Ocean Beach

The Case Against YIMBYism

March 19, 2024 by Source

Why encouraging more private development won’t solve the housing crisis

By Michael Friedrich/ The New Republic / March 15, 2024

Sonja Trauss, the charismatic founder of the YIMBY movement, recently spoke at a conference of fellow travelers about the importance of supporting small home builders. “Most neighborhoods are still zoned low-density, and so if you’re seeing new housing, it’s going to be small projects,” she said at Austin’s YIMBYtown 2024, a gathering of people who believe that saying “yes in my backyard” to private development will fix America’s housing crisis.

Read the full article → 5 comments

Former Councilman Byron Wear Re-Surfaces as Public Supporter of Midway Rising But Fails to Disclose He’s Their Paid Consultant

March 19, 2024 by Source

By Alberto Garcia/ La Prensa / March 18, 2024

A former San Diego City Councilman is publicly supporting a proposed redevelopment of the Sports Arena near his Point Loma home but he has not disclosed being a paid consultant for the project when he lobbies the Council making decisions on the project.

Byron Wear, who served on the San Diego City Council from 1995 to 2002, has attended at least four Council meetings to speak in support of the proposed Midway Rising development project at the existing San Diego Sports Arena site but uses a loophole in the City’s lobbying disclosure requirement to conceal his direct involvement with the massive development project. Last week, Wear spoke before the full City Council during open public comments period

Read the full article → 7 comments

‘La Prensa’: Grift Expands on Midway Rising Re-development Project

March 19, 2024 by Source

By Arturo Castañares / Publisher of La Prensa / March 14, 2024

The details of a controversial redevelopment proposal for the current San Diego Sports Arena site continue to morph from bad to worse as the team now seeks public financing for their $1 billion project, but it’s not the first time the developer shrunk a proposal and sought public freebies.

The Midway Rising team, headed by developer Brad Termini, was selected in late 2022 by Mayor Todd Gloria and a compliant City Council

Read the full article → 8 comments

‘Footloose’ — Latest Show by Wildsong at Former OB Playhouse

March 19, 2024 by Source

By Sara Blanche Hayes

It’s been almost three months since Wildsong took over the OB Playhouse space. Artistic Director Brooke Aliceon looks like she hasn’t slept since the last time The OB Rag caught up with her.

“If anything, owning the space has only pushed us to work even harder and create even bigger and better shows.”

The improvements to the old playhouse are immediately apparent. The front entrance boasts a professional coat of black paint with mood lighting. The concessions are served on movie theater racks, with a new silver fridge that lights up when you knock on the glass.

“That feature was particularly exciting,” said Aliceon, grinning.

Read the full article → 0 comments

‘Compromise’ Plan for Northeast Mission Bay Supported by Council Committee

March 18, 2024 by Source

David Garrick of the U-T reported last week: A long-debated plan to transform much of northeast Mission Bay into climate-friendly marshland got official support Thursday [March 14] from San Diego City Council members for the first time. The council’s Environment Committee unanimously approved the plan, calling it a fair compromise between environmentalists, supporters of camping and advocates for recreation like tennis, soccer and water skiing.

The plan approved does these:

Read the full article → 1 comment

Pizza Port’s OB Beers Win 3 Gold Medals

March 18, 2024 by Staff

Three of the Ocean Beach beers crafted by Pizza Port brewery won gold medals in this year’s competition in the annual Brewers Cup of California. Pizza Port also won a 4th gold medal from its Carlsbad location and two silver medals.

In total, six San Diego breweries brought home gold medals for their beers Wednesday in the competition’s fourth year. And all together, San Diego breweries won a total of 26 medals including 12 silver and five bronze.

Here are Pizza Port’s OB beers and its 1 Carlsbad beer:

Read the full article → 0 comments

Miles Doughty of Slightly Stoopid and 3 Friends Bought The Harp in Ocean Beach

March 18, 2024 by Staff

There is some good news on Newport Ave in OB. Four locals have purchased The Harp bar and grill — including Miles Doughty of Slightly Stoopid and 3 friends — and they opened not coincidentally on St Patrick’s Day this past weekend.

The 3 friends include Jeremy Diem, the current president and CEO of Hodad’s, and longtime OB fixtures Tyson Green and Steve Ashton who are some of the people behind OB bars like the former Mother’s Saloon, the all-time popular Sunshine Company Saloon, and Aquarius Bar & Grille in closeby Mission Bay.

Read the full article → 1 comment

A Deep Dive into the Recent History and Future of the ‘Upper Voltaire Corridor’

March 15, 2024 by Source

Read the full article → 3 comments

Tunaman Memorial Invokes Portuguese Origins and Influence of ‘Tunaville’ in Point Loma

March 15, 2024 by Source

The tuna fishing industry had a profound influence on the Roseville community, known as ‘Tunaville.’

By Eric DuVall / Point Loma – OB Monthly /March 15, 2024

Commercial fishing can be a lucrative business. It also can be a very dangerous business.

The tuna fishing industry has had such a profound influence on the development of Point Loma’s Roseville community, aka “Tunaville,“ that the area was once widely known as the “Tuna Capital of the World.”

Read the full article → 0 comments

New Banners for OB Celebrate ‘High Tides’ and ‘Good Vibes’

March 15, 2024 by Frank Gormlie

Thirty new banners are gracing the lamp posts of Ocean Beach. Thanks to the OB Mainstreet Association.

19 banners are on on Sunset Cliffs and 11 are on Newport. They will be up until November, when holiday-themed banners will take their spots.

Here the rest are:

Read the full article → 3 comments

Celebrate Spring at the Wisteria Cottage Patio with the OB Historical Society — Thursday, March 21

March 15, 2024 by Source

Thurs. Mar. 21, 5-7 PM- Celebration of Spring at the Wisteria Cottage Patio!

Please join the Ocean Beach Historical Society on March 21, 2023, from 5 PM to 7 Pm at the Wisteria Cottage Garden at 4761 Niagara

Read the full article → 0 comments

OBceans React to New City Crackdown on Private Businesses Staging Events on City Beaches

March 14, 2024 by Frank Gormlie

The big news coming out of City Hall that affects the beach is that San Diego is no longer allowing private companies to stage picnics, corporate events, large parties, bonfires or similar organized activities on the vast majority of city beaches.

According to David Garrick today at the Union-Tribune:

A city spokesperson said the crackdown, which comes as spring break is beginning and just before the busy summer beach season, was prompted by complaints from beach-goers and nearby residents.

Read the full article → 3 comments

Midway Rising Workshop for March 18 Rescheduled

March 13, 2024 by Source

From Midway Rising:

The Midway Rising team is currently in the process of rescheduling the upcoming March 18 informational workshop update.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Now, the City Is Thinking About Subsidizing Midway Rising’s Affordable Housing in Sports Arena Redevelopment

March 13, 2024 by Frank Gormlie

After all the ups and downs of the Midway Rising redevelopment team and its promises, San Diego residents now are being faced with subsidizing Midway Rising’s affordable housing part of the project.

For example, just last October Midway Rising dropped the middle-income family units from its redevelopment plan, which angered a number of City Council members.

Originally, in order to obtain the bid for the massive redevelopment of the Sports Arena area, Midway Rising pledged it would build 2,000 affordable housing units. As U-T reporter Jennifer van Grove stated in yesterday’s (subscriber only) article on the matter:

Read the full article → 25 comments

Someone Is Impersonating the OB Rag and Sending Out Fake Flyers About an Affordable Housing Project Coming to Pacific Beach

March 13, 2024 by Frank Gormlie

This is certainly a twist during apparently the late hours of the Primary season.

There was a flyer circulating around Pacific Beach last week about a coming development on the 2000 block of Beryl Street in that community. The flyer was appearing to either announce or warn PB residents about an affordable housing project coming to some church property for sale at 2088 Beryl Street. It states “The former church property 2088 Beryl Street at Academy is going to be used for up to forty-nine low-income housing units.”

Read the full article → 19 comments

Local Water Advisories for Dog Beach and Mission Bay

March 12, 2024 by Source

Advisories from County Beach & Bay Water Quality Program

Check in before you go in

Advisory: Ocean Beach – Dog Beach
Station: San Diego River outlet to 300′ South (FM-010)
Status Since: February 14, 2024
Bacteria levels exceed health standards. Avoid water contact in the advisory area. (See below)

Read the full article → 0 comments

Explaining the Recommendations for Improving the Short Term Residential Ordinance — Slide Show

March 12, 2024 by Source

Here’s the slide show presentation from the last meeting of the OB Planning Board on March 5 that explains the recommendations the planners are making to improve the short term residential occupancy ordinance (STRO). It was presented by Vice-chair Kevin Hastings.

Read the full article → 4 comments

Expanding Bribery Indictment of Former DOD Engineer at NAVWAR Involved $100 Million in Gov’t Contracts

March 12, 2024 by Source

James Soriano is accused of taking bribes from two defense contractors

Here’s 2 Sources:

From US Attorney’s Office, Southern District of California

A former civilian employee of San Diego-based Naval Information Warfare Center and a former executive with a South Carolina defense contractor were charged in an indictment unsealed today with participating in a bribery scheme to trade expensive meals, jobs and a ticket to a premiere sporting event for help obtaining more than $100 million in government contracts.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Man Arrested for Walking on Closed Ocean Beach Pier; Next Pier Renewal Workshop on Sat., April 6th

March 12, 2024 by Source

A man was arrested Sunday night [March 10] after he was seen scaling the locked gates to walk along the length of the Ocean Beach Pier’s railings.

Around 6:45 p.m., officers were flagged down by beachgoers near the pier who spotted the man climbing the pier’s fence, San Diego police said. Officers gained access to the pier with the help of lifeguards and took him into custody without incident.

The man was seen walking along the pier’s railing and appeared to be well-balanced. OB-related photog Jim Grant took some amazing pics of the incident.

Read the full article → 5 comments

Lawyer for Pacific Beach Riot Defendants Wants Identities of Undercover Cops

March 11, 2024 by Source

By Eva Knott / San Diego Reader / March 5, 2024

San Francisco attorney Curtis Briggs asked for the names of all policemen who were embedded in the Antifa mob during an assault in San Diego on January 9, 2021.

The demand was heard Friday, March 1, by Judge Daniel Goldstein. This judge, who will hear the trial, was hearing motions before jury selection, which is expected to begin in two weeks.

Three alleged Antifa rioters have pled not-guilty to multiple felonies: Brian Cortez Lightfoot Jr., 27, Luis Francisco Mora, 32, and Jeremy Jonathan White, 41. Eleven people were originally charged, eight already made plea deals, and of those eight, two were sentenced to state prison. Erich Yach, now 40, was the first one to make a deal and could be released from prison as early as April 1, 2024, according to a prison spokesperson. Jesse Cannon was sentenced to five years state prison last month, but so far remains in local custody.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Love Among the Ruins — Fish, Flowers, and Friends

March 11, 2024 by Source

By Colleen O’Connor

Disappointed in the Oscars?  Unhappy your football team lost the Super Bowl. Or that your candidates lost in the primary.  You are not alone.

Americans are overwhelmingly unhappy.

Why?  Let me count the ways.  Maybe count just the first among the heap of reasons.

The majority of voters do not want what is coming, in the 2.0 Presidential rematch of Biden v. Trump with the cruelty, debased language, hallow promises and dumb-downed promises that are mostly head fakes.

No trust of either candidate.

A new ABC News/Ipsos poll finds 36% of Americans trust Donald Trump to do a better job leading the country as president, while 33% trust Joe Biden and 30% trust neither.

Over half are appalled by the death and destruction in the Israel/Hamas war. And want a permanent “cease fire.”

Read the full article → 5 comments

OB Planners Recommend Needed Changes to Short Term Residential Ordinance

March 11, 2024 by Source

By Geoff Page

The Ocean Beach Planning Board wants to see some serious changes to the very flawed Short Term Residential Occupancy, or STVRO, ordinance. To that end, the OBPB, in conjunction with other beach areas suffering under this hastily crafted and poorly thought-out law, will send a letter with recommendations for changes to the City.

The OBPB discussed and approved the letter at the OBPB’s regularly monthly meeting, Tuesday, March 5 at the OB Rec Center. The OBPB recently changed its meeting day from the first Wednesday of each month to the first Tuesday instead. The board changed the night to avoid parking problems on Wednesday’s the Farmer’s Market crowd.

Kevin Hastings, OBPB vice-chair is leading the effort. Hastings probably knows more about the subject than anyone else. Hastings gave a presentation that contained history, information, and recommendations.

Read the full article → 2 comments

Update to Local San Diego City Primary Results

March 11, 2024 by Frank Gormlie

It’s been nearly a week since San Diego voted in the California Primary and here, in brief, are some of the changes or noteworthy developments from our last report:

Mayor — No Substantial Change

The newest results show Gloria has come down a percentage point, as has Larry Turner to 23.3%, and Genevieve Jones-Wright has notched up a point and half. With the suit challenging Turner’s residency qualifications dismissed, and only 54,000 ballots to be yet tallied, it will be Turner, the “Protest” candidate against Gloria, the incumbent mayor who barely got half the Primary votes.

Gloria’s poor showing could really make him vulnerable come the fall battle, especially if everybody who doesn’t like Gloria rallies around Turner, who then becomes the “anti-Gloria” candidate. That could be a tall order

Read the full article → 2 comments

Neighborhood Coalition Urges City to Conduct Economic Study of San Diego’s Historic Preservations

March 8, 2024 by Source

SOHO / March-April 2024 Newsletter

San Diego is at serious risk of losing the irreplaceable authenticity, architectural evolution, and unique character embodied in our historic homes, neighborhoods, heritage sites, and cultural landscapes.

Not only is the City of San Diego starting to overhaul its Heritage Preservation Program, with some officials fallaciously assuming that preservation curtails affordable housing creation, City officials are also acting on these important issues without a clear economic picture to guide them.

Read the full article → 9 comments

Lawsuit Challenging Residency of Mayoral Second-Place Finisher Larry Turner May Be Dropped

March 8, 2024 by Staff

A lawsuit challenging San Diego mayoral candidate and second-place winner Larry Turner’s residential status in the city may be dropped as soon as today, March 8, Friday.

A lawsuit filed in February by Helen VanDiver against the City of San Diego, the City Clerk, and the County Registrar of Voters alleged Turner did not meet residential requirements to run for mayor of San Diego.

Read the full article → 15 comments

Peninsula Planning Board Election Coming Up — Candidate Forum Thursday, March 14

March 7, 2024 by Source

The Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) will be holding elections this month – March 2024 — to fill seven (7) vacancies. Five (5) seats have 3 year terms and Two (2) seats are One (1) year partial terms. 3 year seats go to the 5 candidates with the most votes.

The election will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm, at the Point Loma / Hervey Branch Library located at 3701 Voltaire Street, San Diego, CA 92107.

Read the full article → 1 comment

What Amazon Can’t Offer: How Our Local Independent Bookstore — La Playa –Builds Community

March 7, 2024 by Source

By Aliah Fabros / LomaBeat.com / March 1, 2024

If you travel down pot-hole-ridden Rosecrans, you’ll find La Playa Books — an independent used bookstore located six minutes away from campus. Upon opening their heavy wooden door, you’ll be greeted by the chime of a bell and that woody, slightly medicinal old-book smell.

Read the full article → 0 comments

An Update of the Saga of the Chevron Station in the Midway

March 7, 2024 by Source

From the Peninsula Newsletter of the PLA

Read the full article → 0 comments

Assemblymember Alvarez Pushes for Big Changes to How Port of San Diego Is Governed in New Bill

March 7, 2024 by Source

By Greg Moran / inewsource / February 26, 2024 

Assemblymember David Alvarez has proposed legislation that would bring sweeping changes to governance of the powerful Port of San Diego, including instituting term limits and residency requirements for the city’s commissioners.

The legislation, filed Feb. 15, comes after a tumultuous year for the Port District staff and its seven-member governing board of commissioners.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Tree Specialist- Landscape Artist Donates Expertise to Point Loma

March 7, 2024 by Source

An award-winning landscape artist with plant and tree expertise, Russell Bowman, transforms the sickly trees and gardens of Point Loma into ” Disneyesque wonderlands,” it is said.

Bowman donates his time and expertise for the trees for the Point Loma Association and gardens at the Rock Church in Point Loma, Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, the YMCA, Barnes Tennis Center,  and other sites, like Chili’s Restaurants, Stone Brewery in Escondido, and San Diego Botanic Garden. He also served with the San Diego Rose Society in Balboa Park for 12 years.

Read the full article → 0 comments

← Older Articles

Newer Articles →