OB Rag

Commission on Police Practices Completes Audit on How SDPD Handled Complaints

By JW August

An audit of how the San Diego Police Department handles complaints was just completed on behalf of the Commission on Police Practices. It began as an inquiry by the Commission of previous SDPD cases that had passed the one-year statute of limitations for disciplining an officer.

Nevertheless the newly created commission felt they didn’t want the to let go of SDPD’s internal investigations without any review by CPP.  “What might be learned” was the motivation for hiring an independent auditor-Attorney Jerry Threet -to review “multiple areas of concerns and (make) suggestions for improvement” and what resulted is a report titled ‘Independent Civilian Audit of San Diego Police Department Complaint Investigations for the Commission on Police Practices 2020-2023’.

The 25 member Commission’s creation has been a long slog for activists and citizens seeking more comprehensive oversight of the police department. A prior effort at civilian oversight was considered a failure and San Diego voters approved a more vigorous model to investigate police conduct, independent of the SDPD and the Office of the Mayor.

This review of 153 cases, resulting from 651 allegations of misconduct against SDPD officers, is a baseline for data and insight into the department’s internal handling of citizen complaints.

By Ernie McCray

Excuse my French,
as they say,
but it just seems as though
everything today
is ass-backwards.
In so many ways.
And that puts us in a bind,
considering that we’ve got a man
who, in a very short time,
will be taking us through whatever
is going to go down
down the line,

By Ben Mondy / Surfer / December 16, 2024

In the 11th Century, King Canute united the kingdoms of England, Denmark and Norway into what was known as the North Sea Empire. It was an incredible feat. Especially, as he was known as Cnut at the time.

However, he is remembered for setting his throne by the shore and commanding the incoming tide to halt. As the two-footers washed around his shins, he declared to his courtiers: “Let all the world know that the power of kings is empty and worthless … heaven, earth and sea obey eternal laws.”

Old Cnut has been forever linked with the futility of trying to stop the tides using his supernatural powers, even if he was trying to teach his fawning courtiers the opposite. Roughly 1,000 years later, his lesson could be applied to the continued building of seawalls to combat erosion.

“Seawalls damage virtually every beach they are built on. If they are built on eroding beaches – and they are rarely built anywhere else – they eventually destroy the beach.” That was Cornelia Dean, the Science Editor of the New York Times, in her book “Against the Tide, The Battle of America’s Beaches.” And that was in 1999.

From San Diego’s fishing history from Kumeyaay and Portuguese tuna fishermen, to today’s multicultural palette

by MacKenzie Elmer / Voice of San Diego / December 16, 2024

Behold! The San Diego Seafood Then & Now cookbook, which offers recipes and stories from our region’s deep connection to fishing. It’s based on interviews with the fishermen of Dockside Market, local historians and the keepers of cultural wisdom from San Diego’s indigenous communities who were forcibly removed from their coastline.

A local chef and historian dreamed up the idea during the pandemic and, years later, turned it into hard copy with support from California Sea Grant, a government-funded research and public education effort dedicated to supporting coastal and marine environments.

The book walks the reader through San Diego’s fishing history from the indigenous tribes of the Kumeyaay and the Portuguese tuna fishermen, to the multicultural palette San Diego offers today.

There’s an illuminating recent article by Jake Kincaid at inewsource about Awaken Church in San Diego and how it celebrated Trump’s election all the while enjoying its non-tax status. The church and its 7 local churches push the idea that “God” has called upon Christians to take America back and reshape it into its view of Biblical principles.

Here are some excerpts:

The day the 2024 election was called for Donald Trump, there was a palpable atmosphere of celebration at Awaken Church’s Kearny Mesa campus. Pastors at Awaken had been telling their congregations to pray — and vote — for Trump. From the pulpit, congregants were encouraged to exchange high fives and say, “we won.” They had just shared an unfounded claim that election monitors in Pennsylvania had narrowly stopped what one speaker called a “wicked scheme” to steal the election with truckloads of fake ballots.

On Tuesday December 17th, the San Diego City Council — sitting as the Housing Authority (SDHA)–  is set to approve development of the Famosa Canyon with construction starting in 2027!

The meeting begins at 2 PM and opponents of the project say this will be the ONLY and LAST chance to have their voices heard on the proposed development.

The meeting will take place at the 12th floor of the City Administration building, 202 C Street, San Diego, CA, 92101.

They want as many people as possible to either show up in person or call in and TAKE THIS FINAL OPPORTUNITY to let your voice be heard on the proposed development of the Famosa Canyon before it’s too late!

On this past Saturday, Frank Gormlie, editor of the OB Rag, gave a talk about his recently published book, The May 1970 Rebellion, before a small crowd in the backyard of good friends in a home in northeast Ocean Beach.

Videographer Charlie Landon took a video of the talk and edited it some what — there were many “OB Pauses” — when the airliners passed overhead — and it’s presented here.

By Colleen O’Connor

In his last weeks as President, Biden has been offered several “To Do” lists before his term ends.

Major newspapers and networks have offered logical suggestions with detailed rationale.

Pardons, new legislation, drain the coffers and send the money to select states.  Get ready for mega demands on time and a flood of rationales for each move.

Let’s make it simple.  Do what Trump would, could, should and will do.  Follow his prescriptions.

The time to put out the “dumpster fires” is now.

Here are the easiest wins to guarantee a Biden legacy of note. 

By Lisa Mortensen

Good morning Council members:

I am really shocked that you are wasting more time and resources on the failed Kettner and Vine Mega Shelter that you will discuss in ‘closed-door’ session on Monday December 16th.  Why the ‘closed-door’ meeting?  Why are you continuing to ignore the public and allow yourselves to be arm-twisted by the mayor?

Have you not been listening to all the cogent public testimony statements at prior meetings this year from those who have lived experience of homelessness as well as mental health professionals, and individuals who have dedicated their lives representing homeless advocate non-profits?

What part of this public record are you missing?

Neighbors, business owners, homeless advocates, and other opponents of the proposed Kettner and Vine “mega-shelter” will voice their concerns about the project during public comment on the San Diego City Council’s “closed session” agenda at Monday’s 10 am City Council meeting.

The Mayor and City Council will hear new information about lease negotiations related to the proposed shelter in a closed session following these public comments.

A new group called Neighbors for a Better California has been rallying residents of local communities against high-rise projects and other over-development in San Diego. Here is their latest newsletter.

by Kasia Gregorczyk / Fox5SanDieog / Dec 12, 2024

A group of neighbors in Clairemont have taken their fight against a “bonus” ADU project up a notch. They’re suing the city and a group of developers over a project that includes a dozen units on one property.

“Transparency and the ability to know what’s going on in the neighborhood was virtually impossible for them,” said Craig Sherman, attorney at law.

Sherman says he had to file a lawsuit just to get proper records from the city of San Diego about the development at 4602 Shoshoni Ave. Neighbors are now suing the city and developers, including SDRE Homebuyers LLC, over several concerns.