Category: Culture

William Bushey Is Accused of Killing Sister, Nephew and Wounding 86-Year Old Mother on Zola Street

By Ben J. Costas / hoodline /  January 13, 2026

[Please see original for links to media]

A San Diego jury yesterday, January 12, began hearing a chilling Point Loma murder case, as opening statements kicked off the trial of 61-year-old William Bushey. Prosecutors say Bushey shot and killed his sister, Laurie Robinson, 61, and her son, Brett Robinson, 33, and seriously wounded his 86-year-old mother, June Bushey, inside the family’s Zola Street home in August 2024. Jurors are now weighing two starkly different narratives of what led to the bloodshed.

By Jane Kim / 10NewsSanDiego / Jan. 11, 2026

California shoppers are adjusting to a new reality at checkout counters across the state as plastic bags have been officially banned since January 1.

The statewide prohibition, established under Senate Bill 1053, eliminates plastic bag options at grocery stores and retail locations, leaving customers with paper bags or their own reusable alternatives.

At Barons Market in Point Loma, the transition has been smooth according to both customers and staff. Customer Jim MacDonald said he typically brings his own bags but supports the environmental initiative.

By Kelly Hessedal / CBS8 / January 12, 2026

Mayors from across San Diego County demanded Monday that San Diego city leaders repeal newly implemented parking fees at Balboa Park, citing fairness concerns, economic impact and a significant public backlash against the charges.

The coalition of mayors stand in support of activist Shane Harris’ proposal he drafted for the council calling for the parking fees to be repealed. Harris also said an online petition has gathered more than 1500 signatures.

The effort includes mayors from Coronado, Escondido, San Marcos, El Cajon and Chula Vista. It also includes council members from Del Mar and La Mesa. A news conference was held outside the Air and Space Museum Monday morning.

“Paying for parking to stay out and active is unacceptable,” said San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones.

By Csaba Petre

Following up on a thorough coffee tour of OB last year, I’m back to give a rundown and review of some local markets. I’ve chosen local stores (not huge chains, and not liquor-only stores) which can realistically qualify for at least a quick, missing-item type grocery trip. A couple of liquor-and-deli places have been added, if they met this criteria. Please feel free to add your favorite small store in the comments if I missed one you like.

Sunset Mini Mart

4799 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107

Sunset Mini Mart is a convenience store and liquor store on the corner of Voltaire Street and Sunset Cliffs Blvd. They carry a wide assortment of snacks, as well as non-alcoholic drinks and sodas. As far as groceries they stock some basics: canned goods, cereals, coffee, and cleaning supplies. The store is clean and conveniently accessible for North OB.

Best for: snacks and drinks; a quick canned/boxed meal; liquor and beer

SD Community Coalition Bulletin:

City Council To Hold Special Meeting Just Before Mayor’s State-Of-City Speech

In an interesting development, the San Diego City Council has posted notice that it will hold a special meeting about the Mayor’s 2026 “State of the City” address on Thursday, January 15, at 1:00 p.m. in the Council Committee Room. The Mayor’s address is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Thursday in the Council Chambers.

This link contains instructions for submitting a written comment before the meeting. The Council will begin the meeting by taking public comment in person and virtually.

This is a developing story, so please circle back for updates later this morning.

Land Use and Housing Committee Meeting: Preservation and Progress Package A Approved to Move Forward for Review by the Full City Council

By South OB Girl

On Wednesday January 14, the Preservation and Progress Package A went before the San Diego City Council Land Use and Housing Committee.  Package A involves controversial proposals regarding preserving and protecting San Diego’s historic housing ideals and districts. Council Member Sean Elo-Rivera was absent.  This left a LUH Committee of three: Committee Chair Kent Lee and committee members Stephen Whitburn, and  Vivian Moreno.

There were 49 speakers in Council Chambers downtown –a mix of those in favor and those opposed, and many in attendance ceded minutes to others who were speaking.  Bruce and Alana Coons spoke, representing Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO).  Mission Hills Heritage also spoke, as did local OBceans including Kathy Blavatt and Coastal Caretakers.

In Minneapolis and other cities where federal agents have led immigration crackdowns, residents have formed loose networks to track and protest them.

By Julie Bosman / New York Times / Jan. 14, 2026

It began in Los Angeles, in Signal chats and strategy sessions on Zoom. Last year, as immigration raids proliferated throughout the city, Latino activists and neighbors began organizing a response, monitoring for Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents along sidewalks and in Home Depot parking lots and texting their networks when they spotted an arrest underway.

By late summer, activists in Chicago were trained and ready. Before the Trump administration had announced a crackdown called Operation Midway Blitz, immigrant rights organizations had handed out orange whistles for volunteers to use as a public warning system, formed “rapid-response” groups and advised people to report sightings of ICE agents and memorize their own legal rights. Chicagoans, even many without formal ties to protest groups, showed defiance against ICE with “Hands Off Chicago” signs adorned with the city’s beloved starred-and-striped flag, placed prominently in windows of restaurants and bungalows.

And in recent weeks in Minneapolis, the latest focus for a Trump administration surge of immigration enforcement, a loose but growing network of neighborhood volunteers has shown up near reported arrests, yelling at agents and recording them on iPhone cameras. Some gathered near hotels where agents were believed to be staying, pounding drums and making noise.

By Jeanette Quezada and Shelby Bremer / 7SanDiego / January 11-12, 2026 

Video of San Diego police officers hitting a man as they arrested him in Southcrest over the weekend has led to an investigation.

The incident happened at 38th Street and National Avenue on Saturday night. Police and witnesses say a man blocked his ex’s car in with his own, and she called 911.

[Go to original for video.]

Aurora Morales, who lives across the street, said that she was inside her home when she heard what sounded like an argument between a man and a woman. When she looked out the window, she saw what appeared to be a man trying to hit the woman’s car window.

“It seemed like he wanted her to get out of the car,” Morales said.

She said she then heard the man telling the woman he was going to pull something out of the car. That’s when Morales saw the man grab what appeared to be an iron tool to break the window.

Witnesses say there were more than a dozen squad cars but just a few moments captured on video have now prompted an investigation.

There are concerns tonight from some people about the way San Diego police officers handled an arrest last night in Southcrest. Video shared on social media is prompting questions about whether the officers involved used “excessive force.” We do want to warn you, some may find the video graphic. NBC 7’s, Jeanette Quezada, talked with witnesses today about what happened.

Please join Ocean Beach Historical Society, for A View From My Trike, Thursday evening, January 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm, at Water’s Edge Community, 1894 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

OBHS Board Member and talented writer Mercy Baron presents an engaging selection of her stories from the San Diego Reader.

This fun and lively presentation will kick off Ocean Beach Historical Society’s 32nd season of free monthly programs.

By Jennifer Velez / The Coronado Times / Jan. 10, 2026

For a man who doesn’t drink coffee, Luis Madrid sure knows his beans, and has parlayed that knowledge into a new location for Coronado Coffee Company at 1180 Rosecrans Street, Suite 101, in Point Loma.

Well known around Coronado, Luis actually got his start in the coffee business at age 14, making $5 pushing the Café del Sol coffee cart and setting it up outside the former Bay Books location before school every morning. He then made an additional $5 putting it away after school.

“I gave my mom that money to buy groceries to feed our family, and I was happy to be helping,” he shares. By age 17, he was getting $7 an hour as a barista at the cart. Two years later, the owner Steve was moving and selling the business, so Luis took his entire savings of $22,000 and went all in to buy it and renamed it Café Madrid. Luis has built a reputation for serving delicious coffee, tea, smoothies, acai bowls, and pastries, but more importantly he is known for his connection with his customers. I experienced this firsthand when I moved here eight years ago and I remain loyal for the best mochas on the island and the friendliness he and his staff exude.

From Grokipedia

Editordude: Here’s a sampling of what’s available at Grokipedia about the nearly 50-year old OB Community Garden in northeast Ocean Beach.

The Ocean Beach Community Garden is located at 2351 Soto Street in the Ocean Beach neighborhood of San Diego, California, ZIP code 92107, situated in a residential area proximate to the Pacific Ocean beaches and local landmarks such as Ocean Beach Pier.[1]

This positioning integrates the garden seamlessly into the coastal community, enhancing accessibility for nearby residents while reflecting the neighborhood’s laid-back, beach-oriented character.[1]

Originally an empty lot acquired in 1978, the site has been transformed into a productive green space spanning approximately one-quarter acre, dedicated to community cultivation.[4] The overall dimensions allow for organized gardening amid the urban coastal setting, with the transformation emphasizing sustainable land use in a formerly underutilized area.[1]

The garden’s layout features 51 individual plots arranged in a grid-like pattern to optimize space and sunlight exposure, complemented by communal pathways for easy navigation and shared green areas for collective use.

By Madison Beveridge / Point Loma – OB Monthly SDU-T / January 11, 2026

Funding for a new Ocean Beach Pier, bike path lighting, trash cans and ongoing park and pedestrian issues are among the list of things the Ocean Beach Planning Board would like to see in the city of San Diego’s budget for next fiscal year.

The volunteer advisory group even included San Diego County in the 2026-27 wish list it created during its meeting Jan. 6, calling for funding for what it considers necessities and vital areas of interest in Ocean Beach.

The San Diego City Council intends to vote on the new budget in June. The fiscal year begins July 1.

Much of the Planning Board’s budget request is the same as in previous years, including items such as park maintenance, public space enforcement and pedestrian safety.

Multiple board members voiced concerns about dogs being off leash and who should be enforcing rules against it.