OB Rag

By Geoff Page

On Monday, September 30, 2024, a little more than a month before the election, the mayor’s office issued a press release:

“City of San Diego Marks 1,650 Miles of Road Repair Under Mayor Gloria”

“MILESTONE FOLLOWS RECORD INVESTMENTS FOR STREET PAVING BY CITY LEADERS IN RECENT YEARS’ (This was in all caps.)

Having worked in the construction industry for many years, including for a grading and paving company, this kind of statement makes me see red because it is so deceptive.

Start with the word “repair.” In most people’s minds, this means to fix something that is damaged. For street work, this usually means things like filling potholes, something substantial.

Then look at the word “paving.” What this conjures up for most people is the laying down of an asphalt structure like full depth replacement of asphalt or perhaps an overly of 1.5 to 2.0 inches.

Neither word refers to surface treatments like slurry seal, that makes a road look nicer but is not a “repair” or “paving.” Surface treatments are maintenance.

By Kate Callen and Geoff Page

Here is the playbook for making a city government look cosmically inept:

First, trumpet the news that an exorbitant infrastructure project nobody asked for will be utterly fabulous.

Second, start by closing off a major road that thousands of people use every day.

Third, move construction along until – OMG!! – a huge physical obstruction pops up and stops it cold.

Fourth, keep the road closed for years while project leaders try to figure things out, ignoring complaints from furious residents, local businesses and draining city coffers of more millions.

Now: Do it all a second time at a different site.

The simultaneous closures of West Morena Boulevard in Linda Vista and University Avenue in City Heights have become like a horror movie where zombie twins ravage two enclaves in the same village at the same time.

From Neighbors for a Better San Diego

Mayor Gloria rebuffs Council’s effort to rein in Bonus ADU program

He’s trying to intimidate the Council and ignoring the valid concerns of San Diego residents

On the heels of the January 28th City Council decision to re-examine the Bonus Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) program, Mayor Gloria has resorted to bullying and disinformation in an attempt to get the Council to back off of its request.

There’s much to disagree with in the Mayor’s newsletter, but his core defense of the Bonus ADU program is stated in this paragraph:

The ADU program, recognized statewide for creating affordable housing everyday San Diegans can afford without taxpayer subsidies, has helped San Diego build more homes and provide options for families and middle-income residents. It was introduced transparently and has resulted in hundreds of new housing units since 2021, nearly half of which are rent-restricted affordable homes.

The president has left a breadcrumb trail suggesting nothing would make him happier than to see the Eagles get slaughtered in the Super Bowl.

By Charlie Mahtesian / politico / Feb. 7, 2025

A record audience is expected to watch the Super Bowl this weekend, including Donald Trump, who will be the first sitting president to attend the game in person.

While polls suggest a majority of Americans will be rooting for the Philadelphia Eagles to defeat the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs, Trump won’t be one of them. He hasn’t explicitly expressed his preference, but he’s left a breadcrumb trail suggesting nothing would make him happier than to see the Eagles get slaughtered in the biggest event in American sports.

Trump’s disdain for the NFL team traces back to 2018, the first and only time the Eagles have ever won a Super Bowl. The game took place against the backdrop of an unusually politicized season, marked by the polarizing issue of players refusing to stand for the national anthem in symbolic protest of racism. In his first year as president, Trump objected to the practice, harshly criticizing players who took a knee.

By Chris Jennewein / Times of San Diego / Feb. 7, 2025

Mayor Todd Gloria on Friday, Feb. 7, dropped plans for the controversial, giant homeless shelter at Kettner Boulevard and Vine Street near the San Diego International Airport.

“After a year of negotiations and multiple hearings, we have come to the conclusion that the proposed homeless shelter campus at Kettner and Vine can no longer advance,” Gloria said. “As a result, we will present alternative solutions to the City Council on Feb. 10.”

He said three new options are:

By JW August / Special to OB Rag

It’s not a book banning or burning but it is the equivalency of it in the age of the internet. Another word for it is censorship.

I learned  E&E (Energy and Environment) News by Politico, an online newspaper, is banned from U.S. Federal agencies.  My source “S” works in a federal agency that has a full agenda of responsibilities but right now the work of the agency is distracted, agitated by the Trump administration’s latest “burn down.”

The source believes that “the ban” is occurring at other agencies as well. Workers  are not allowed to receive E&E, subscribe to it, and it’s “not allowed to come into the building.”

On the website www.eenews.net  is this invitation: “A new Washington is taking shape. Stay informed with E&E News.”

And while there are other options to get accurate information, at least for now, this is a vindictive move and no democracy can allow its government to decide what is appropriate reading for its workers. This reeks of 1984, George Orwell’s book, and the use of Doublethink,

The following is from a talk by Peter Bohmer at a panel discussion about Immigrant Solidarity with Avi Chomsky and Zafira Patiño at a ZNetwork Forum on Feb. 1, 2025.

by Peter Bohmer, February 1, 2025

This is an address I made on how to build immigrant justice, including the right to migrate and right to stay at home while challenging and changing the strong anti-immigrant sentiments of ½ the population in the United States.

This anti-immigrant ideology and agenda are a central part of the right-wing agenda, not only in the U.S. but much of Europe, Australia, Canada and in many countries in the global south such as Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and South Africa. It is acquiesced to by centrist parties such as the Democrats here, Macron in France and the Christian Democrats in Germany.

An example at home is the horrific Laken Riley bill that was just signed into law by Trump, with the vote of 46 Democrats in the House and 12 Democrats in the Senate.  This bill supports immediate detention by the Department of Homeland Security for undocumented immigrants being charged, not even convicted, for minor property crimes such as shoplifting and burglary.

Editordude: This is NOT satire and is the current true cover of Time magazine for Feb. 24.

By Lori Weisberg / San Diego Union-Tribune / Feb. 6, 2025

San Diego’s annual Big Bay Boom will go on as scheduled this year, but California Coastal Commissioners put port officials and the event’s organizer on notice Thursday that they need to start looking at ways to rethink the use of fireworks during the Fourth of July celebration in order to protect the bay and nearby wildlife.

The commission agreed that not only does the scale of the show need to be downsized, but it may need to transition in future years to a drone-only show that could potentially substitute aerial colored lights and synchronized displays for conventional fireworks. While coastal planners had previously been in discussions with Big Bay Boom organizers about moving sooner to a drone show, the staff acknowledged that the port and its partner, the Armed Services YMCA, would not have enough time to make such a major pivot so quickly.

By Ava Kershner / 10News / Feb 07, 2025

Three of the biggest names in surf and skatewear are filing for bankruptcy. Billabong, Quiksilver, and Volcom partially blame fast fashion for the closures.

If you ask the regulars at Ocean Beach: “I surf and skate, yeah. I skate every day,” said Travis, a local skater and surfer. They are familiar with the names.

“Do you have any Billabong, Quiksilver, or Volcom?” I asked.

“All 3, yes,” said Travis.

Billabong, Quiksilver and Volcom stores will be closing their doors, after the company behind them, Liberated Brands, filed for bankruptcy.