Ocean Beach

San Diego’s Historical Preservation Group Adds Point Loma’s Piers to ‘Most Endangered’ List

November 20, 2019 by Source

The Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO), San Diego’s premier historical preservation group, has added the La Playa Piers along the Point Loma Bayfront to their 2019 list of endangered historic resources. Here is what SOHO says generally about their yearly list:

SOHO releases a list of endangered sites throughout San Diego County each year to raise public awareness about the valuable historic and cultural resources that are currently threatened with demolition or irreparable alteration by development, deterioration, or neglect.

SOHO has a 50-year track record of saving important historic buildings, sites, and landscapes through advocacy, public education, and negotiation, but there are always properties at risk. While inclusion on the list does not guarantee protection it has proven to be a key component in mobilizing support for the preservation of historic sites by raising awareness and SOHO’s Most Endangered List has become a tool and call to action for residents, business and community leaders, and government officials.

Here’s SOHO’s statement on this year’s list:

As our hectic daily lives seem to flash by, San Diegans are increasingly finding enrichment and inspiration in our historic neighborhoods, buildings, parks, and cultural landscapes—even the bayfront. These places matter deeply to most of us, whether San Diego natives or newcomers. Our historic touchstones tell us stories about people and their times, and record events that are meaningful and instructive today and in the future.

Save Our Heritage Organisation announces its 32nd annual Most Endangered Places list to call attention to places we love that could disappear if we’re not vigilant. And provides actions you can take to help.

The 2019 Most Endangered List includes nine significant landmarks and cultural landscapes that are threatened by development, deterioration, or lack of maintenance. Seven are carried over from last year; two are new. All embody compelling aspects of San Diego’s history and character, such as the nationally important Presidio Park in Old Town, Big Stone Lodge in Poway, and Hillcrest’s commercial core.

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City Council Voted Unanimously to Deny Ocean Beach Appeal on Dog Beach Ramp – Campbell Made Motion

November 19, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Minutes ago, the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to reject the appeal by the Ocean Beach Planning Board to block the City’s plans to spend $1.1 million in building a Dog Beach ADA ramp. The project will now move forward despite this opposition by the community.

Councilwoman Jen Campbell of District 2 – OB’s district – after about a minute’s worth of discussion – made the motion to deny the appeal.

This has been a contentious issue between OB and the city;

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The Legend and Lore of the O.B. James Gang – Thursday, November 21, 2019

November 19, 2019 by Source

As Ocean Beach celebrates the 40th Annual Ocean Beach Christmas Tree and Holiday Parade, here is your opportunity to meet the family that not only started this holiday event but were instrumental in other cherished O.B. traditions as well – the OB James Brothers & Family, referred lovingly as “the OB James Gang”.

Join brothers Ron, Greg, Mike, Pat, and sister-in-law Susan as they reminisce about the trials and tribulations of working together in a family business while also trying to make a positive impact on the community.

For over four decades, the James family has been an integral part of the Ocean Beach community. They were instrumental in the founding of the Ocean Beach Merchants Association (now the O.B. Mainstreet Association) and the Ocean Beach Historical Society.

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Run for a Seat on Ocean Beach People’s Food Board of Directors

November 19, 2019 by Source

From November 2019 Newsletter – Ocean Beach People’s Organic Food Market

[Editordude’s note: the following appeal is directed at People’s members.]

People’s Co-op’s Board of Directors (the board) is made up of member-owners like you. There are four open seats to be filled in the upcoming election, which will conclude at People’s Annual Meeting in April, 2020.

Qualifications include an interest in the continued success of People’s Co-op, experience working cooperatively in a group, and the willingness and ability to make a regular time commitments. Each director contributes approximately five to ten hours per month for up to a three year term. Most meetings are held on Monday evenings after 5 p.m. A few times a year, directors are required to attend weekend events such as People’s Annual Meeting and People’s Birthday Party.

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Writer’s Rant: The Name ‘Sunset Cliffs Natural Park’ Is Now a Joke

November 19, 2019 by Staff

By Geoff Page

In October of last year, I did some checking on why the Sunset Cliffs Park project was not yet finished. I contacted the city and the emails that follow tell the story. I’m not using the person’s name because there is no reason to cause him any difficulty as some of his responses might. This is a really sorry tale.

Oct. 16, 2018 – the response I got to my initial inquiry:

The contractor has been waiting for some materials that required a long lead time to obtain. These materials are scheduled to be delivered on site next week. The contractor intends to resume working full time on site starting this Friday or at the latest on Monday October 22nd.

Planting will begin the first week in November and will be done in two phases. Planting will likely continue through January, weather permitting.

There have been some design changes on this contract that have required significant changes to the project schedule. I believe that now we should be able to proceed and complete this project.

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Ocean Beach Planning Board’s Appeal of Dog Beach ADA Ramp Project Before City Council – Tuesday, Nov.19

November 18, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

The Ocean Beach Planning Board appealed the city’s Dog Beach ADA Ramp “Improvement” Project. This appeal goes before the City Council on Tuesday, November 19, at 2pm.

Readers are familiar with this story. It is true that the OB Planning Board “is going toe-to-toe with the City of San Diego” over the city’s plans to spend $1.1 million upgrading an accessibility ramp onto Dog Beach in OB. The OB Rag has been covering the issue since it appeared before OB planners in early August (see our report here) and was shot down with a 12-1-1 to vote, and our writer, Geoff Page, examined the issues involved and came up with this conclusion:

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Public Workshop on How San Diego Airport Reduces Noise – Thurs., Nov. 21, Liberty Station

November 18, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Residents of Ocean Beach and Point Loma may want to know how the San Diego Airport is working to reduce noise.

If so, there will be a public workshop on the update to the Part 150 study process, Thursday, November 21 from 4-7 pm at the Airport Noise office, 2722 Truxtun Road in Liberty Station.

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The Widder Curry Goes to Dirty Birds

November 18, 2019 by Judi Curry

Restaurant Review

Dirty Birds Bar & Grille
1929 Cable Street
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
619-241-2922

“Positively Negative or Negative Positivity?”

By Judi Curry

Have you ever stood over a sink where one side had hot water in it and the other side had cold water in it and you have your hands in both sides of water? If you haven’t let me tell you that the brain does not really know how to register the sensation. That is how this review will pan out – good and bad equates to what?

It was another get-together of three widows going out to lunch together on a relatively cool, windless day. There are many new restaurants in the Ocean Beach area, and I remember a long time ago eating at a Dirty Birds somewhere in San Diego. As I recalled, the food was good, but we never went back, probably because it was far from our house.
First of all there were over twenty people in the restaurant when we walked in.

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Ocean Beach Favorite, the Electric Chair, May Close

November 15, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

We just heard some sad news: the Electric Chair hair salon may close. The Ocean Beach hair salon has been on Newport Avenue since 1984; it first began with Paul Bolton in a hole in the wall with only two chairs.

Then Paul and his spouse made the big move into its current location, 4944 Newport Ave, #A. Over the some 35 years the establishment has been through as many changes as some people change their hair. Yet it’s been a mainstay on OB’s main commercial boulevard for all this time.

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Bodyboarding Festival in Ocean Beach – Nov.23-24

November 15, 2019 by Source

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Ocean Beach House Waiting for Coastal Permit, Becomes Squatters’ Haven

November 14, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

A renovation project to a small, old house on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard has new problems. The renovation to the building was approved by the OB Planning Board September 4, but the owners – who are not living there – say they are now waiting for the Coastal Commission to approve their construction. In the meantime squatters have taken over the home, neighbors claim.

Guoc Nuygen bought the property at 2068 Sunset Cliffs but wanted to renovate. During the renovation, however, something happened and too much of something was removed or taken down. After a field inspection was triggered, Nugyen had to have the roof replaced and finish the interior remodel – and now he needed a Coastal Development Permit; he had to have the city confirm it and have it approved by the OB Planning Board.

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Accused Serial Killer of Homeless to Stand Trial

November 13, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Jon David Guerrero, the suspected serial killer of homeless people, has been ordered to stand trial on 15 counts of murder, attempted murder and assault on 13 victims, most of whom were homeless, in a brutal 2016 crime spree. At the conclusion of his preliminary hearing last week, Superior Court Judge Kenneth So found sufficient evidence to bind him over for trial.

Guerrero, 42, is suspected of very gruesome killings of his victims, including driving railroad spikes into some of them, setting two on fire and bludgeoning several on the head with hard objects.

He is charged with four counts of murder and a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, in the deaths of Shawn Longley, 41, – a man who was homeless in Ocean Beach,

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SeaWorld to Use 500 Drones for New Light Show

November 13, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

There’s a new article in the Press Enterprise from Orange County that reports SeaWorld San Diego plans to use 500 aerial drones to create images in the sky above Mission Bay. First, SeaWorld plans to do a test run of the aerial drone light show in early February.

The aquatic park has already submitted a proposal to the California Coastal Commission for a test run of the drone show. The dates for the test run are on select nights from Feb. 4-18.

If successful, SeaWorld probably will employ the drones as a replacement for part or all of their nighttime fireworks.

The Seaworld drone show will use 12-ounce Intel Shooting Star quadcopter drones designed specifically for aerial shows.

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Ten Years Ago in Ocean Beach – November 2009

November 12, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

What the heck was going on in Ocean Beach ten years ago, in November 2009? We wondered that too, so opened our archives to find the following posts maybe of interest:

Local Artists’ Collective Putting OB Art Scene Back on the Map

Sheldon Dorf dies – OBcean helped start Comic-Con

The Dilemma of the Disenchanted Progressive

83% in poll believe marijuana should be legalized

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Ocean Divers Can Be Ambassadors for a Healthy Blue World

November 12, 2019 by Source

Diving into an Ocean Climate Action Plan

By David Helvarg

Fifteen years ago I was in Fiji on assignment for the book Feeling the Heat, a collection of dispatches from 10 journalists who traveled the world to report on the already visible effects of climate change. In the Somosomo Strait south of Vanua Levu, I saw my first bleached coral. Millions of heat-stressed coral polyps had expelled their symbiotic algae, turning about a third of the reef wedding-cake white.

“Did you see the bleached coral?” I asked one of the other divers after climbing back onto our boat. “Really? I thought they were supposed to be white like that,” she replied before excitedly pointing to a fruit bat flying overhead. I’ve more recently witnessed bleached and dead coral in the overly warm waters of Australia, Hawaii, Florida and Cuba, including during the massive global bleaching event of 2014-2017 documented in the film Chasing Coral.

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Scooters Are Replacing Biking, Walking and Taking the Bus

November 12, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Joshua Emerson Smith, at the San Diego Union-Tribune, earlier this month asked the question, “how green are e-scooters?” He proceeded, of course, to attempt to answer his own query. Here below is a summary of sorts of his findings.

In general, he says – as reflected in the sub-head – studies do find that dockless e-scooters are more eco-friendly than driving – but buses, biking and walking remain the greenest travel modes.

“According to studies, many people are currently cruising around on e-scooters as an alternative to cleaner forms of transportation, such as biking, walking and taking the bus.”

  • The scooter craze may not be as green as advertised;
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Opinion: California’s Infrastructure is Crumbling. Veterans Can Help Fix It.

November 11, 2019 by Source

By Nicole Ueno / November 11, 2019

As state lawmakers rush to increase housing density in California, demographers estimate that our population will continue to increase by 300,000 to 400,000 people annually.

Essential infrastructure like roads, bridges, water pipelines and dams are already in disrepair, and increased strains from additional projected use are causing concern over the long-term sustainability of resident population growth.

A recent report from the League of California Cities states that “Numerous studies suggest that not only is the state unprepared for future growth, its current condition does not adequately support today’s population. Quite simply, California’s infrastructure is crumbling.”

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New Ocean Beach Tattoo Shop Vandalized Twice

November 11, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Apparently someone is trying to send a message to the owner of a brand new tattoo shop that opened in Ocean Beach a week ago.

The Southbay Blackwater Tattoo – which opened in the former site of the Black Bead at 5003 Newport Avenue – had an explosive taped to its front window early Saturday, which blew a hole in the front glass window. Then early Monday morning, somebody threw something through that same window.

Mike Kellerman is the owner of the new shop and he reports that right after he opened up he had a confrontation with another tattoo shop owner last week, who threatened him about opening the shop in the community.

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Ocean Beach Planners Parry Attacks from ‘Reformers’, Bicycling ‘Radicals’, and Code ‘Revisionists’

November 11, 2019 by Staff

By Geoff Page

It was an unusually long Ocean Beach Planning Board meeting Wednesday, November 6, at three hours, but there was a lot to talk about. The political attack on the planning boards was one of two major issues that involved some lengthy discussion.

Community Planning Group “Reform”?

There is a document posted on the OBPB website, attached to the November Agenda, titled “Taskforce on Community Planning Group Reform Draft Findings & Recommendations.”

In a nut shell, this document contains a list of 31 reforms the Task Force believes are necessary for the planning board system. The Task Force is a group of people representing planning groups, small businesses, a Planning Commission member, a Development Services Department employee, someone from Mass Transit, a member of an Environment/ Climate Change advocacy organization, and an infill developer. The document states:

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City Pushes Million Dollar Ramp to Nowhere onto Ocean Beach Against Community’s Will

November 7, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

The issue of the City’s million dollar ramp to nowhere at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach is heading to a full City Council vote later this month. Because of that, local mainstream media have picked up on the issue with headlines that emphasis “controversy in Ocean Beach” – always a head-turner for the television audiences.

It is true that the Ocean Beach Planning Board “is going toe-to-toe with the City of San Diego over the city’s plans to spend $1.1 million upgrading an accessibility ramp onto Dog Beach in Ocean Beach.” The OB Rag has been covering the issue since it appeared before OB planners in early August (see our report here) and was shot down with a 12-1-1 to vote, and our writer, Geoff Page, examined the issues involved and came up with this conclusion:

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‘The Hippie Speed Ball’: Coffee, Weed and Exercise

November 7, 2019 by Source

How cannabis, coffee, and exercise can put your brain in its most productive place

By Chris Taylor / Mashable / Nov. 7, 2019

I’m at the bar in what appears to be an Old West saloon, shooting the breeze with a guy from Nevada who sits on a stool in a dark corner, hiding from his fans, casually crumbling marijuana into his roll-up tobacco. As he does this, Nevada guy explains why weed, alongside the other drug we had that morning at camp, the psychoactive bean juice commonly known as coffee, provides a way into a brain state prized by athletes, monks, and every creative person ever.

The saloon and campground are actually on a business property — sorry, Institute — in the middle of Mendocino, California, ground zero for old-school outdoor pot production. The pot company is Flow Kana, which pitches itself as an organic farm-to-table service — a weed middleman, basically, and a rising star in the cannabis world.

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‘Java with Jen’ in Ocean Beach – Come Have Coffee With Councilwoman Campbell – Sat. Nov.9th at Hugo’s

November 7, 2019 by Source


Come hang with Councilwoman Jen Campbell in OB on Saturday, November 9th. It’s happening at Hugo’s Cocina at 1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, from 10am to Noon.

Now’s your opportunity to offer our rep on the San Diego City Council some ideas, or complaints, or just to say ‘hello’. It’s a ‘first-come-first-serve’ arrangement but hey, if you have ideas about gentrification, short-term vacation rentals, those scooters, the OB Library, the OB lifeguard station, the poisons being sprayed in our parks, beaches and playgrounds, ….

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Here’s Your — Updated — Ocean Beach Holiday Event Calendar for 2019

November 7, 2019 by Source

Here’s the Ocean Beach Holiday Event Calendar for 2019.

Restaurant Walk – Tuesday, November 12, 5 -9pm

Craft Fair at Veteran’s Plaza – November 13, 9am – 4pm

Holiday Tree Arrives at the Beach – Lower Newport – December 3

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San Diego Mainstream Media Downplay Suspected Serial Killer of Homeless People

November 5, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

For some reason, San Diego’s mainstream press is downplaying the fact that the man in court is suspected of being a serial killer of people who were homeless.

On Monday, a preliminary hearing opened for Jon David Guerrero, 42, who is charged with four counts of murder with a special-circumstance allegation of multiple murders. He is accused of killing four people, three men and one woman during a murderous crime spree in 2016. Plus he may be charged for another murder, as one of the badly injured victims has since died. He also faces charges of attempted murder, arson and assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury.

That’s still a lot of murders. So many I thought of asking the ol’ citadel of wisdom, wikipedia: “How many random murders does it take for it to be a serial killing? ”

Here was my answer:

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Green Events for November 2019 – from the Ocean Beach Green Center

November 5, 2019 by Source

November Events Compiled by the Ocean Beach Green Center
4862 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach 92107
oceanbeachgreencenter@gmail.com

Events at the Ocean Beach Green Center

November 14th Thursday 7 pm. Film Night “The Biggest Little Farm” The film chronicles the eight-year quest of John and Molly Chester as they trade city living for 200 acres of barren farmland and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature. Free of charge

Every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Climate Mobilization Coalition Meeting.

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Biggest Things to Know About New Rent Control Law

November 4, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, you need to be up to date on the new rent control law coming to San Diego and the rest of California in 2020. [The following is taken largely from the San Diego Union-Tribune of Oct. 27, 2019.]

Rent control was signed into law when Gov. Gavin Newsom put his signature on the legislation – Assembly Bill 1482 – about a month ago, in early October.

The basic rule of thumb: rent increases will be capped throughout California from 7 to 8 percent a year. It’s especially important for renters to know the law – as many landlords will get special briefings from their associations. The rent cap will expire in 10 years, but lawmakers are likely to extend It.

Rent is now capped: Landlords cannot raise rent more than 5 percent plus inflation as of Jan. 1, 2020.

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OB Planning Board to Review ‘Nix on the Cannabis’ Code Proposals and Establishment ‘Reforms’ to Neighborhood Planning Groups – Wed., Nov.6

November 4, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

This Wednesday night, November 6, the Ocean Beach Planning Board will hold its monthly public meeting. The volunteer panel of community members has one development project to review, but also will review issues from the weighty to the more lightweight. This all happens at 6 pm sharp at the OB Recreation Center at 4726 Santa Monica Ave. Here are the agenda items of note:

1776 Cable Street

The Board will review a Coastal Development Project application for 1776 Cable Street, one which seeks …

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News from Ocean Beach and Point Loma – Early November 2019

November 1, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

DUI While Sailing?

A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of boating while intoxicated after running his sailboat into the shore in Ocean Beach on Sunday night, Oct. 27, authorities said.

Suspect in OB Murder Case of Mother Has Prelim Set

The preliminary hearing for a man suspected of killing his mother in Ocean Beach was set on Oct. 28 for Jan. 14

Point Loma High Has Broken Retaining Wall

Argument Over Stolen Scooter Leads to Stabbing in Midway District

OB Street Stewards Take Off

Ocean Beach Street Stewards are sweeping into town ushering in a new era in community beautification.

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Company Leases Entire Apartment Complexes in San Diego and Turns Them Into Vacation Rentals

November 1, 2019 by Source

Communities of Point Loma, Downtown, North Park and Little Italy All Suffer Loss of Housing

From abc10News

In the midst of a housing supply crunch, San Diego is seeing apartments taken off market and reserved for short-term vacationers.

The units would add to the estimated 16,000 vacation rentals now available in the City of San Diego, according to a recent audit.

Now, a company called Sonder has signed master leases at apartment complexes and towers in locations including downtown, North Park, Little Italy, and Point Loma. Instead of renting them full time, the company leases them to visitors, charging more than $100 per unit on an average night.

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Finally – Widder Curry’s Book, ‘Liar, Liar’, Has Been Published

November 1, 2019 by Judi Curry

By Judi Curry

For those of you that have been following me for these past 9 years, and for those of you that have been following me for a shorter period of time, AND for those of you that have never followed me, never will, etc … you might be aware that after my husband passed away I was quite lonely and joined a variety of “On-line” dating sites.

In the past I have written about some of the experiences – and I have met some men that were fun to be with. Since I am still single, and still looking, it is obvious that I never met “Mr. Right”. But, I have met MANY “Mr. Wrong’s.”

About 4 years ago I began compiling the on-line conversations that I had with these men, and put it into a book entitled, Liar, Liar. And now, the book is published!!!!

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