OB Rag

In the continuing effort to counter the Main-Stream-Media blackout of the Occupy Wall Street protest we present a gallery of images taken yesterday (September 23) by David Shankbone and originally posted on flickr.com.

We support the efforts of the people occupying “Liberty Park” and people like David who have helped bring the story to the American public. Thank you.

See inside for all photos…

Editor: The protests in and around Wall Street in New York City are still going on, and have now entered their eighth day. “Occupy Wall Street” efforts have now been endorsed by three unions. Here is a report by Chaz Valenza who has been monitoring the demonstrations. There have been between 150 and 250 people occupying and sleeping at a park a block from Wall Street, which they have re-named Liberty Park.

A four-unit apartment building on the 5100 block of Long Branch Avenue in Ocean Beach has sold for a cool million. Although originally built in the mid-seventies and since re-stuccoed, this 3-story building is quite unique, as it was designed and constructed by Rob Quigley, San Diego’s famous architect. Quigley is more known for designing San Diego’s new central library currently being built downtown.

I woke up Wednesday morning feeling a bit of dread, kind of knowing that a man, who might be innocent, could end the day dead.

I decided to find as much humor in my day as I could. After unfolding my paper the word RELIEF in caps jumped out at me and lead my eyes to a photo featuring a tearful navy petty officer enjoying his newly arrived freedom to simply be who he is.

I chuckled to myself thinking how gays and lesbians can now, like us straight folks, “ask and tell” constantly, regularly, instantly. I mean we heteros can’t wait to be asked “How was she?” And we love to answer all braggy: “Hey, man, I took care of the B-I-Z!” And the woman responds to “How was he?” with: “Well, he pretty much went on without me.” But, finally: equality.

There are growing rumors that the fabled coffee-giant Starbucks will soon be kicking out its “laptop hobos” – you know those people who buy a cup of Starbucks and a muffin, then flip open their laptop and curl up in their chair for the rest of the day.

Over 30 regional civic, health, labor, environmental, faith and business organizations have joined together to stage San Diego’s response to the 350.org call for an international day of action for climate change on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Hundreds of similar events all over the world will be held that day with the goal of sending a strong message to elected leaders that climate change is real and will dramatically diminish the quality of life, prosperity, and happiness for current and future generations.

By Brittany Bailey / Special to the OB Rag

Since the OB Rag’s article on the Dumanis Fundraiser on Del Monte in Ocean Beach created such controversy, I decided to stakeout the event and report on any protests that may arise. Nothing says ‘political espionage’ more than a college student facebooking in a mini cooper.

If I were the kind of person who stereotypes (and I am), I might say that at a liberal fundraiser, I might expect to find an offering of free abortions, a justice of the peace presiding over same-sex marriages, and guests using the smattering of hors d’ouvres to make sandwiches for the homeless. I wasn’t sure what to expect at a conservative’s fundraiser– maybe a politician accepting monetary donations in exchange for political patronage? Oh, wait….

Ocean Beach’s ocean front looks like it will experience a major new development at Saratoga Park without an adequate review of the development.

It appears that the California Coastal Commission is about to approve changes to the condo complex planned for the corner of Abbott Street and Saratoga Avenue, called Ocean Park Villas, near the Saratoga Park at the beach, 1984-92 Abbott St. and 5113-19 Saratoga Ave. This will likely occur at the Commission’s next meeting, scheduled for October 6, 2011. It will likely occur because the Commission’s staff says so. They have given their recommendation of approval to an amendment to the original plans.

San Diego: Home of the working poor

From the Center on Policy Initiatives

Poverty grew dramatically in San Diego County in 2010. CPI’s analysis of US Census Bureau poverty and income data shows that more than 1 million people in the county are struggling with economic hardship, including many who have jobs.

By Ken Stone/Patch.com

Author of a dozen books, including the definitive Afoot and Afield local series, had kidney cancer.

Jerry Schad, the prolific hiking writer and former La Mesan, died Thursday at his home in downtown San Diego, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported on its website. He was 61.

According to Cal/EPA, San Diego Unified School District among those implementing textbook

By Susanne Rust/California Watch

Under pressure from the American Chemistry Council, a lobbying group for the plastics industry, school officials in California edited a new environmental curriculum to include positive messages about plastic shopping bags, interviews and documents show.

The San Diego City Attorney is going after marijuana dispensaries that are within 600 feet of schools. This legal maneuver may very well force the closure of the Newport Avenue herb shop – which is on the 4800 block of the main business street in Ocean Beach, as it is within half a block or so of OB Elementary. The Wellness Center is located approximately at mid-block, and presumably is within the distance that Goldsmith abhors.