OB Rag

By Sub-Committee

Thank God for the recent rains (and I mean that, God) because Garnet Avenue in Pacific Beach after 6 rainless months smelled like a dirty toilet. After the heavenly cleaning, the sidewalks are much brighter and even the scraped off vomit stains are slightly improved, and most of all it cut down on the underlying stench. It is not God’s fault that all the filth washed right down the storm drains 5,4,3,2,1 blocks to dump right on the beautiful sandy beaches of Pacific Beach, it is our fault.

Y’all understand that you shouldn’t really go swimming in the ocean after a rain because of unsanitary microbes, right? I would go so far as to say, don’t be touching the sand in the drain pipe areas either if you know what’s good for you and your children.

Welcome to Pacific Beach, or Pee Beach as we have begun calling it around here.

We’ve lost a long-time “mover and shaker” of Point Loma with the recent passing of Nancy Miller (Wilberg).

Nancy will be remembered as a long-time – over half a century – local Peninsula Democratic Party activist and an early supporter of marriage equality. She was a member of both the Point Loma Democratic Club and San Diego County’s Democratic Central Committee for over 50 years. She served two terms as the president of the Point Loma dems, and as vice-chair for the county-wide dems.

As a party activist, Nancy attended over 20 state conventions, and in recognition of her service to the San Diego Democratic Party she received that organization’s highest honor, the “1996 Henry Auerback Award.” Former Assemblywoman Lori Saldana was quoted in the U-T San Diego obituary for Miller, that “Nancy hosted many Democratic Club meeting at her home on Niagara Avenue.”

With this latest fatal great white shark attack up in Northern California earlier this week, another one at that same beach exactly two years earlier, and what with that deadly attack up in Solana Beach in 2008, does it seem that shark attacks against people are increasing?

Well, according to the California Department of Fish and Game, the answer is “no”. Here is what their website says: …

The beach where a veteran surfer was killed by a Great White Shark on Tuesday, Oct. 23, was closed for 72 hours. The beach – called Surf Beach – is off the Vanderberg Air Force base and is expected to open Friday, the 26th.

It is now accepted that it was a Great White – estimated at 15 to 16 feet – that attacked and killed Francisco Javier Solorio Jr. Solorio was an avid surfer who had been surfing at the spot ever since he was a kid. He is survived by his wife Kasey, and two daughters, Monique and Frankie.

Executive Director Denny Knox requests re-consideration on behalf of Ocean Beach.
Here below is the letter from Denny Knox of the OBMA, sent October 1st to the landowners of the property that Apple Tree Market sits upon:

Mr. Elliot Megdal
Elliot Megdal and Associates
1875 Century Park East – Suite 1840
Los Angeles, CA 90067

Re: Apple Tree Supermarket Notice to Vacate

Dear Mr. Megdal,

By way of introduction I am the Executive Director of the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association (OBMA), which represents 525 businesses in Ocean Beach, CA. I am writing on behalf of the Executive Board of the OBMA as well as Saad Hirmez, owner of Apple Tree Market located at 4949 Santa Monica Ave. San Diego, CA as regards the notice to vacate sent to them on 9/27/12.

.

Ocean Beach has its very own Halloween mystery: the case of the unclaimed cremated remains of Henry Lebebvre.

You may have heard by now, that a locked metal box with cremated ashes with a label reading: “Henry Lefebvre” and dated April 30, 1995, was found about six months ago in a bay of an OB carwash facility, the OB Suds, on Voltaire. The carwash owner saved the box thinking that someone would show up and claim it, but no one has.

So on Monday, OB Suds owner turned it over to the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association for safekeeping. It sits on a table at the OBMA’s office. Denny Knox, executive director of OBMA, told the media:

“We would like to return it to a family member.”

from the Center for Biological Diversity

Three conservation groups filed a lawsuit this week challenging the city of San Diego’s decision to triple the amount of garbage that can be processed daily at the Sycamore Landfill and allow operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The lawsuit, filed by Preserve Wild Santee, the Center for Biological Diversity and the California Chaparral Institute, is aimed at protecting people and wildlife, and encouraging a transition toward more sustainable and efficient solid-waste processing. Left unchallenged, the Sycamore Landfill’s overall disposal capacity would more than double, increasing by approximately 82 million cubic yards to 153 million cubic yards.

There’s a “For Lease” sign on Apple Tree market in Ocean Beach.

The rumors that have been circulating since late Winter 2010 are back: Apple Tree is closing and condos will be built in its place. Although, some say, this time around, they are not just rumors, but the future.

We had heard that the Los Angeles- based landlord/ owner of the property raised the rent to an exorbitant amount – an amount the current Apple Tree owner can not afford.

Yet, if this true, if Apple Tree does move or close down completely, and if condominiums are built in its stead, the changes to this community would be horrendous. For many OBceans – especially the elderly – Apple Tree is the only large market in OB central – their only store within walking distance. With its closing, where are these folks going to shop?

Moyers, Matt Taibbi and Chrystia Freeland explain how the plutocrats have willfully confused their self-interest with America’s interest.

From BillMoyers.com and AlterNet /October 19, 2012

The One Percent is not only increasing their share of wealth — they’re using it to spread millions among political candidates who serve their interests. Example: Goldman Sachs, which gave more money than any other major American corporation to Barack Obama in 2008, is switching alliances this year; their employees have given $900,000 both to Mitt Romney’s campaign and to the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future. Why?

By Joshua Holland /Alternet

On the day before an election that’s supposed to hinge on jobs, taxes and the middle class, Bain Capital, the company Mitt Romney founded, will close the doors of a factory in Freeport, Illinois, and ship 170 good, high-tech jobs to China.

The employees of Sensata Technologies were forced to train their Chinese replacements, and the American flag that long flew over the factory was reportedly removed while the Chinese engineers were visiting the site. A group of workers have set up camp across from the factory — calling it “Bainport” — and some supporters have tried to block the trucks hauling equipment out of the plant. According to Dave Johnson, there have been several arrests.

The 52nd Congressional District campaign is coming to Ocean Beach Wednesday night – the 24th of October.

The OB Town Council is hosting a debate between Brian Bilbray and Scott Peters, the two candidates squaring off in the District that includes Ocean Beach. (It may not be an actual debate as the candidates will field questions from the Board and the audience.)

It will be held at 7:00pm this Wednesday, October, 24, 2012 at the Masonic Center -1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

Looking through words about California history, my mind wanders momentarily, and a tall timeless man with reddish brown skin and long braids ala Russell Means, appears in the periphery of my daydreams. He says:
They, these conquering men, stepped from their boats
wearing more clothes than was necessary,
shiny metal hats and vests,
heavy leather foot wear,
bearing swords and knives,
boasting of braveries
and discoveries
and some day living in the memories
of civilizations yet to be
and when they gazed our way
they never looked us in the eye
with any deep sense
of wonder
or human curiosity.