Ocean Beach

The San Diego City Attorney’s office just announced today that the Point Loma couple who had sued the city over its removal of historic Palm trees has dropped the suit.

John and Tracy Van de Walker had sued the City in federal court to prevent the trees from being cut down, claiming violations of the California Environmental Quality Act. They then dismissed that suit and filed a new action in state court alleging the City cannot cut down the trees under the San Diego Municipal Code and Council Policy.

But on January 27 this year, the Van de Walker Plaintiffs filed a Request for Dismissal in San Diego Superior Court. No reason was given in the CA’s announcement. City Attorney Mara Elliott jumped for joy and called it a “meritless lawsuit” that forced her office “to respond to a frivolous claim.”

The OB Rag covered the controversy since its beginning in October of 2021 and our reporter Geoff Page wrote extensive reports on the real reasons the city wanted to cut the trees down.

By Geoff Page

The Peninsula Community Planning Board’s regularly monthly meeting, Thursday, January 19, was relatively unremarkable until a certain piece of very remarkable information popped up, almost routinely.  It appears the evisceration of the planning board system has begun.

About one hour into the meeting, the PCPB reached the point in its agenda called “Applicant-Initiated Action Items.” Board chair, Fred Kosmo, pointed out that there were no projects on the agenda and explained why. Kosmo said that the PCPB’s Project Review subcommittee chair, Joe Holasek, informed him of a change at the city.

The planning boards will no longer be reviewing projects involving accessory dwelling units or ADUs. So, how does removing projects – the most common and of numerous projects these days – from planning board review square with the following?

Check out these black and whites taken by ACE, Albert C Elliott, on Thursday, Jan. 26 at Ocean Beach. Smokin’, dude.

By Judi Curry

There is no question that I am an insomniac. I have been for over 13 years and it started when my husband Bob was diagnosed with lung cancer.  As the cancer advanced, it was difficult for him to speak, and so we developed a method of communication by turning on a light whenever he needed anything.  It didn’t matter what time of day it was – the light went on.

But insomniacs seem to “run” in my family. 

It is full speed ahead on initial planning to replace the iconic Ocean Beach Pier creating an updated regional landmark to last up to a century.

A best-case scenario would be to have construction on a new structurally modern pier likely costing upwards of $100 million beginning before the end of 2026, with completion by mid-2028.

It will be a new pier for a new age, said OB resident and OB Pier Task Force member Mark Winkie.

By Lily Damron / Lomabeat.com / Jan. 25, 2023

Many on-campus Point Loma Nazarene University students may be familiar with the feral cats that roam around campus, especially the ones that live in the wooded area along the southern edge of Nease Residence Hall. Some may also be familiar with Jim Gaupsas and his wife, who feed and take care of them. I first heard about Gaupsas, and the cat population, from my roommate after she had unsuccessfully attempted to befriend the campus’ cats.

One afternoon, she ran into Gaupsas, who furthered her interest in becoming a cat whisperer.

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By Gary Wonacott

Congratulations Councilmember Campbell and supporting cast:

You have taken a small beach community, allowed an unrestrained proliferation of short term rentals from 2010 to 2020, a time period that coincidentally correlates with a loss of almost twenty five percent of our population.  Then you legalized it solidifying what is now an area surrounding Belmont Park that is, in my opinion, a STR ghetto.