OB Rag

By Colleen O’Connor

Two years ago, in November of 2022, I wrote a column full of outlandish predictions that have since come true.

• First, that Kamala Harris would be named Vice-President. True.
• Next that Speaker Emeriti, Nancy Pelosi, would outlast Donald Trump. Ongoing.
• Third, that Kevin McCarthy would not last long as Republican House Speaker. True.
• Also, that Joe Biden would not be re-elected President. And neither would Trump. One down. One going.
• Finally, that Liz Cheney would be the first woman to become the GOP leader in the House, albeit still in the minority. Or secure a stellar Cabinet post. Attorney General would be fitting. “Without fear or favor,” Cheney has proved her character worthy of a high office.

Here we are finally! Election Day 2024, Tuesday November 5th.

About 83% of the nearly 27 million adults in California who are eligible to vote are registered. And millions of Californians have already voted.

In her latest report on California’s voter registration, Secretary of State Shirley Weber — a local girl! — said a record 22.6 million Californians are registered to vote, which is 548,211 more than four years ago.

With nearly 2 million ballots sent out across San Diego, it will take some time to get the votes tallied.

The Registrar has released a timeline of when San Diegans can expect the unofficial results to roll in and how long it will take them to fully certify the election. Here’s what you should know:

8 p.m. on Election Day

The first dump of results will come just after the polls close at 8 p.m. on Election Night. No results will be available before that time. This dump will include mail ballots received before Election Day and results from people who voted at vote centers before Nov. 5.

By JW August

A lawsuit filed by an unhappy commuter on the State Route 125 toll road has an August 8, 2025 jury trial date. Superior Court Judge Robert Longsthreth has issued a ruling in the case that pits plaintiff Brandon Kelsoe, who regularly uses the toll road, against the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

The ruling, tossing all but one of the claims, resulted in the case proceeding beyond the pleading stage which is considered the opening salvo between litigants.  A confidential legal expert source described the result as an “interim victory” for the Kelsoe team.  It allows the parties to conduct discovery to aid in future skirmishes.  Attorneys from each side declined  to comment about the judge’s ruling.

Kesloe is one of the lawsuits moving through the courts as the result of thousands of drivers on 125 toll road being charged incorrectly by license-plate readers or FasTrak transponders.  The problems revealed by the toll road fiasco triggered  a recent review by SANDAG’s as part of an effort to correct oversight problems within the organization.

By Marianne LeVine, Patrick Marley and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez/ Washington Post / November 4, 2024

Donald Trump, who blamed his 2020 defeat on false claims of vast election malfeasance, has spent much of the final week of his third presidential campaign trying to discredit the legitimacy of this year’s election.

His latest unsubstantiated claims could set the stage for an attempt to fight a potential loss not only in the courts but also by spreading falsehoods about the nation’s election systems. The former president and his allies have produced no evidence of widespread fraud or Democratic attempts to rig this election or the previous one, which he lost to Joe Biden. Election officials who have spent four years dealing with the fallout of his 2020 falsehoods fear his latest claims could lead to violence.

Ahead of Tuesday, Donald Trump is using five strategies to overturn the election, according to CNN.

The former president’s campaign team has placed “an intense focus on Pennsylvania” — a critical battleground state — the news outlet reports.

Per the report, “Trump has already claimed without evidence that his opponents are cheating in the state, both on his social media and at campaign rallies. At a Tuesday rally in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Trump claimed that the discovery of hundreds of suspected fraudulent voter registration applications in Lancaster County was evidence of cheating.”

The second way the GOP nominee is setting the stage for election interference, is through billionaire “Elon Musk’s misinformation machine.”

* Every Saturday at 10:30 am. San Diego Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd and 30th.

* Every Saturday 10 am – 12 pm Peace Vigil for Palestine in Ocean Beach

* November 5th Tuesday VOTE if you haven’t already.

See OB Rag Ballot Recommendations here.

* November 6th Wednesday 12 pm – 1 pm Green Traveling:
* November 8th Friday 5:30 pm – 9 pm 4th annual Sails and Ales Beer Fest.

* November 8th Friday 6 pm – 9 pm Hands Across Borders” Global Community Gala
* November 10th Sunday 11 am – 3 pm Community Bazaar with local Palestinian /Lebanese owned businesses
* November 10th Sunday 9:30 am – 11 am   Coastal Roots monthly farm tour 

By Lynne Miller

“We need more housing in San Diego.” This is an opinion, not a fact. Where this opinion originated matters. If this opinion originated and was promoted by state and local governments then it is important to know why the state came to this conclusion and how it will benefit government.

Homelessness was probably a factor, And homelessness is a complicated issue, unfortunately involving addiction and mental illness as well as unemployment.

As I look at the formula for qualifying for high density homes, I see that the motivation and the promotion could be based on profit, and revenue for government, rather than solutions to help the homeless.

I admit, I am suspect of government opinions that drive agenda. In my humble opinion, the government opinion that we need more housing and that we need high density housing could be a springboard to ensure that there are agendas such as less cars, more public transit and bikes, and less support of single-family zoning.

While all of these concerns could be Noble issues, compassionate in their origins, they could also be driven by the collaborative efforts of corrupt government and profit with big money corporations.

By Trudy Grundland

As our mayor and as a City Council Member, Todd Gloria has pushed Faulconer’s Complete Communities, San Diego’s response to SB 375, a 2008 state law that encourages transit oriented development.

The law, set up to accelerate construction timelines by streamlining environmental approvals, allows developers to skip the expensive and time-consuming analysis usually required under the California Environmental Quality Act. Developers save millions because they’re only required to conduct a cursory CEQA review of buildings within a half-mile of transit, using water efficiently, not impacting historical structures, not reducing affordable housing and many others.

Despite being a steward of America’s Finest City, Todd Gloria has fast-tracked the construction of hi-rise tiny studio apartments and ADUs, 500 sqft each, maximum 1-2 persons. But are they affordable? In 2023 86.4% of all new housing,10,300 units was “moderate”, i.e. full-market rate (photo).

Families in need of housing?

Sorry. Very low, and low income individuals need housing? Sorry. But if you can afford $2,500-$3,000/month, you can live near hipster stores, restaurants and bars!

By Laura Henson

The YIMBY movement, mostly associated with the Democratic Party, stands for “Yes In My Back Yard,” even though it isn’t associated with grassroots efforts of residents trying to bring housing, businesses, and other development to their communities.

YIMBYism has been very influential within the California Democratic Party and in San Diego under Todd Gloria’s leadership. It has been backed by special interest groups like the Building Industry Association and the tech industry.

According to a study published in the University of Pennsylvania Law Review entitled, The Perils of Land Use Deregulation, YIMBYs support deregulation of the building industry, which decreases affordability and does nothing for racial equity. Simply stated, if you don’t have affordability, you can’t have equity.

By San Diego’s own numbers, we don’t have a shortage of total housing units, we have a shortage of affordable housing.