OB Rag

Two dozen people gathered on the sidewalk yesterday near the Lifeguard parking lot, and listened intently to speakers explain the problem with the coming construction of a huge 10-unit condo complex, slated for that entire block bordered by Abbott, Saratoga and the beach. (A full set of plans in PDF format are available for download)

It was the “Tour” of the future Ocean Park Villas site thrown together by an ad hoc group of OB planners, merchants, and grassroots activists to educate the community about what is going down – or in this case – what is going up.

New plans had been drawn up, substantially altering the previous plans which had been drawn up by local architect Steven Lombardi. Yet the new plans had not been seen by anyone on the OB planning committee or by anyone else in OB – until yesterday.

By Van Jones and Max Berger / Reader Supported News / October 1, 2011

Wall Street has long been the home of the biggest threat to American Democracy. Now it has become home to what may be our best hope for rescuing it.

For everyone who loves this country, for everyone whose heart is breaking for the growing ranks of the poor, for everyone who is seething at the unopposed demolition of America’s working and middle class: the time has come to get off the fence.

A new generation has gone to the scene of the crimes committed against our future. The time has come for all people of good will to give our full-throated backing to the young people of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

As was discussed at the meeting yesterday, we thought it would be useful if we could clarify and streamline the process for people who want to help with the Ocean Park Villas project by writing to the California Coastal Commission. Scott Therkalsen agreed to write a sample letter, outline relevant points we can argue to the commission, detail the necessary format of the letters, and to whom we should address our concerns. Thanks, Scott!

See inside for details…

My mother (like yours, I’m sure) always told me never to judge a book by its cover. So it was fitting when she told me we’d be attending an open house to see the newly built dome house nearby that can best be described as … well … ugly.

Without even asking the street name, I knew the one she was talking about. A while back, I’d been driving along that block of Sterne Street in Point Loma, rubbernecked, slammed on my brakes, reversed and stared in awe at the monstrosity before me. It was as if someone had dropped a giant igloo on top of someone else’s house. I was sure the people crushed underneath were furious.

In the late afternoon on Tuesday, September 27th, a dozen activists sat around the long table at Newbreaks at the beach. Sitting and talking at the table where some sipped coffee were local merchants, planning board members and grassroots activists. The atmosphere was friendly – but the folks there were serious.

They all had come together to discuss what to do about the coming approval by the California Coastal Commission of the newly-designed project called the Ocean Park Villas. The project – long controversial in OB – is facing a “go-ahead” at the Commission’s meeting Thursday, October 6th, because “Coastal” staff has recommended its approval. The future project would be at the southwest corner of Abbott Street and Saratoga Avenue.

Allegations range from Border Patrol agents denying food and water to adults and children in detention for several days, to purposely separating families during deportation.

Those are the findings of a new report released by the Arizona humanitarian aid organization No More Deaths.

The report, “A Culture of Cruelty,” documents 30,000 incidents of human rights abuses against undocumented immigrants in short-term detention between fall 2008 and spring 2011.

A distraught dog owner is searching for answers on Wednesday after her two dogs were apparently poisoned from eating hot dogs placed outside.

“I just can’t believe someone would do this,” said Deb Powell as she choked back tears. “I’m completely devastated.”

Powell calls Delilah, a 3-year-old lab mix and Ed, a 5-year-old pit bull mix her “babies.”

On Monday at about noon, she was with the dogs at the dog run behind the Ocean Beach condo units that she owns.

“Ed went straight… [to] the corner next to some cots and ate something,” said Powell.

Powell reached into the dog’s mouth but he had already eaten it. She was not sure what Ed ate, but several hours later, her neighbor screamed at her to come outside.

He may prove the most disastrous president in our history in terms of civil liberties.

By Jonathan Turley / LA Times / September 29, 2011

With the 2012 presidential election before us, the country is again caught up in debating national security issues, our ongoing wars and the threat of terrorism. There is one related subject, however, that is rarely mentioned: civil liberties. Protecting individual rights and liberties — apart from the right to be tax-free — seems barely relevant to candidates or voters.

Round 2, Day 4: Strike Expands & Exposes ‘Perfect Storm’ in CA

by prisonerhungerstrikesolidarity / September 29, 2011

As released yesterday, Prisoner Hunger Strike Solidarity has confirmed that at least 6,000 California prisoners in jails, General Population, Administrative Segregation (Ad-Seg/ASU) and Security Housing Units (SHUs) are hunger striking for the human rights of California’s SHU-status prisoners. We have confirmed prisoners are striking at Pelican Bay, Calipatria, CCI Tehachapi, Centinela, Corcoran, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, and West Valley Detention Center.

Wind and solar sources make up almost half of all new electricity generation in Europe, but we’re far behind in the U.S. — so what gives?

Renewable energy is essential if we are to avert disastrous climate change caused by carbon-dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. Yet despite significant recent growth, less than 2 percent of the about 4 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity the U.S. generates a year comes from solar or wind power. More than two-thirds still comes from coal, natural gas or oil, and 20 percent from nuclear power. Meanwhile, the world’s total reserves of oil, gas, coal, and uranium are expected to run out by the end of the century, especially as electricity consumption increases.

The modern American dream was inspired by a growing middle class that was the triumph of democracy after World War II. Its promise was and is opportunity: that hard work can earn a good life—a good job with decent pay and security, a home in a safe neighborhood, affordable healthcare, a secure retirement, a good education for the kids. The promise always exceeded the performance—especially with regard to racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants and women—and America never did as well as Europe in lifting the poor from misery. But a broad middle class and a broadly shared prosperity at least provided the possibility of a way up.

Eagle Fire in July Part of Conflict between Los Coyotes Tribe and Eagle Rock Training Center

By Dave Maass / CityBeat / September 28, 2011

An American Indian tribe in San Diego County has been engaged in a four-month standoff with a military contractor that refuses to leave its reservation, according to documents recently filed in U.S. District Court.