OB Rag

For a week the OB Rag ran a poll on the mayor’s race, listing declared and undeclared candidates for San Diego’s top executive post. With nearly 200 respondents, current Congressman Bob Filner – who has now declared – came out on the very top with 58 votes or 30%. Former Councilmember Donna Frye – who has not declared – came in second with 43 votes, or 22%. In third place, was Democratic State Senator Christine Kehoe, 38 votes and 20% of the total. Kehoe has begun a process to set up her campaign although some pundits do not consider her a “declared” candidate as yet.

There are two important happenings this week in Ocean Beach.

Friends of the OB Library Meeting – Tuesday, June 14th, 6 to 7 pm

OB Historical Society Presesnts: Charlie and Tonii… The Boys from the Other Side of the Hill! – June 16th

From the United Farm Workers

Our vital bill, the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act (SB 104) has passed the CA Senate and Assembly and will shortly go to Governor Jerry Brown.

The United Farm Workers has won solid laws to protect California farm workers who provide more than half of our nation’s produce. But with over 400,000 field workers migrating among 80,000 farms, these laws have not and cannot be enforced by the state of California.

As the mayor’s race continues to unfold, the election season rite of local Republicans trying to morph themselves into “moderates” palatable to the ever-malleable Democratic electorate in San Diego continues. The most recent example of this is Nathan Fletcher’s announcement that he is coming back from Sacramento to save San Diego.

As reported in the Union Tribune and KPBS Fletcher has a vision:

“When I look at the city I see an amazing potential for the future of San Diego over the next decade and I believe I represent a new generation of leadership that can get us there . . . “

I’ve attended many rallies and protests at downtown San Diego’s City Hall, but never have I attended one with so much sizzle. Sexuality was the issue– predominately, but not exclusively female sexuality. As Patty Jones has noted here the message was “yes means yes and no means no.” Participants were as unequivocal about everything that the “yes means yes” part implies as they were unequivocal about the “no means no” part. “Yes” put the sizzle in Slutwalk and it was a deeply sensual and life affirming “yes.” That is probably why Slutwalk was not only empowering and thought provoking but also a whole lotta fun.

I realize that I am not a restaurant reviewer – although I always thought it would be fun to be one – and I also realize that this restaurant is not in the 92106/92107 zip code, but it is pretty darn close – 92110 – on Midway (3185 to be precise), but I was served one of the best meals I have had in years. The “PUNJAB RESTAURANT, Taste of the Himalayas” smelled divine as we entered the small restaurant for lunch. There were 3 of us; all women that had met when we were in a water aerobics class at the “Y”.

Saturday, June 11 2011, SlutWalk San Diego held its first rally as a large group gathered in the middle of Civic Center Plaza. By 1:30 pm, there was a crowd of about 150. People were assembling in the shade of the large trees in the Plaza. According to Frank’s headcount, by 2:00 it was up to 350 with people still streaming into the plaza.

SlutWalk!

Ocean Beach Community Garage Sale!

Part 1

Often, when one walks by the Starbucks in OB at the corner of Newport and Bacon, there doesn’t seem to be that many customers inside. Unless it’s a weekend or a crowded holiday. There’s many more people sipping java and staring at their laptops down around the corner at Newbreak on Abbott.

Homeless people and petition hawkers still congregate in front, though, so the corner itself seems busy.

Part 2 : The Stage Is Set for Revolution

Editor: This is the second part in a series about the history of Mexico written for gringos, and it was written in 1979-80. (Come inside for the link to Part 1.)

The liberal reform movement in Mexico during the middle of the 19th century was lead by Benito Juarez, the first and only Indian to gain the Presidency of Mexico. The reformers wished to dismantle the old semi-feudal economic structure, where the masses of peasants worked on large estates. But the conservative forces of society, the Church, large rancho owners, merchants, militarists, and opportunists who wanted to re-establish the Crown, violently resisted Juarez’s reform efforts.

Councilmember Kevin Faulconer is so concerned about the failure of the City of San Diego to yet successfully put out to bid – or to have built – the public restroom at the foot of Brighton Avenue in Ocean Beach, that he plans to have the Council audit the department that is responsible for the bidding process.

Mr. Faulconer, who represents Ocean Beach as part of District 2, has added and has had approved an audit of the City’s Purchasing and Contracting Department …

By Laurie Macrae, MLS

May 25th, Capitol Action Day in Sacramento, saw a thousand members of the disability community, in-home health care workers and family members massed before the capitol trying to get the attention of state legislators who have put their survival on the chopping block.

It rained steadily as people, many in wheel chairs, many being assisted by care workers and many family groups moved about the pavilion and the various organization tables, gathering information and communicating with their regional counterparts. All day individuals and groups trooped in to the capitol building to meet with legislators.