OB Rag

By Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune / August 19, 2024

A public memorial to honor the life of the iconic local artist, naturalist and and humanitarian James Hubbell will take place Saturday at his Pearl of the Pacific park on Shelter Island in San Diego.

Hubbell’s artwork and organically inspired designs can be found in buildings and galleries throughout California and beyond, but he was best known for his other-worldly “habitable sculptures” home and art compound in Santa Ysabel that’s listed in the San Diego County Register of Historic Places. Hubbell passed away May 17 at age 92.

The journalist and TV show host, who died Sunday at the age of 88, made his mark on our society. He fought for the underdog. He did it with style and grace and a wonderful sense of humor. He changed my life and the lives of so many others.

Jeff Cohen / Common Dreams / Aug 19, 2024

Phil Donahue passed away Sunday night, after a long illness. He was beloved by those who knew him and by many who didn’t.

He started as a local reporter in Ohio, was a trailblazer in bringing social issues to a national audience as a daytime broadcast TV host, and then he was pretty-much banished from TV by MSNBC because he—accurately, correctly, and morally—questioned the horrific U.S. invasion of Iraq.

By Jennifer Van Grove / The San Diego Union-Tribune / August 18, 2024

Tom Driscoll’s commercial fishing wharf at the north eastern tip of America’s Cup Harbor in Point Loma is falling apart. The marina’s four, fixed piers — home to as many as 120 fishing boats in their prime — appear to be on the brink of collapse. The business model gave way long ago. The substandard conditions will remain suspended in time until the Port of San Diego assumes control of the facility at some future date.

The agency is pushing Driscoll out of the marina that has held the family name for 32 years — but also forcing him to stay put for now.

Before we round out this week, we must note that it was 50 years ago that Richard Nixon resigned as president. The first and only president to resign in disgrace.

It was on August 8 and I was sitting in a Mexican restaurant in Isla Vista, next to UC Santa Barbara, taking a dinner break in my drive from the Bay Area back to Ocean Beach. All of a sudden, there was a grave tone from an announcer, and Richard Nixon appeared on the eatery’s TV which was mounted on a wall. His visage appeared and he announced he was resigning the next day, August 9, 1974.

I was full of joy! He deserved to go and I in fact had been involved in the movement to get him to either be impeached or forced to resign.

He was very bad — and whether he was worse than Trump is up to history (as Trump is not done with us yet). But Nixon in his own way tried to be a dictator — and the American people stood up to him — as did the Supreme Court — and their representatives forced him out.

The U-T ran a piece over this last week about the City updating its blueprint for Balboa Park and reviving Starlight Bowl. And a couple of the published responses were noteworthy, especially since one of them was from our friend Roger Showley, a San Diego architectural historian and former longtime writer for the U-T (and fellow PLHS Class of 66 member):

The plan to save our crown jewel needs more to creativity when it comes to food

Mayor Todd Gloria listed many worthy to-do items in his “State of Balboa Park” presentation. One proposes the long-shuttered Village Grill at Old Globe Way. But we need a lot more imagination to satisfy our thirst and growling stomachs when visiting San Diego’s “crown jewel.”

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

To all our readers and supporters who have given the Rag our best fundraiser ever! It’s been amazing.

We asked our community for $3,000 and you gave us $5,000! Incredible.

by Ernie McCray

The joy I’ve been feeling of late
was brightened
by our athletes’ performances
at the
Olympic Games,
as I’m still wearing
a smile
from watching

Here’s the City of San Diego’s official notice for the large ADU project proposed for 4705 Point Loma Avenue in south OB (be aware that none of the blue links “work” as this is a photocopy or the original notice). OB and Point Loma residents are being urged to attend the hearing.

By Orville

You guys need to let the city manager thing go.

San Diego was able to generate plenty of scandals under that system too, and you all know full well they’d just hire a lackey anyway – one we couldn’t vote out every four years.

Pining for a model used by mid-size cities is waste of everyone’s time. 1.4 million people live here. It’s not getting on the ballot. The ship has sailed.

By Danna Givot

Too often, people who have opposed San Diego’s Bonus ADU (accessory dwelling unit) program have been miscast as one cohesive group of anti-development, anti-renter, anti-affordable housing NIMBYs. I’d like to take a few moments to dispel these stereotypes.

I oppose San Diego’s Bonus ADU program for a multitude of reasons. But I am 100% in favor of California’s requirement that single-family parcels be eligible for one ADU and one JADU (Junior ADU).

State law allows a tripling of density and a 200% increase in housing units in single-family neighborhoods.  Until recent code changes, almost all of these ADUs and JADUs had to be rentals (unless owned and developed by non-profits).

The well-known Ebb Tide Motel on West Pt Loma is up for sale, along with the adjoining apartment building. Together, the properties are being offered for $8,750,000.

And together they include a total of 23 units — the motel has 15 and the multi-family building has 8.

Not only that, the in-place TOT license is being offered for short-term rentals. The offer makes this statement:

A buyer may have the option to utilize the in-place TOT license and run short-term rentals (AirBnB, VRBO, etc.) or convert the units into true apartments. With great parking, ocean views, and steps from the beach, a buyer can develop a substantial increase in gross income.