OB Rag

by Lucas O’Connor / Two Cathedrals

It certainly looks like councilman and aspiring mayor Carl DeMaio got caught with his hand in the cookie jar [recently], soliciting contributions for his mayoral campaign earlier than permitted by law. An invitation for his campaign launch reception went live over Memorial Day weekend, according to a release from the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council. The trouble with all of that is… it violates San Diego’s election law.

by George J. Janczyn / Grok’s Surf San Diego / June 1, 2011

San Diego County faces a “new normal” where water is concerned. What’s the new normal? It’s widespread community awareness that we inhabit an arid region, rely on mostly imported water to survive, are vulnerable to supply disruptions from a variety of causes, human and natural, and must use water wisely and sparingly, drought or no drought.

Wealthy but benevolent leader of “geraniums” well-known for “City Beautiful” concept and for gifts of parks to San Diego

Originally posted June 1, 2011

Late last week, Patty and I took a guided tour of the Marston House and its surrounding gardens, sited on the north end of Balboa Park. Tours are available 10 to 5, Friday through Sunday for $8 apiece. (Hours and prices have changed for the summer season, see the information below)

We took the tour of the over-one-hundred-year house and then walked the gardens – as all visitors do – on our own. The house tour took nearly an hour and it was worth it to get a glimpse into the lifestyle of one of San Diego’s early and more benevolent oligarchs – George Marston, his spouse Anna, and their children – four daughters and one son.

George Marston – you should know – was one of San Diego’s “leading” businessmen in the early 1900s. His opulent downtown department store at 5th and C streets was legendary, …

Buddy, my 10 year old Golden Retriever, has been asking for a companion for many months now. Since his Alpha Male died – my husband Bob – he seems to be looking for someone else to take his place. True, he has me, but I don’t run with him the way Bob did; I do walk with him, but we spend so much time “watering” people’s lawns that neither of us is getting a good cardio workout.

Editor: The debate over the future of Ocean Beach and San Diego’s fireworks – particularly the traditional July 4th extravaganza of explosives – as gone “national” as Mayor Sanders went on a rant on local news today.

by Mike Lee / SignOnSanDiego / May 31, 2011

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders went on the offensive Tuesday with a live national interview on Fox News about July Fourth fireworks displays in the city that are up in the air after a court ruling Friday said they needed a potentially costly and time-consuming environmental review.

Hey gang – help us – the OB Rag – hit 70,000 visitors for May! We’re at 69,000 -something. Actually…

Here is the agenda for the Ocean Beach Planning Board for its meeting on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. It meets at the OB Recreation Center, located at 4627 Santa Monica Avenue, 6:00 pm sharp.

The two important agenda items include: demolition and construction at 4775 Long Branch, and a report about the Cox Residence appeal at 5164 West Pt Loma,….

The continuing process of gentrification in Ocean Beach is clearly demonstrated in the recent sale of a three-story “penthouse” on Ocean Front Street for a cool $2.2 million. It also shows that not everyone is hurting during this Great Recession.

The 5-unit cliff-hugger was purchased by Robert and Grace Pedigo of La Mesa. Located at 1627 Ocean Front Street, it’s on that section where the street twists and turns as it parallels the cliffs, and it seems more like an alley.

The National Weather Service for the San Diego area has issued a Coastal Hazard Message about a High Surf Advisory.

The high surf advisory is in effect until 3 a.m. Friday, June 3, for south facing beaches.

Another large, long period southern hemisphere swell will generate high surf along most south facing San Diego County beaches, as well as along most of Orange County beaches, today through early Friday morning.

By Dave Maass / CityBeat / May 30, 2011

San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station suffered yet another accident this weekend when a mechanical failure resulted in the release of 75 gallons of sulfuric acid, according to a spill report (pdf) filed with the U.S. National Response Center.

By Eugene Davidovich / Nug Mag

In April of this year, the San Diego City Council passed an ordinance that effectively denied safe access to thousands of patients in the city. If left as is, it would have negatively impacted the most vulnerable members of our community by cutting off access to their medicine.

As the ordinance is written, all locations where patients currently safely obtain their medicine, would be forced to shutter their doors and only a small handful would be allowed to open in far flung industrial areas of the City, only after coming into compliance with an onerous year-long conditional use permit process.

In 2008, a liberal Democrat was elected president. Landslide votes gave Democrats huge congressional majorities. Eight years of war and scandal and George W. Bush had stigmatized the Republican Party almost beyond redemption. A global financial crisis had discredited the disciples of free-market fundamentalism, and Americans were ready for serious change.