OB Rag

Editor: Here are a series of reports by the Center on Policy Initiatives – a labor-and-progressive-aligned think tank here in San Diego – about our San Diego County government, its employees, its revenues and services.

County Employees: Overworked and Undermined
County employees report chaotic system fails low-income residents

San Diego County Revenues and Reserves
While trailing in services, San Diego County amassed $2.2 billion in reserves

County Fiscal Policies Squeeze San Diego’s Core Public Services

Despite a budget surplus, the County of San Diego proposes to cut pay between 7 and 17 percent, for thousands of the lowest paid workers. This would harm not only their families, but the reduced buying power would ripple through the whole community. Our elected officials are NOT supposed to be in the business of REDUCING our community’s standard of living!

Today’s graduates face miserable job prospects, and experts say the student loan crisis could be worse than the credit card or housing bubbles.

It’s the beginning of summer: warmer weather, longer days, the end of the school year. And that means graduation for thousands of young people across the U.S.; graduation with more student debt than ever before, and into a job market that is anything but promising.

Young people between the ages of 16 and 24 face an unemployment rate nearly twice that of the rest of the population,…

It is certainly time for the President to address Congress on the subject of what the U.S. is doing in Libya. Under the 1973 War Powers Act, the president is required to formally notify Congress of US military operations and receive approval of any operation that goes longer than 60 days.

Our government – along with France, Canada, Britain, and other countries – first launched attacks against Gaddafi’s forces on March 19th in order to halt a military onslaught against a large Libyan city, and in support of the rebels. March 19th, – okay, it’s definitely been 60 days. Barack Obama needs to check in with Congress – and with us, the American people.

(Author’s note – while this is a brief write-up on Ruth Varney Held’s Beach Town: Early Days in Ocean Beach, – originally published in 1975 and updated in 1984 and 1990 – a history that gracefully glosses over any social improprieties, this article’s title has been slightly modified in order to shamelessly trick you into clicking through to the full post…)

Having been itching to read a book recommended to me several weeks ago at a Rag-sponsored picnic commemorating the Collier Park Riots, I finally headed into the library last week to pick up a copy of Beach Town…delayed by at least two weeks’ searching for and fretting over my lost library card that ended up costing me only $2 to replace. The book is out of print and used copies are retailing for as much as $35 at Amazon, but the OB branch library has at least three copies on hand.

BERLIN — Europe’s economic powerhouse, Germany, announced plans Monday to abandon nuclear energy over the next 11 years, outlining an ambitious strategy in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster to replace atomic power with renewable energy sources.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she hopes the transformation to more solar, wind and hydroelectric power serves as a roadmap for other countries.

News item: The Mayor of San Diego Proclaims June “San Diego Craft-Beer Month”

Isn’t that just wonderful? What’s next? “Smoke a cigarette a day month?” Or…”Take your Dog to Work Month”, or “Change Your Motor Oil Month” or “Smoke a Joint month” or some other nonsense.

Maybe it could be “Have a San Diego Craft Beer and Get Behind the Wheel ” month. Or….”Help A Policeman Obtain His DUI Quota” month. This proclamation is one of the more ridiculous proclamations the mayor has endorsed.

By Dave Maass / San Diego CityBeat

Today’s labor unions stand on the shoulders of giants. And those giants stood upon soapboxes at the corner of Fifth Avenue and E Street, Downtown, in 1912, braving arrests and violence in one of the most turbulent clashes over free speech in American history.

Jan. 8, 2012, will mark the 100th anniversary of the San Diego City Council’s passage of an ordinance banning public speeches in a six-block area, including the Downtown area …

By Dawn Celapino / East County Magazine

Whoever said you can only have fun with your dog on land has never tried surfing with their dog. Some dogs don’t want any part of it and others LOVE IT!

It is great for their balance and strength and really fun to watch. (It’s also a good workout for the human.) If your dog is already used to swimming in the waves, he (or she) may be ready to try surfing. If not, you may want to get your dog used to the waves first by taking hime out slowly, throwing the ball and just getting him used to the water. There are a few things that you should know before you try taking your dog out on a board….

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, …