Ocean Beach

With concerns over water quality and warming ocean water increasing, Surfrider Foundation San Diego is working to raise awareness on the challenges we’re facing together. So, this Sunday, Sept. 23, the chapter will host its 27th Annual Paddle for Clean Water in which hundreds of San Diegans will paddle out to the water in Ocean Beach.

This is one of the organization’s largest fundraisers, it is free for all, and seeks to raise awareness on the importance of water quality.

Come inside for detailed agenda of event

Public Service Announcement: Riding Electric Scooters on the Sidewalk Is Against the Law

Next time you see someone riding an electric scooter on a sidewalk, please politely remind them that it is illegal and ask them to get into the street. They can use the bike lanes.

Musing From the Old Broad

Last week I said that I was boycotting “In and Out Burger” and listed the various reasons for that action. This week I am boycotting the Miramar Air Show for a number of reasons. I realize that this will be an unpopular decision for many of you, but I have several strong reasons for the boycott, and glorifying war is one of the strongest.

I want to quote the “Veterans for Peace” comments because they can say it better than I can:

“ . . . we ask that you question why our government continues spending an increasing amount on the military while reducing spending on programs such as health, education, and infrastructure, programs that benefit out citizens. Our tax dollars can serve us better than by funding war and its implements.”

The Ocean Beach Pier Pancake Breakfast is a fun and popular tradition in OB that kicks off the big fundraising season for the OB Food and Toy Drive and all of OBTC’s Holiday events.

This year we will hold the 20th Annual Pier Pancake Breakfast on the Ocean Beach Pier from 7:30 am till Noon on Saturday, September 22. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children for an amazing breakfast over the ocean.

All proceeds go to benefit the Annual OB Toy and Food Drive,

By Jordan Beane

On September 13th, the Union-Tribune released their interviews with our District 2 candidates, Dr. Jennifer Campbell and current District 2 City Councilmember Lorie Zapf. In Zapf’s interview, there were a lot of specific questions about the Climate Action Plan, it’s goals and more.

However, I believe the UT should have asked her a simpler question: Do you, Councilmember Zapf, believe in climate change?

Our Republican representative wants you to believe she cares about this existential threat and its impact on San Diego. She, along with the rest of the city council, voted to approve San Diego’s Climate Action Plan (CAP) in 2015.

It has been reported the Trump White House has set up a secret committee to collect and distribute negative stories and statements about cannabis. It’s called the Marijuana Policy Coordination Committee and it’s made up of Executive Branch officials. BuzzFeed News broke the story on August 29 and it opens with:

Apparently, a three story building is going up in the backyard at 4925 Saratoga Avenue in Ocean Beach. Despite any other 3-story residences in the immediate neighborhood and despite the project being denied by the Ocean Beach Planning Board on May 3, 2017.

Applicant-Owner Todd Schak applied for a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) to build a two-story house (okay, it’s a small house with only 918 square feet) on top of a 4-car garage. There’s already a rehabbed Craftsman 2-bedroom in the front which is 800 square feet.

New Pet Store Opening on Bacon Street

Review of Long Branch Torrey Pine by Advisory Board Postponed

Protest at Famosa Property on Sept 29

Scientists are finding pollutants after storms can stay trapped near shore longer than previously thought.

COME INSIDE FOR THESE AND MUCH MORE

By Judi Curry

Being a widow for 9 years has changed the way I think; the way I live; the way I respond to others.

I have tried to discuss what is going on in the world with “Shadow”, my 6 ½ year old Golden Retriever, but his responses are less than satisfactory and leave me frustrated and angry a great deal of the time.

As I embark on this new facet of my life – a “weekly” column – not be considered a “weakly” column, I probably will impart my pent-up feelings to you and cause some of your great consternation and anger. I am happy to say that the “scars” from previous encounters have healed sufficiently, and I am ready to step into the arena again. Ready? Here goes!

I am boycotting In and Out Burger.

Here are four things you need to know about the Torrey Pine at 4633 Long Branch Avenue in northeast Ocean Beach.

One. The tree is not moving. There is at least 1 pin in the tree (possibly 2) placed by the city as an intersect to measure movement; a city engineer told a local resident there has been no movement by the tree, and its not falling. This means the city has data about the tree that demonstrates it is not going to collapse or that it has even moved.

Two. The City wants to chop the Torrey Pine down. This was evident on July 5 when a crew showed up to do just that. If they hadn’t been deterred by local residents, they would have removed it. Plain and simple. And thank you Matt Madruga.

Meeting last night before a packed crowd in the OB Rec Center, the OB Planning Board – once it obtained a quorum – appointed two new board members, approved the proposed 2 condo project on Froude and agreed to send letters to the City regarding safety issues on OB streets.

2 New Board Members

Two individuals who qualified to be members of the Board were appointed to fill 2 of the 6 open seats on the Board. Kevin Hastings was appointed to planning area district 6 and Tracy Dezenzo was appointed to district 1.

Kevin Hastings

Board member Craig Klein introduced Kevin – who is well known in planning board and town council circles – by stating Kevin “single-handedly provided a huge amount of data [on short term vacation rentals] to help the City Council, to give residents ammunition.”

By Frank Gormlie

Here is Part 1.

Zig-Zags on the 30 Foot Height Limit

These days, it does appear Councilwoman Lorie Zapf is a strong supporter and defender of the sacrosanct 30-foot height limit for San Diego’s coastal and and beach communities. She did come out against a 4-story monstrosity on Emerson Street in the Roseville neighborhood of Point Loma, and along with Mayor Faulconer, issued a joint statement announcing a “stop-work” order for the project.

However, we have to note, as we reported then in June 2016:

The stop work order comes after a community protest by nearly a hundred residents … and after a widely-attended town hall meeting about the huge duplex … after a facebook page was set up and after an online petition to stop the project was begun – … it had close to 550 signatures.

Matt Madruga has lived on the 4600 block of Long Branch Avenue in Ocean Beach for 16 years – he still lives in the house his grandparents bought back in the mid-1950s.

So, Matt – who runs a small diving and yacht services company – knows about the large Torrey Pine that towers over the eastern end of his block. It stands in the right-of-way next to the narrow street near his property line with his nextdoor neighbor. In fact, one can see a portion of its trunk through a crack in Matt’s concrete patio.

This is the same Torrey that was saved by the community 7 years ago from the city wanting to chop it down and is the same Torrey that was almost cut down this past July, and it’s the subject of an upcoming Urban Forestry Commission meeting.

Matt has been watching the tree for 25 to 30 years now, he told the OB Rag recently. He knows how it lives, he knows what lives in it, he knows how it blows in the wind,