OB Rag

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* Rumor: Locals Plan to Celebrate Herb Holiday on 4/20

* French Students Stuck in San Diego Due to Iceland Volcano Find OB Their “Favorite” Place Because of “the funny people there”

* Truesdail Posthumously-Produced- CD Release Party at Portugalia April 29th

* OB Town Council Plans Community Clean-Up on April 24th

* Fund-Raising Cross-Country Rollerbladers to Reach OB on April 24th – Barring Snow and Rain

* Rally for “No More Cuts In Education” on Saturday, May 8th

Editor: I know, I know, this has nothing directly relating to OB but … We posted this to demonstrate what is going on across the country. Here, on the 15th anniversary of the worst domestic terrorist incident in American history, armed vigilantes rally and spout violent rhetoric against President Obama, the Democrats and our country.

By Dana Milbank /Washington Post / Tuesday, April 20, 2010

They came in camouflage and ammunition vests, carrying AK-47s slung over their shoulders and pistols in their hip holsters. They were in Northern Virginia, on the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, to stand on federal land and to voice violent thoughts.

They did this in a strictly nonviolent fashion, naturally.

Regional Mobilization Here on May 18-19 Calls for an End to Civilian Casualties in Pakistan-Afghanistan Border Region

Peace activists from across California and even from Nevada are planning to mobilize here in San Diego to protest the world’s largest and leading manufacturer of drones May 18-19.

San Diego is home to defense contractor General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, site of the activists demonstration. General Atomics builds the Predator and Reaper drones generally costing U.S. taxpayers $4 million to $12 million each.

by George / GrokSurf’s San Diego

“How your water rates subsidize golf courses” is the headline in a recent Voice of San Diego article by Rob Davis that will probably stir up some indignation around town. The article says that “475 businesses, homeowners associations, golf courses and public agencies” get a 78% discount on reclaimed water which is subsidized by regular water users.

The article cites Michael Shames, executive director of UCAN, who suggests that discounted prices for reclaimed water users may be illegal, and that “City Councilwoman Donna Frye called it “out-of-whack” and promised to hold a public hearing on it.”

GO TO LINKS PROVIDED INSIDE ….

We’ve all seen it over these last months: water rushing down gutters and streets, partially filling intersections, workers on our avenues, blocked roadways to our houses in paradise.

Why does the City have to waste so much water as it replaces our pipes – especially during this drought? This is a question many of us have asked.

Jim Noble was asking the questions last Thursday while he took these shots. Again a picture or 9 are worth thousands of words.

By Mike Lee /Union-Tribune / April 18, 2010

The goal: The owners of Architects wanted to showcase their passion for energy-efficient design when they moved offices in Ocean Beach last year. Their previous projects had included designing an eco-friendly building for the OB People’s Organic Foods Market a decade ago.

“When we had the opportunity to do our own office, we figured we better practice what we preach,” said Randy Hanna, a principal with the eight-member company.

The process: Hanna and his colleagues bought a 5,000-square-foot auto repair shop at Bacon and Santa Monica streets, intending to redo it as a green showpiece.

Coastal Commission Nixes Sanders’ Vision for Foot of Broadway – to Delight of Local Activists

By Pat Flannery / Blog of San Diego / April 15, 2010

One of the biggest mistakes Jerry Sanders made in his two mayoral terms was to fall for whatever slick sales talk Steve Cushman used to cajole him into backing this used-car salesman for a third term as Port Commissioner, despite term limits. Sanders’ strange fascination with Cushman raised eyebrows at the time. It may now have cost him his legacy – the North Embarcadero Visionary Plan (NEVP). It lies in ruins because of the cruise ships.

The Adopt-A-Fire-Pit Project Is Looking for a Few Good Local Volunteers

OB Fire Pits Before OB Town Council on April 28th

The eight remaining fire pits on OB beaches are fast becoming a burning issue. As you probably know, the City of San Diego, under the pretense of not having sufficient funds, plans on removing all 185 fire pits that ring the City’s beaches – including Mission Bay. And these include what’s left of the pits in our community.

The City’s plans of removal are said to begin at the start of the new fiscal year, July 1st, as the City does have the money for maintenance of the fire pits up through this June.

* Syringes Found Washed Ashore South of Dog Beach on April 14th
* OB Historical Society Presents “OB Coffee Culture” – April 15th
* “Save OB Fire Pits” on the OB Town Council Agenda – April 28th
* Changing of the Guard at the OB Planning Board
* Antique District Sales Event – April 17 – 18
* Clean OB Committee meeting – April 19
* Crime Prevention Committee meeting – April 20

Some basic facts:

* Obama has passed 25 separate tax cuts.

* Obama’s stimulus package included $300 billion in middle class tax cuts — one of the largest in history.

* The recent healthcare reform law includes tax credits and savings for small businesses and working people.

* Unlike President Bush’s 2001 tax cuts, which went to the wealthiest 2.2%, President Obama’s tax cuts overwhelmingly benefit working and middle class families — 95% of all Americans.

Here are some of the new tax credits available through the Recovery Act alone that you may be eligible for: (SEE INSIDE FOR LINKS)

April 15th marks the first year of the Tea Party Tax Day protests, brought to you by Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Rick “Let’s Have a Tea Party” Santelli. The original purpose was to protest “high taxes and big government”.

On Thursday, a reprise is scheduled to take place across the country, but I can’t help but wonder exactly what they’re protesting. This page lists the average tax cuts for the nation, and then breaks them down by state.

Overall, everyone got a little piece of the tax cut pie this year. In Arizona, home of newly-conservative John McCain and the even more conservative John Kyl, the average combined tax cut was -$1,023. In Oklahoma, that state threatening to declare war on overtaxation, the average tax cut was -$1,098. In Alaska, -$1,096.

98% of working families received a tax cut in this country.

Spring is here, but the endless, pointless wars grind on. U.S. troops are preparing for an offensive in Afghanistan ‘s Helmand province. As people lose their homes, their jobs, and struggle to make ends meet; as teachers are laid off and libraries are closed across America ; money gushes into the war and military budgets.
*Defund the Afghanistan Escalation!
*National Call-in to Congress Days April 13-15