OB Rag

by Livia Borak

Two months. Exactly two months remain until the 4th of July holiday. We’ll take time off to enjoy the company of our friends and loved ones, fly our American flags and light the barbeque. And then the fireworks. What’s more American than buying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of fireworks from China, watching their explosive display, and then sitting in traffic for an hour? Sarcasm aside, 4th of July fireworks are, for most people, synonymous with the holiday. It’s tradition.

“Newport News” is our occasional newsy update on what’s happenin’ on Newport Avenue, the main business street in Ocean Beach. Who’s opening? Who’s moving and who’s closing? We feel that a business district reflects and represents the soul and spirit of a community. We encourage shopping locally and we support businesses who give back to their community. So come on inside and take a look around….

New Salon – “Smart Clips” – to Open Saturday May 7th

George Wolf and Rima Salloum, a husband and wife team, are opening Smart Clips – a new salon for Newport where the old Paladin Video stood. I caught George as he was sitting on the shop’s floor, finishing up some last-minute painting. (Much more inside ….)

As I passed the Electric Chair and the neighboring tattoo shop, I noticed Paul Bolton up on a ladder putting some finishing touches to the fresh paint at the front of the old thoroughfare, that breeze way that took you from Newport to the Apple Tree parking lot.

But no more. It is now – or will be – the lavish entryway for Electric Ladyland – the new music and art center – and music venue that Paul and Lynne Bolton, owners of the Electric Chair, will be opening on June 1st.

New Restaurant to Alter Famous OB Corner

Three good buddies – two of them brothers – are about to change a whole corner on OB’s main street. CJ and Joe Gladstone and Mike Lowe are close to opening “The Joint” – their new sushi and tapa bar and brewery at the corner of Newport and Cable. They’ll open ASAP over the next several weeks. Right now, newspapers cover all the windows. But wait till you see inside.

The new interior is literally stunning – you won’t believe what these guys have done to the old restaurant, that once was the site of the Little Chef, OB’s iconic greasy spoon of decades.

If you are not at the table you are on the menu.

Tomorrow, Thursday May 5th, the San Diego City Council will listen to public testimony about the library budget. This hearing, at 10:30 am in the commission chambers, will be the only opportunity to provide input solely on the library issue. Even if you signed a petition, attended a rally or called your councilmember, it is important to attend this hearing!

Mayor Sanders has proposed gutting the branch libraries by reducing branch hours to 18.5 hours a week. That means branches would be open two short days and alternate Saturdays. At last week’s rally in OB, Obceans clearly saw this as an attempt to close their library and they were not buying it.

May 4, 1970: Four students murdered, nine wounded by National Guardsmen, on the campus of Kent State in Kent, Ohio.

Allison Krause, William Schroeder, Jefferey Miller and Sandra Scheuer were killed in the 13 second fusillade of 67 shots fired by the Guardsmen, after an order to fire was given.

(Originally posted May 4, 2010)
I was sitting on my porch this afternoon pondering the meaning of Kent State. I had more tears last year when I wrote a post about it. Yet – here it is – the 40th anniversary. Kent State, hmmm, OB, hmmmm. Something was there.

And then I figured it out! I figured out how Ocean Beach is connected to the Kent State massacre of May 4th, 1970. Or vice versa.

I was in college when it happened. I was attending UCSD and in my senior-year when it all came down. I had been involved in the campus anti-Vietnam movement and was deeply affected by Kent State,

On Sunday night, we learned that U.S. forces killed Osama Bin Laden. After 10 years of war, it’s time to bring the troops home from Afghanistan.

Please sign this petition immediately which will be presented to the White House to begin a swift withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. (Come inside for links to the petition.)

Confusing Array of Events Shows More Unity Is Needed In Order to Unify

May First, May Day – International Workers’ Day – was again celebrated in downtown San Diego this year. Hundreds of San Diegans did converge on a sleepy downtown on a warm Sunday afternoon a couple of days ago, and chant, bang drums and make speeches in favor of labor and workers’ rights. And this continues the great tradition of rallies on this date in what is usually regarded as a conservative, even anti-labor city.

A high point in San Diego’s celebration of a labor ritual that began in America over one hundred years ago, is that the San Diego County Labor Council endorsed it this year.

Editor: We received this request from Lorena Gonzalez, the Secretary-Treasurer/CEO of the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council (known around here as “THE” Labor Council – we got no other in this huge county). Due to KGTV’s intransigence in negotiating a labor contract with one of its unions, the Labor Council is requesting that we do not watch or report Channel 10 news or programs. (Sorry Michael Chen.)

After watching the attacks on workers taking place across the country, it is time to stand up to the union busters in our own community. McGraw-Hill-owned KGTV Channel 10 refuses to negotiate a fair contract with employees for the fifth year. They have actively engaged in union-busting campaigns and employee intimidation.

By Richard Rodriguez/New America Media/May 02, 2011

There was something unseemly about that gathering of college-age Americans outside the White House just before midnight on Sunday, cheering at the news of Osama bin Laden’s death. Some of the kids had draped flags over their shoulders; they chanted “USA, USA, USA.” I doubt there was a true patriot in the bunch.

Here is the agenda for the May 4th meeting of the Ocean Beach Planning Board. Their meetings are always held at the OB Rec Center, 4726 Santa Monica Avenue, and begin at 6:00 pm sharp (no OB time here). _ Yes, we know you can’t read the agenda here on our homepage – you have to go inside – click the link.