OB Rag

On Saturday, May 14, we’ll be celebrating the 100th anniversary of the victory of the Magonista liberation army and establishment of a short-lived commune in Tijuana with a book release event for Flash (AK Press) by Jim Miller and an acoustic show at the Purple Haus. All proceeds raised will go to technology needs of the Seccion 22 teachers’ union in Oaxaca.

We would like to welcome four new sponsors to the pages of the OB Rag. Without these sponsors and the other businesses and merchants that have helped us out since the Fall of 2009 – when we first started taking on ads and sponsors – we couldn’t keep the lights on here at our office and you wouldn’t be reading this now. So, please check them out, click on their logos, go to their websites, and visit them in Ocean Beach. And tell them that you saw their ad on the OB Rag. That helps us, it helps them, it may help you and we all feel good.

Dog Beach Dog Wash
Luna Video Games
Surf Rider Pizza Cafe
Smart Clip Salon

Some Final Thoughts on the Death of Osama bin Laden

By Michael Moore

“The Nazis killed tens of MILLIONS. They got a trial. Why? Because we’re not like them. We’re Americans. We roll different.” – Michael Moore in an interview last week

Last week, President Obama fulfilled a campaign promise and killed Osama bin Laden. Well he didn’t actually do the killing himself. It was carried out by a very brave and excellent team of Navy SEALs. Not only does Mr. Obama have the overwhelming support of the country, I think there are millions who gladly wish it could have been their finger on the gun that took out bin Laden.

Importance of Progressives Rallying in Support of Teachers Is Heightened

This Friday the 13th of May, over 2000 teachers, students, parents and local labor activists are rallying down at the Embarcadero from 4 to 6, in what’s being called a State of Emergency Rally.

Now, it turns out the San Diego’s right-wing, in the form of the Koch brothers’ sponsored Americans for Prosperity, conservative activists from the Republican right and local tea parties will be counter-demonstrating at the same place and roughly the same time.

How will the OB Community Plan Update be affected?

Editor: Urban planning in Ocean Beach is and has been a big deal. Ocean Beach demanded its own planning committee in response to the planning crisis of the early Seventies, and got it. The OB Planning Board was the very first democratically-elected community planning body in the history of the City (and the State for that matter). The OB Precise Plan was changed to be more green and more resident and small property owner oriented. Volunteer planners from the community have been working on a Plan Update for 9 years …

San Diego regional regulators on Wednesday became the first in the country to require a pollution permit for all fireworks shot over water, and federal officials signaled their intent to consider similar rules nationwide.

SAN DIEGO — The 186 fire pits at city beaches and Mission Bay will burn for at least one more year, thanks to money raised from private donors, city officials said Wednesday, May 11.

On Thursday, May 12th, from 3:30 PM to 5:30 PM, veteran members of all five military services and friends of…

Come stand with San Diego’s community college students, teachers, and their community allies this Friday, May 13th at 9:00 AM at Assembly Member Nathan Fletcher’s office at 9909 Mira Mesa Boulevard to send a message to Fletcher and his Republican allies that they can’t hold the future of education in California hostage.

It appears that there are sufficient city council votes to veto the mayor’s library budget proposal. There is also a commitment to identify funding sources to cover the 7.2 million dollars needed to maintain current library hours, services and staff. That is good news!

Most of the council discussion at this point is about the other sources of money that can be potentially tapped. The office of Independent Budget Analysis (IBA) identified 15 million dollars of on going revenue.

The boogey-man of budget cut-backs of lifeguards, their training, and the funding of City swimming pools was raised at a special City Council night hearing, last Monday, May 9th. And it was during this hearing – with no final vote being taken – that the issue of corporate advertising on City beach properties was – again – raised.

8 lifeguard jobs were cut by Mayor Jerry Sanders to save $973,000 in a mid-year budget adjustment in the 2010 fiscal year. Lifeguards are part of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

And it was during the discussion of how to find funding to restore half or at least some of these cuts, that the idea of the City selling advertising at the beach was raised once again.

Embarcadero Marina Park North
500 Kettner Blvd, San Diego

More than 2,000 educators, students, parents, union members, business and community leaders – arriving by car, trolley, bus and train from throughout San Diego, Imperial, and southern Orange and Riverside counties – will participate in a huge rally between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m. at San Diego’s Embarcadero Marina Park North, 500 Kettner Blvd.