OB Rag

By Judi Curry

Since the holiday season I have received a few calls from readers of the Rag asking if I am okay. Several of the callers have said that they have missed my writings, so perhaps because I feel like a volcano getting ready to explode, I thought I should do two things – explain my lack of writings, and rant over the situation facing the United State!

In March of 2024 while asleep one night I had a stroke. Unfortunately because it happened while I was asleep I did not have enough time to get to the hospital for the injection that is what they give stroke victims within a time period to lesson the effects of the stroke. And, it turned out that I went blind in the left eye.

The eye doctor said there was a small chance that I would regain sight in that eye by six months; almost no chance after that.  Sad to say I am now blind in the left eye.  The results are terrifying – had to sell my car because I can’t see well enough to drive; have to depend on others – or Uber – to get places; there is no tracking of the two eyes together and so I do not see things on the left side of my body.

By Geoff Page

The “Space For Lease” sign that appeared in the window of 4851 Newport Street, where James Gang Printing is located, has taken some people by surprise. The Rag looked into it but some pieces of the story are still missing.

The James Gang, for those not very familiar with it, is a venerable, Ocean Beach home-grown business by the James family. The business involved screen printing on clothing, T-shirts, sweatshirts, uniforms, and more. Because of its history, there is local interest in what might be happening.

Most of us old timers probably thought the James family still owned the business, but that changed at some point. Some oddities popped up researching the company, such as not even the AI assistant being able to find information about the James family selling the company.

There is information on the current owners, and that story has oddities. The best source of information was the August 2024 OBMA newsletter. There was a piece on Travis Doroski, the newest elected member of the OBMA Board of Directors, elected in July 2024.

SAY NO TO MUSK UNELECTED
SAY YES TO DEMOCRACY SAY NO TO MUSK

Join other San Diegans today, Monday, Feb. 17 for a day of dissent in San Diego and across the USA as we say NO to Trump & Musk’s plans to crown themselves kings!
Join us for a day of dissent!

It’s for Monday, February 17, 2025, beginning at 10:00 AM there will be:
– Speakers
– Strategic Organizing Discussion
– Music
– Protest Chants
– A chance for our folks to meet
Bring your friends, your signs and banners, bring a tarp and blanket or camp chair (it might be muddy), water, some food or snacks, and get ready to build the movement together which is protecting our Constitution and defending our country against a self-appointed king!

This is nation-wide.

The very next City budget town hall forum will be held on Saturday, February 15, 11:45 am–1:15 pm, at the Mission Valley Library, located at  2123 Fenton Pkwy, San Diego, CA 92108. This will be the third in a series of four community-run forums.

These forums are not run by the city, but the city council views will be present. They are moderated by community leaders, fully interactive, receptive to constituent voices, and focused on what taxpayers want for their tax dollars.

Mayor Gloria is threatening deep cuts to constituent services, including many that are highly valued in neighborhoods and communities. The Town Halls will take a broader view.

Our friends at Peninsula News have been following the repair of the Boat Launch at Shelter Island. Here’s their latest report: 

By Steve Rodriguez

Let me offer an interesting proposition. What the City of San Diego government needs, above all else, is its very own billionaire.

Yes, San Diego needs billions of dollars, but first things first. To eventually get a sufficient number of those billions of dollars, we first need to find a special billionaire—a disrupter sort of billionaire who, along with his posse of brash assistants, can come into town and shake up our government operations and thereby save lots of money.

Our San Diego City government is in desperate need of more revenue to update infrastructure, pay off fiascos like the 101 Ash Street transaction, eliminate the pension debt, find money to pay first responder salaries, and for the never ending drain of addressing the homeless situation.

By Bonnie Kutch

Senate Bill 610, a bill that would make it even easier for developers to build housing in high-risk fire zones, nearly made its way to the state legislature recently to be voted into law.

It should be no surprise that State Senator Scott Wiener, YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) chum and faithful servant to California’s wealthy, introduced SB 610 by taking an unrelated bill and completely rewriting it, thus reserving the bill’s place in the legislative queue. While SB 610 was suspended in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and didn’t proceed in the 2023-2024 legislative session, there is a good chance the bill will be resurrected this year.

While YIMBYs publicly advocate for sustainability, affordability and equity, their organizations are funded by special interest groups that recognize the incredible amount of money there is to be made in creating high-density housing.

There was a  lot of interest in the development of a piece of land in the 4900 block of Saratoga Avenue in OB where once stood an historic cottage.

The interest was piqued due to the apparent lack of notice to the community or the neighbors in the demolition of the cottage.

Rag reporter Geoff Page took a look at the lot this morning, Friday, Feb. 14, and found, “Nothing more than dirt.”

It was revealed Wednesday that due to the potential for hazards from leaking fuel from the Navy aircraft that plunged into San Diego Bay, there is a water-contact closure order or Kellogg Beach in Point Loma.

After the crew members were pulled from the water, paramedics took them to UCSD Medical Center in Hillcrest for evaluations. They were in listed good condition on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation, according to Navy officials.

By Paul Krueger

In response to the U-T article about San Diego mayor going on 8-day visit to the Philippines (Feb. 12), I have to say this story raises as many questions as it answers, and I trust your reporters will keep digging for the details.

When will Mayor Gloria’s office provide documentation confirming he paid the full cost of his travel?

Why did the mayor need two members of his police security detail to accompany him on this trip? It’s hard to imagine a security threat during a friendly visit to a friendly country.

There will be at least three future Citizen Budget Review Town Hall Meetings with Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) Charles Modica this month, February.

The title of the series is to the point: “Now that Measure E Has Failed, Where Should City Budget Cuts Be Made?”

Dates and locations are:

• Thursday, February 13, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm, Porter Elementary School in Lincoln Park, SE San Diego
  
• Saturday, February 15, 11:45 am–1:15 pm, Mission Valley Library
• Thursday, February 20, 6:00 pm–8:00 pm, Mira Mesa Senior Center

The City of San Diego needs money — especially since San Diego voters rejected that tax-measure last November — and its coming up with a variety of ways to bring in the dollars — mainly turning to the very same people — the voters who didn’t have enough confidence in the elected leaders to pass the measure — to make up the difference in the tight budget.

Here are the ways the City wants to make dollars — off of you:

• Increase recreation, swimming pools and .. fees.
• Double parking meters
• Raise fees for short-term vacation rental licenses
• Installing a high price for trash pickup

Increase Recreation Fees

In brief, San Diego wants to close large budget deficits by sharply raising the fees it charges people

• to swim at a city pool,
• moor a boat in Mission Bay,
• rent a library meeting room,
• reserve a volleyball court or
• use hundreds of other city services.