OB Rag

A big turnout by Encanto, Chollas Valley and other District 4 homeowners, residents, business owners, and their city-wide supporters is expected at today’s San Diego City Council discussion and proposed action to nullify a deceptive exemption to city planning codes.They hope that today at 2 PM, the San Diego City Council will consider revoking the underhanded “Footnote 7”.

Footnote 7 rezoned large areas of Chollas Valley—including areas that were planned for parks—without going through the proper Community Plan Update process. This was deliberately deceptive.

The Planning Department has yet to explain why it was buried within a general Land Development Code Update, denying Chollas Valley residents the opportunity to negotiate community benefits.

By Kristina Houck / Patch San Diego / Jan 7, 2025

As the law stands, California residents who are 18 and older must show a Real ID, a passport or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or certain federal buildings beginning May 7.

The anti-terrorism law requiring the “gold star ID,” as it’s sometimes called, was originally supposed to take effect in 2008, but has been delayed so often that it has become a running joke. Will the Real ID Act really take effect this year?

Technically, yes.

The current May 7, 2025, deadline still stands, but the Transportation Security Administration has asked for flexibility to implement enforcement in phases, with progressive enforcement ending in 2027. But that doesn’t mean you should wait until then to make an application.

Jim Varnadore is a long time resident of City Heights resident and former chair of its planning committee who sends frequent letters to city officials and often has his “letters to the editor” printed at the U-T. Here is his latest public letter to the San Diego City Council emailed on January 23.

San Diego City Council

Ladies and gentlemen,

Walking along a thoroughfare here in City Heights recently, I noticed that there were no bicycles in the bike paths – none. I had noticed that earlier along Thirtieth
Street through North Park.

An Open Letter to Dr. Mark Stetter, Dean of UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Regarding the Million Cat Challenge and Community Cat Programs
 
By Ed Boks / Jan 27, 2025

Dear Dr. Stetter,

Since its launch in 2014, the Million Cat Challenge—spearheaded by the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program (KSMP) and the University of Florida Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program—has sought to revolutionize shelter practices across North America. With its ambitious goal of saving one million cats through strategies like Community Cat and Return-To-Field (RTF) programs, the Challenge has been celebrated for achieving significant milestones.

However, a recent legal ruling in San Diego found aspects of these programs in violation of California’s animal protection laws, raising serious questions about their implementation and impact on animal welfare.

by Ernie McCray

I’ll always remember this year’s
“All People’s Celebration”
of MLK Day,
in particular,
not only because it was held on the day
of the 47th president’s
inauguration,
something I looked at as an insult
to the memory of Martin
who preached love and non-violence
but also due to it setting the tone
for the work that needs to be done
to counter the actions of this man
who is hell-bent,

by Debbie L. Sklar / Times of San Diego / Jan. 24, 2025

A San Diego Police Officer was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle driven by a 65-year-old man in the Wooded Area neighborhood of Point Loma, officials said Friday, January 24.

William Stephens was booked into jail Thursday on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer and domestic violence charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness, the San Diego Police Department said in a news release.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, officers were sent to a residence in the 3500 block of Inez Street in response to a domestic violence call involving a married couple, SDPD said.

The Transportation Committee of the OB Planning Board is meeting tonight, Monday, January 27, at the OB Woman’s Club.

The meeting begins at 6:30 pm at 2160 Bacon Street.

On the agenda are 2 discussion items: “Request to Form a Parking District”, and something titled, “Access OB.”

Here is the official agenda:

By Kate Callen

When you hear “city budget crisis,” does your mind make the leap to slashing funds for libraries and parks?

Or do you think about cutting obscure city management positions that pay huge salaries?

The public’s priorities for City spending will be discussed next month at four Citizen Budget Review Town Hall Meetings with Independent Budget Analyst (IBA) Charles Modica.

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:

Downtown Julian. Amazing.

Snow at Mt Laguna — 8:15 am January 26, 2025

Here is a dramatic video of a smuggler’s boat capsizing at the shores of Ocean Beach Saturday morning, January 25. Surfers and lifeguards help rescue the survivors. Reportedly one immigrant didn’t make it.

The video is by Charles Landon who records one interview with one of the surfer rescuers.

Cal Fire crews are battling a brush fire that erupted on Otay Mountain Thursday afternoon, with evacuation orders and warnings in place for surrounding areas.

The “Border 2 Fire” as of 11:45 a.m. Friday was at 5,389 acres, “with long range spotting and extreme fire behavior.” Fire officials said the blaze was at 10% containment. It was first reported after 2:15 p.m. in the area of Otay Mountain Truck Trail in the Otay Wilderness Area. The fire jumped from 350 to over 500 acres within a half hour at one point.

Cal Fire issued an evacuation order for residents who live in the red shaded areas shown in the maps below. This means that there is an immediate threat and “you need to leave.” An evacuation warning has also been issued for the areas in yellow. Officials said, “Be prepared to evacuate should conditions change. If you feel you are in danger, go!”