OB Rag

On Friday, July 15th, leaders of the Pelican Bay hunger strike unanimously rejected a proposal from the California Department of Corrections and Rehab (CDCR) to end the strike. In response to the prisoners’ five, straightforward demands, the CDCR distributed a vaguely worded document stating that it would “effect a comprehensive assessment of its existing policy and procedure” about the secure housing units (SHUs). The document gave no indication if any changes would be made at all.

Did you see the Memorial Bench at the foot of Del Mar Avenue being removed? It was removed by a crane between 7am and 9am Friday morning – last Friday, July 8th.

If so, contact us or the police. You can leave confidential messages in our blog email: obragblog@gmail.com

Tony Cappellucci placed the bench there – all proper – in memory of his son, Anthony, who died of brain cancer two years ago.

But somebody – somebody with a crane – came and took it. And another memorial bench. A neighbor took a picture with his iPhone showing a crane removing the benches between 7am and 9am on Friday morning, the 8th.

Religious Coalition Says California’s Use of Prolonged Solitary Confinement is Tantamount to Torture

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the ongoing hunger strike by inmates incarcerated in multiple California prisons, Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, released the following statement:

“Hunger strikes are the last resort of prisoners protesting inhumane confinement conditions….”

by Cesar Diaz /California Federation of Labor / July 14, 2011

According to a recent report, Sempra Energy’s plan to offshore green energy production to Mexico would result in as many as 15,000 lost U.S. jobs and nearly $300 million in lost local, state and federal tax revenue. 90% of the direct job losses would occur in Imperial County, which had the highest unemployment rate in the nation as of April 2011 at 27.9%

High School Foreign Exchange Student program

By Beth Driscoll

I am a Local Coordinator for a High School Foreign Exchange Student program, and I am proud to be part of something that I feel truly makes a difference in how America is becoming a more diverse, accepting society. The Council on International Educational Exchange gives people the opportunity to show America through our eyes.

While negotiations with Ralphs, Vons, and Albertsons continue and the United Food and Commercial Workers union keeps fighting to protect their members’ health benefits, grocery workers need our support. In the spirit of solidarity, please join us as we stand united with the grocery workers on Friday at noon.

Solidarity Rally

12 p.m. on Friday, July 15, 2011

at

VONS (off Aero Dr.)

3550 Murphy Canyon Rd., San Diego 92123

It seems that we’ve started a new tradition! We had so much fun last year (see Rollicking Ragsters Ride the Rails) when we all hopped on the Green Line trolley to the east county and back, that we decided to do it again. This time we took the Blue Line heading south to the San Ysidro.

Frank and I, Anna and her beloved Rich, Andy, Brittany, Annie, Brenda and Larry gathered at the Old Town trolley station Sunday morning for our adventure to the border. We hadn’t known when planning this trip that this week marks the 125th anniversary of San Diego Public Transit. San Diego MTS has even restored an 80 year old street car that will be running on the downtown loop sometime in the near future.

Read Larry and Annie’s take on our trip!

Preferred design concept for Horton Plaza announced; date of last public forum set for July 26th

By James Palen / The Daily Transcript / July 13, 2011

Based largely on feedback from two public forums thus far, a single, preferred design has been selected on which to base the redevelopment of Horton Plaza and adjoining Horton Plaza Park.

The winner: the Cabrillo Arch plan.

It’s a food swap and it’s coming – again – to the OB Women’s Club this Saturday, July 16. A group calling itself San Diego Food Swap has started a monthly get together, where jams are traded for meat pastries, sauces for fruit, and so on. The group has a website here, where you can RSVP and tell them what you’re bringing. Saturday’s swap begins at 2pm and lasts till 4, at the Club house located at 2160 Bacon Street.

Today, hundreds of inmates in five California state prisons ended the second week of a hunger strike to protest living conditions, in what has become the largest coordinated protest by state inmates.

And the State of California continues its “disinformation campaign” about the hunger strike which began July 1, by declaring that the strike was “probably synchronized … through organized criminal networks.”

I’ve found myself lately thinking of a man everybody, including me, called Mack. My dad. Just about the most laid back human being the world has ever had.

The man was always at ease, a man of simple tastes. I can see him in my mind, chomping on his almost ever present cheap cigar which chokes me even in my memory, sipping some whisky, and uttering that obligatory whispery “ahhh” that drinkers who like their liquor neat always sigh and he’s going about any one of his enterprises: playing solitaire, reading True Crime magazine or crossword puzzling – when he wasn’t playing the piano.

Committee’s 3-2 vote disregards concerns of 90 community members at hearing

By Susan Duerksen / CPI / July 13, 2011

Despite overwhelming public opposition to the risky and costly privatization of Miramar Landfill, the San Diego City Council’s Rules committee today voted 3-2 to send the controversial plan on to the full council.