OB Rag

By Neal Putnam / Peninsula Beacon / March 22, 2025

An Ocean Beach man has pleaded guilty to transmitting a threatening communication in an email to an ally of the LGBTQ community and suggested violence to her.

George Joseph Wellinger II, 49, will be sentenced on June 9 by U.S. District Court Judge Linda Lopez. She allowed him to remain free on a $50,000 bond with GPS monitoring.

This case involves someone who was interviewed for a KTLA television newscast about the murder of a shop owner in 2023 when she posted a Pride flag outside her business in Lake Arrowhead.

Wellinger threatened the person who gave the interview, writing she was “another alphabet clown that wants to take a dirt nap, too” with a link to the KTLA report.

From SanDiegoVille / March 2025

James Gang Printing, a cornerstone of San Diego’s Ocean Beach community since 1976, has closed its doors, leaving behind a nearly 50-year legacy of custom printing and local advocacy.

A sign on the door at 4851 Newport Avenue as of March 21, 2025, announced, “We are moving. If you have any questions please email info@jamesgangprinting.com,” suggesting a relocation rather than a permanent end, though the destination remains unclear. The closure marks the end of an era for a business that not only shaped Ocean Beach’s commercial landscape but also its cultural identity.

The James Gang story began in 1976 when brothers Ron, Rich, Greg, Mike, and Pat James – hence the “Gang” – founded James Gang Graphics on Newport Avenue. The siblings, part of a Navy family that had moved between San Diego, the Aleutian Islands, and Redding, California, were drawn back to the city’s warmth and Ocean Beach’s laid-back vibe.

By Lisa Mortensen / March 23, 2025

See this first — From inewsource:

The city of San Diego may soon charge one of the highest trash fees in Southern California. But there is one way homeowners could stop it.

Proposition 218, a state law passed in 1996 to require approval from those facing a rate increase by government agencies, includes a property owner’s right to cast a written protest against a new fee or increase. It’s called a majority protest: If more than half of eligible property owners submit a written, “valid” protest, then the City Council would not be able to implement a trash fee. Councilmembers will discuss new reports on the fee schedule on April 14, city officials said.

By Matthew Garcia Monges

The air carries the scent of salt and a trace of cigarettes. Above, white cotton-ball clouds drift lazily across the crisp blue sky. At the corner of Newport and Abbott in Ocean Beach, the scene is alive with movement and character.

A man dances atop the concrete wall facing the sea, stretching into a full split before fluidly waving his arms, as if conducting an orchestra only he can hear. There is no audible music, only the crashing of waves. Intrigued, I ask him what draws him to this place.

“Well, I’m a siren, darling,” he tells me theatrically, without skipping a beat on his movements. “A siren lures people in with its song. There’s an artistic beauty, but a chaos underneath. That’s me. And this place, it’s the people, the energy, the wacky art on the walls. It’s liberating.” With that, he returns to his rhythms, as I return to my role as a spectator.

by Lynne Miller

Love dogs, or don’t, tolerate dogs or don’t?  ‘Dog Love’ ranges from strongly dislike, through tolerate, to love dogs more than people. You know where you mark your territory on this doggy scale.

I love dogs, some more than people.  Having lived in OB my entire life I have watched dogs run free, unleashed, in the 40s and 50s, to today’s walks on tight leashes based on new laws.  Still, Ocean Beach is dog-friendly partly because  of local activism. Dogs and their humans have Dog Beach, a Dog Park, and not far away, Fiesta Island Dog Park. There are also many schoolyards that allow responsible owners to bring their dogs to play on the dirt and grass.

Things are about to change again.  Every time the city gets involved in our lives you can almost guarantee new restrictions are being seeded–new laws that, if disobeyed, will place you in the doghouse!

Here is the latest bite into your dog’s freedom, and yours. 

By Kate Callen

Most San Diegans who heard the news that Horton Plaza is in foreclosure didn’t know anything about the Los Angeles builder in the middle of the meltdown.

But residents of Mission Hills instantly recognized his name. Steven Yari — the developer who has plunged Horton Plaza into debt — is the same man who bulldozed the Little Red Bungalow in 2023 and has, for nearly two years, left a fenced-off crater in its place.

The empty lot at Goldfinch Street and Fort Stockton Drive is a painful reminder that a city’s greatness is measured by the way it protects its architectural treasures – and this city has fallen terribly short. San Diego will remain a third-rate town so long as our history and heritage carry price tags.

And now City Hall has launched a new campaign to scuttle historic preservation measures. If it succeeds, look for more fortune-hunters parachuting into town for more land grabs.

By Karen Pearlman / East County Magazine / March 20, 2025

Photos by Karen Pearlman

More than 100 residents who would be most affected by the proposed Cottonwood Sand Mine gathered in force Tuesday, March 18 at the Rancho San Diego Library to let the Valle de Oro Community Planning Group know they don’t want it in their neighborhood.

After listening to more than two dozen people share their concerns, the community planning group voted 11-0 to recommend opposing the project that would see 214 acres of the former 280-acre Cottonwood Golf Course along Willow Glen Drive in Rancho San Diego turned into a digging site for sand mining for at least 10 years.

The group also voted 10-1, with one abstention, to not agree with a design exception review to waive the undergrounding overhead utilities along Willow Glen Road.

Next step: County Planning Commission hearing April 18

By Steve O San Diego

Within the great community of Ocean Beach, San Diego, Hugo’s Cocina offers a delightful fusion of traditional Mexican flavors with modern vegan twists. During a recent visit, I had the pleasure of trying their Vegan Soy Chorizo Nachos, featured on their March Special menu available until the end of the month. This dish not only satisfied my taste buds but also showcased the restaurant’s commitment to great food.

From the moment I stepped inside Hugo’s Cocina, I was greeted with genuine warmth and friendliness. The staff’s attentive and welcoming demeanor sets the tone for a memorable dining experience. The restaurant’s interior is a charming blend of traditional Mexican decor and contemporary touches, creating an inviting atmosphere that caters to both casual diners and those celebrating special occasions. The vibrant colors, and tasteful artwork contribute to a cozy yet lively environment.

By Geoff Page

As I came down to Dog Beach on Wednesday, I was forewarned that there was a sick or injured sea lion on the beach and I might want to keep my dog away.  As I got down on the sand, I saw the animal lying in shallow water. It was moving its head but did not seem to want to move otherwise.

But what caught my attention even more though

A second fire in three days broke out in Ocean Beach this week. This one was sparked by a kitchen appliance and heavily damaged an Ocean Beach apartment in the 4900 block of Del Monte Avenue on Thursday. The first fire was late Monday night on the 4700 block of Muir.

Two residents, not at home, were displaced but the family cat was unable to be saved by first responders.