Category: Media

To Rag readers

I wanted to share with our many Rag readers the latest writing assignment I’ve given our writers and reporters.

This may be the most unusual writing assignment you’ve ever been given, but here it is —

It’s 2 weeks before election day. It appears that due to slow counts and other election day headaches, it’s likely we won’t know officially who won the Presidential election on the 5th of November.

But we do know that Trump will declare himself the victor and set in motion collaboration from state election boards, state reps and other highly-placed acolytes that will sow disinformation, confusion and outright sabotage to our election machinery.

By Kate Callen

Last month, KPBS launched a “Public Matters” initiative “to expand the culture of community involvement.” The station wants San Diegans to share their thoughts, especially those “left on the fringes of political power.”

The OB Rag is happy to oblige. We live on the fringes of political power, and we have some thoughts.

If KPBS wants to expand community involvement, it should curb YIMBY (Yes In My Back Yard) bias in its news coverage and report diverse views on issues like bike lanes and housing density.

It’s bad enough when far-right media like Fox News distort reality to pursue political agendas. When left of center media follow suit, we’re trapped in a journalistic race to the bottom.

Which brings us to Andrew Bowen.

KPBS News Presents San Diego Mayoral Debate 2024 LIVE

The candidates running for San Diego mayor will join KPBS in a live debate on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 8PM. San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and challenger Larry Turner will debate the most pressing issues facing San Diegans including housing and homelessness; public safety; and money matters.

This live debate will be moderated by KPBS Public Matters investigative reporter Amita Sharma along with panelists Voice of San Diego CEO and editor-in-chief Scott Lewis, inewsource managing editor Jamie Self and KPBS metro reporter Andrew Bowen.

The rights of a news reporter just became a little stronger here in San Diego.

Dorian Hargrove is now an investigative and long-form news producer at CBS 8, a job he took after being forced out of NBC 7 in retaliation for his criticism of NBC 7’s failure to stand behind his reporting on the Ash Street debacle.

The news is that Hargrove just settled his lawsuit against NBC7 for an undisclosed amount of settlement. Dorian and his attorney, Marlea Dell’Anno were prepared to go to trial, and confident they would prevail in front of a jury.

ENDORSEMENT: It’s Time to Fire Todd Gloria!

La Prensa / September 22, 2024

San Diego is at a crossroads, and those roads are littered with potholes, homeless encampments, and a string of broken promises made by a career politician who already has his sights set on another job while still asking to be re-elected to his current one.

After nearly 18 years of failed policies, it’s time to fire Todd Gloria and replace him with competent real-world leadership: We endorse Larry Turner for San Diego Mayor.

Voters have given Todd Gloria several chances to lead but he has failed to deliver on his promises and, worse, has abused his power to benefit campaign donors and special interests.

A new 10News-San Diego Union-Tribune poll shows a fairly tight race between San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria and Larry Turner, who is challenging the incumbent.

According to the poll, 37% of those asked said they’d vote for Gloria if they were filling out their ballot right now, while 33 % said they’d vote for Turner. Meanwhile, 28% indicated they were undecided.

When asked about Gloria’s job performance,

By Brae Canlen

When I was asked to be a judge for the OB Rag’s “Worst ADU in San Diego” contest, I figured I’d be looking at oversized buildings behind single family homes, like what I often see in my North Park neighborhood. I had no idea what I was in for.

Word of this contest must have spread, because entries came in from all over the city.

Towards the top of the “worst” list were the multi-unit ADUs (11, 12, 14 units). Clearly not a granny flat, unless Granny has lots of friends who like to sleep over.

By Daniel Martinez HoSang / The Guardian / September 9, 2024

… First come the firings. Thousands of federal, non-partisan civil servants –environmental and food safety regulators; authorities in disaster relief coordination; attorneys overseeing anti-discrimination policies in housing, education and employment; medical and scientific researchers – receive immediate layoff notices.

For those who closely watch the Rag, here are detailed results of our annual summer fundraising from earlier this month.

It’s a breakdown of numbers of donors and total donations by zip code.

• 92107 (OB and part of Pt Loma); 22 donors / $2,205
• 92106 (Point Loma): 3 donors/ $250

by Shi Bradley/ Times of San Diego / August 20, 2024

The OB Rag is holding a contest and inviting submissions from the public to identify the “Worst ADU” in San Diego county [ Ed: actually just the City of San Diego]

Until Friday, Aug. 23, The OB Rag is looking for the worst accessory dwelling units (ADU) in the city. Winners will receive gift cards to a variety of local restaurants.

The contest is an effort to raise public awareness about the real-world impacts of what critics call predatory construction of ADUs, including the construction of multi-story apartments and large-scale home projects crammed into tiny areas of a neighborhood.

The journalist and TV show host, who died Sunday at the age of 88, made his mark on our society. He fought for the underdog. He did it with style and grace and a wonderful sense of humor. He changed my life and the lives of so many others.

Jeff Cohen / Common Dreams / Aug 19, 2024

Phil Donahue passed away Sunday night, after a long illness. He was beloved by those who knew him and by many who didn’t.

He started as a local reporter in Ohio, was a trailblazer in bringing social issues to a national audience as a daytime broadcast TV host, and then he was pretty-much banished from TV by MSNBC because he—accurately, correctly, and morally—questioned the horrific U.S. invasion of Iraq.