [Nguyen] had apparently staged a protest scene about which KPBS was reporting. One of the protesters that [he] staged behind the live shot [carried] a placard that prominently displayed ‘FUCK ICE.’”

Believing that a display of the word “FUCK” would violate FCC rules governing broadcast content, Shepherd alerted KPBS Chief Content Officer Nancy Worlie. He wanted to audit Nguyen’s past work. Worlie “vehemently disagreed” and said that Shepherd was “grossly overreacting.” Soon after, he was fired.

This is the latest entry to the Rag writing contest.

By Anonymous #3

As our country prepares to celebrate 250 years of independence, I have been thinking about what America means to me. Our country isn’t perfect, but I still believe it is the greatest nation in the world because we have freedom and the opportunity to make our lives better.

I moved to Ocean Beach, California, in 1996, and I fell in love with it. There is something special about living in a community where people know each other, help one another, and appreciate the simple things in life. Living there has reminded me that America is not just a place on a map. It is made up of neighborhoods, families, and everyday people who care about their communities.

I am a caregiver for a veteran, and that has taught me a lot about sacrifice, service, and appreciating our freedoms. I have had the privilege of hearing stories from someone who served this country and seeing firsthand the pride and love that many veterans have for America. It has given me an even greater respect for the men and women who have defended our nation.

Sixty years ago today — the Ocean Beach Pier first opened on July 2nd, 1966.

And OB photographer, Steve Rowell, was there to snap this famous photo of opening day.

It is indeed the last four days of the OB Rag writing contest. Given that we’re nearing the 250th anniversary of American independence, the topic is: “What the 250th anniversary means today … living under Trump.”

Send 500 to about 1,000 word entries to us at our email: obragblog@gmail.com  (The best way is to simply paste the essay into the text of an email and send it to us.) All entries will be judged by a panel of citizen journalists and professional writers. The deadline is 9 p.m. Saturday, July 4th. (Maybe you weren’t inspired until the actual day was upon you — .)

Every Saturday at 10:30 am. San Diego Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings.  July 4th,11th, 18th, and 25th. Keep up to date on climate issues and Climate Action events. To register email Jon Findley at jon@climatemobsd.org.  More info: https://www.facebook.com/SDClimateMobilization/

Every Saturday 10 am – 12 pm Peace Vigil for Palestine: Advocate for Peace and Justice in Gaza and Everywhere Join CODEPINK SD, San Diego Veterans for Peace, and Palestine Pals every Saturday at 10:00 am at Ocean Beach Gateway Plaza, on the corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and W. Point Loma Blvd.  Wear pink and bring a peace-related poster if you have one!  Contact: Nathanael sandiego@codepink.org  More info:  https://www.instagram.com/codepinksd/

Every Sunday 1:30 pm – 3:15 pm Otay Mesa Vigil Otay Mesa Detention Center 7488 Calzada de la Fuente San Diego 92154 Event recommended by Peace Resource Center Peaceful gathering Bring a sign, friends, music and your voice in honor of the thousands of innocent human beings separated from their families, please join us at our weekly action at Otay Mesa Detention Center. Our movement grows stronger every week- but we need more voices out there with us. The inhumane and deplorable conditions our loved ones are forced to suffer through at OMDC cannot be accepted or tolerated. Please join us to bring HOPE and Solidarity.  Every week a different group brings us food – plenty of parking and good vibes always.  More info: https://www.instagram.com/borderlandsequity/

July 1st, 15th and 22nd. Resist Trump Flash Banner Action Wednesdays 4 pm – 5:15 pm– North Park Event by SanDiego 350   Landis St. and the I-805 3424 Landis St, San Diego 92104 The Raise the Alarm Team continues our Flash Banner Actions (FBAs) because resistance to the Trump administration remains as important as ever. So too is keeping climate change and the need for climate action before the public. We calculate that we are reaching about 5 to 10 thousand vehicles for each hour that our banners are up and the response from motorists is mostly positive. By our count, since 2025 we’ve held more than 30 FBAs in North County, Central SD, and the South Bay! We will banner on the Landis St. overpass of the I-805. We’ll meet on the overpass at 4:00 pm. Local street parking is available. Stay tuned for upcoming events! More info:  https://sandiego350.org/event/civi_event_1831/?instance_id=1496

July 1st Wednesday 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm Monthly Social for Makers, Tinkerers and Creatives Event by Zero Waste San Diego

By Kate Callen

Where else but San Diego would you see a Councilmember disrespect a community leader just minutes after the Council passed a measure to strengthen community engagement?

Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s flippant response to a public speaker during a June 29 Council meeting exposed the root rot that plagues constituent relations at City Hall. No amount of tinkering with meeting logistics will fix that problem.

For months, the Council has worked to comply with Senate Bill 707’s overhaul of the Brown Act to embrace modern meeting technologies. The result was outlined in a report from City Clerk Diana Fuentes titled “Information Guide on Group Participation Updates and Council Determination of Community Engagement Efforts.” Her recommendations were adopted in a unanimous vote.

Changes regarding public input to Council go into effect July 6. Citizens will face a steep learning curve on organizing group presentations and offering virtual testimony. Once they get the hang of it, they will discover that their second-tier status will be, to quote the great David Byrne, “the same as it ever was.”

What Was It, What Is It, and What Will It Be?

By Coastal Caretakers

Today, we will start with what it IS, complicated as it is, beginning with a cement block building, a new owner, and a new future, defined by the City of San Diego in the words of Accela, the city’s new permitting system and the reminder of an old joke ending in, “are you going to believe your lying eyes, or what I tell you?”

The previous owner, Sunset Cliffs Creative House, LLC morphed a $2.2 million investment into a $2.8 million sale to Yoffee, LLC, which has a San Diego mailing address on Casitas St, a San Diego property owned by Yoth, LLC, and a business named Daylight Coffee, LLC, — all Wyoming LLCs. This is a situation that gets us very close to where we are today.

Yoffee LLC is the owner of the property, and the address of Yoth LLC owns the mailing address for Yoffee, LLC, a business to be occupied, according to its application in 2025 for a liquor license for Daylight Coffee, LLC, also at the Yoth, LLC-owned address.

And now we enter the twilight zone of Accela, a new world in Mission Valley without paper but with three windows to pay fees. Any member of the public can right now get an Accela account, log in, and type in (with some difficulty) “1404 Sunset Cliffs Blvd” as the address.  You will see what it says.  (And if you are wondering, you can see the same thing using the Rite-Aid address.)  The paper world has been forgotten, but the original plans are still there.

By Paul Krueger

I used to zone out when politicians debated the strengths and weaknesses of policy proposals, especially when I covered government meetings for NBC 7. Revisions, compromises, and continuances left me frustrated. I’d think, “Come on, just agree, vote, and move on.”

But my six years as a community advocate have given me a new appreciation for the value of policy debates and public disagreement among our elected officials.

I’ve seen how a philosophical split on the County Board of Supervisors — with three liberal Democrats and two conservative Republicans — gives us a better understanding of policy issues and exposes the possible pitfalls of proposed legislation.

Pointed but civil disagreements between the Supervisors have revealed important details — pro and con — about proposed reforms to the county charter and the use of reserve funds to expand programs and hire more employees.

That’s why I grimaced when Mayor Todd Gloria described the city of San Diego’s recent budget negotiations as “more collegial” than last year’s. “I don’t think anyone at the outset of this process would have envisioned a unanimous adoption of the budget and no line-item vetoes,” Gloria told the U-T’s David Garrick.

That “Kumbaya” moment is good example of what’s wrong at City Hall. This go-along-get-along attitude enables our elected officials to avoid scrutiny for their votes. And it deprives residents of the information they need to assess their representatives’ performance.

by Scott Hopkins / Times of San Diego / June 26, 2026 

The new principal of Point Loma High School, set to start this coming school year, is returning to a school where his career in education began. In 2002, veteran educator Michael Santos worked as an AVID tutor in 2002.

In the nearly 24 years since, Santos taught biology and AP biology for 10 years, followed by 13 years in administration, most recently as principal at Orange Glen High School in Escondido, where he has worked since July 2022.

He is a native San Diegan and graduated from Morse High School in 1997 before attending college at UC San Diego, San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos.

By JW August / Times of San Diego / June 28, 2026

The city of San Diego has spent years trying to build a new fire station in the Mid-City area that would address a glaring weakness in the city’s emergency response system.

But environmental and community groups have opposed the specific location the city has settled on, arguing it would remove precious open space from a neighborhood that’s already starved for it.

The city selected its preferred site — on a hillside in the Webster neighborhood of City Heights, at 47th Street and Fairmount Avenue near a mobile home park catering to seniors — in 2015. That was five years after an outside report by a consultant identified the area as the most significant gap in the city’s fire response. Another report, in 2017, confirmed the need.

Project opponents — like Charles Rili, deputy director of the Sierra Club’s local chapter, and Leslie Reynolds, executive director of Groundworks San Diego-Chollas Creek — share the desire to plug that gap. But they argue the chosen location would permanently scar current open space and lead to the destruction of habitat in the Chollas Creek watershed.

Rilli said the the city is “digging its heels in” and refusing to recognize the location as one of the few open spaces for residents in the urban environment.

From Neighbors for a Better California

The latest public records released this past week confirm that Project Vela remains under active City review. No final decision has been made on the project’s requested height, scale, incentives, or waivers.

Before the City can make those determinations, the developer must still resolve key technical issues identified during the review process, including floor area calculations, fire protection, stormwater management, and the legal basis for the project’s requested waivers.

Rather than becoming clearer as the review has progressed, the records show that important questions remain unresolved across multiple technical areas.

NFABC has submitted an additional Public Records Act request for missing documents referenced in the file. Our volunteer team brings experience in law, city planning, community planning, public communications, and state housing legislation. This expertise allows us to analyze complex records, ask informed questions, and help hold the City’s review process accountable so Project Vela is not approved for more height, density, or scale than California law and the San Diego Municipal Code allow.

What the Latest Records Show

Fire Safety Review Continues

The City’s Fire Suppression reviewer stated that, after multiple rounds of review, proper and complete responses had still not been provided for the issues identified. The reviewer noted that little progress had been made and advised the design team to resolve the outstanding issues before additional reviews continued.