Category: Ocean Beach

By Judi Curry

I think I began watching Jackie and Shadow’s eagle nest and their offspring about 5 years ago. They are fascinating to watch and the learning styles are so similar for each set of baby birds.  It is so uplifting – or has been until Jackie became so ill.  One has to give so much credit to the group working to save her.

But I am not here to write about Jackie and Shadow.  No…I am here to introduce “Mutt and Jeff” to Pt. Loma.  Well….sort of because many of you know them already.  I am not sure what their “given” names are, but over here – my house – we named them Mutt and Jeff.  Let me tell you about them.

One week ago today we didn’t know they existed.  Sure, we hear them, particularly at 2-3:00 am every morning.  They have a nest in a tree nearby, and almost without exception you can see the adults sitting on the electric pole in the alley to the south of my house.  And if you can’t see them you sure as hell can hear them!

Last week I heard a person living here YELLING at my German Shephard – Charlie – in such a loud voice I was sure that Charlie must have done something terrible wrong.  I went outside to see what the ruckus was as fast as this old lady can move and found that roommate Amber was yelling at Charlie because she had her paw on this large bird and was not letting the bird get up.  (We think that maybe Charlie was getting ready to have a large snack but fortunately Amber was there at the right time and managed to get Charlie away from the large black and while bird with the most beautiful wings that looked like they had been drawn by an artist!

Amber and I watched the bird, and it looked like it might have been injured because it could not fly.  We later thought it might have been a fledgling that had fallen out of the next and was just learning to fly.

Ongoing

Every Saturday at 10:30 am. San Diego Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings.  August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Keep up to date on climate issues and Climate Action events. To register email Jon Findley at jon@climatemobsd.org.  More info: https://www.facebook.com/SDClimateMobilization/

Every Saturday 10 am – 12 pm Peace Vigil for Palestine: Advocate for Peace and Justice in Gaza and Everywhere Join CODEPINK SD, San Diego Veterans for Peace, and Palestine Pals every Saturday at 10:00 am at Ocean Beach Gateway Plaza, on the corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and W. Point Loma Blvd.  Wear pink and bring a peace-related poster if you have one!  Contact: Nathanael sandiego@codepink.org  More info:  https://www.instagram.com/codepinksd/

The San Diego River Park Foundation has volunteer opportunities in Ocean Beach: San Diego River Mouth Habitat Restoration on August 11th. For other volunteer opportunities go to https://sandiegoriver.org/

Indivisible is a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda. For places, dates and details go to: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/  Also check out their Change Begins with me calendar: https://changebeginswithmesite.wordpress.com/events/

Every Sunday 1:30 pm – 3:15 pm Otay Mesa Vigil Otay Mesa Detention Center 7488 Calzada de la Fuente San Diego 92154

Here is the August 4, 2026 Newsletter

Beginning August 1, NPR Music will publish a week-long list of stories and podcast episodes exploring the legacy and future of the Grateful Dead fandom. And they want to hear from you!

They want to know: How did you become a fan of the Grateful Dead? Maybe it was a specific album that converted you, or you were transformed by a show you saw. And what would you say to someone who just doesn’t understand the band’s appeal?

By Steven Mihailovich / PB Monthly / July 30, 2026

Local outrage over the city’s closure of 13 public restrooms in Mission Bay Park to balance the budget was evident at the Pacific Beach Town Council’s July meeting.

As the sole city government official present, Savannah Stallings — PB rep for Council President Joe LaCava — bore the full brunt of criticisms and frustrations arising from the move projected to save San Diego about $547,000 through the elimination of six custodian positions at the Parks and Recreation Department. Their responsibilities included the public restrooms’ maintenance.

The audience of about 35 was audibly upset that the city’s decision caused outsized disruptions for minor savings.

“Personally, don’t you think this should go a little further than just, it’s a budget cut, just accept it?” asked Ron, a resident who didn’t give his surname. “I understand it’s a budget cut. What about the people in the community? I mean, we’re all not homeless here. We’re all taxpayers here. I don’t understand why they targeted the bathrooms.”

Stallings said the initial budget proposal called for closures of restrooms along the shore, but were reinstated after heavy lobbying by LaCava.

In addition, Stallings said only one of the 13 closed restrooms is located in District 1 under LaCava. The remaining 12 are in District 2 served by Councilmember Jennifer Campbell.

ArtWalk Liberty Station encourages attendees to immerse themselves in the art world and supports the appreciation and acquisition of original artwork.

Editordude: The following is the substance of Ralph Teyssier’s presentation (slightly edited for clarification) at the Town Hall event at the Point Loma Library, July 28, 2026.

By Ralph Teyssier

Engineering Challenges in Delivering Affordable Housing

Eric Law has discussed the legislative promise of affordable housing, and Patty Ducey-Brooks has addressed the environmental concerns around Midway Rising and Senate Bill 958. I’d like to spend just a couple of minutes discussing the engineering realities of delivering affordable housing.

As a structural engineer, I support affordable housing. But we also need to recognize that SB 958 extends well beyond the Midway Rising project. If enacted, it could influence how future coastal developments are evaluated throughout California. That makes it all the more important that we fully understand the engineering realities, geological conditions, and economic consequences before establishing a statewide precedent. Political will alone does not create affordable housing. Engineering, geology, construction, and economics all play important roles. Nor should we assume that simply allowing taller buildings  automatically results in more affordable housing.

In fact, when increased building height is removed from meaningful CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) review, it becomes more difficult to fully evaluate the engineering and economic consequences associated with that increased height. In that sense, it works against one of CEQA’s fundamental purposes—providing informed decision-making.

By Debbie L. Sklar / Special to the OB Rag

Today, Mission Bay Park is one of San Diego’s most recognizable recreational destinations, filled with beaches, sailboats, paddleboards, bike paths and visitors enjoying the waterfront.

But before the bay became the sprawling aquatic park San Diegans know today, the shoreline was home to something unexpected: a small airport.

Known as Peik Airport, the airfield operated along the southwestern shore of Mission Bay during the mid-20th century. At the time, the area looked nothing like today’s landscaped parks and beaches. Much of Mission Bay was made up of tidal marshes, mud flats and undeveloped shoreline.

The airport’s story began with Arnold H. Peik, a pilot who arrived in San Diego in the 1930s. A 1967 San Diego Evening Tribune article by John McPeek (reprinted in PB newsletter below) recalled Peik’s arrival as a young barnstorming pilot flying a Stinson monoplane into San Diego before eventually establishing his flying operation near Mission Bay.

“It all began when a young barnstorming pilot in a battered Stinson monoplane flew into San Diego” in 1934, the article recalled.

San Diego needs money. Meanwhile, San Diego teens are jumping off Sunset Cliffs, some being seriously injured, others having to be rescued. But most don’t.

The two candidates running for city council district 2 that includes Mission Bay have both called out the disconnect.

Richard Bailey:

“If you’re going to build these facilities, you need to have a plan in place to operate them, to maintain them and then eventually fund their replacement.”

Nicole Crosby:

“There is money, and the problem is that there hasn’t been a full budget audit; we have done a lot of contracts, and there are overruns that go on contracts.”

by: Wiley Jawhary / Fox5 / July 30-31, 2026

A 17-year-old who was seriously injured after jumping from Sunset Cliffs is speaking publicly about his recovery, as San Diego lifeguards warn they continue to see teenagers making the same dangerous jumps despite the viral rescue that captured national attention.

While his family did not want FOX5/KUSI to identify him by name, the 17-year-old told us he is unable to walk without a walker, but is on the path to recovery.

“I slammed against the rock and I felt like paralyzed, and I couldn’t move,” he said.

The teen was injured after striking the cliff face before crashing into the ocean. Video of the incident spread rapidly across social media, showing bystanders rushing into the water to help keep him afloat before lifeguards and firefighters rescued him using a technical rope system.

“My lungs were burning, my ribs were burning, my spine, it was the weirdest feeling it was just burning,” he said.

Editordude: House Representative Scott Peters has come out in opposition to the infamous PB “Turquoise Tower”. In a public letter addressed to Mayor Todd Gloria, dated July 21, he urges the city to deny the application of Project Vela, and states, “It should not be built at the outrageous height currently proposed.” Here is the entire letter:

July 21, 2026

Dear Mayor Gloria

I urge the city of San Diego to finally deny the current application for Project Vela, commonly known as the Turquoise Tower, in Pacific Beach. It should not be built at the outrageous height currently proposed.

In my conversations with constituents over the past several months I have been struck by the unity and anger over this proposal. The thought of a 23-story tower in this location, I imagine, was likely what set off the same furor that drove the adoption of the 30-foot height limit more than 50 years ago.