OB Rag

Goal of $3,000 Surpassed Over Weekend

I am speechless and overwhelmed at the support the Rag has received these last few days during our summer fundraising campaign. And that is a rarity.

We began the campaign last Wednesday, August 7, and set a goal of $3,000. We nearly reached that in just 3 days. And over the weekend, the outpouring of monetary donations not only got us to the goal but shot us to a total so far of $3,730! And that’s not counting pledges and checks sent the Rag to our PO Box.

By Damon Zwicker

Profound disappointment and outrage are the only words I can think of to describe the deplorable conditions in the Gaslamp Quarter, particularly around Fourth Avenue and E Street. As a visitor to San Diego as an employee of an event company tasked with installing experiential marketing events for Comic-Con San Diego, I was shocked, astonished and horrified by what I witnessed during my recent visit.

The streets are plagued by individuals evidently intoxicated, littered with glass pipes and needles. Sidewalks are covered in feces and urine, trash is strewn everywhere, and orange-vested city workers are reduced to pressure washing the streets and mopping the sidewalks in a futile attempt to maintain some semblance of cleanliness.

From SanDiegoVille / August 9, 2024

A recent viral video appears to show a woman being assaulted after allegedly asking a man to leash his dog along San Diego’s Mission Bay, raising the question: why is there so little enforcement of clearly posted dog laws?

In the picturesque Sail Bay area of Mission Bay, nestled within San Diego’s Pacific Beach and Mission Beach neighborhoods, a growing issue is causing frustration among some residents and visitors alike. Despite clearly posted signs indicating the rules, dog owners are frequently ignoring the regulations that require their animals to be on a leash during all times and only present at specified morning and late afternoon times. Instead, many are walking their dogs unleashed and at all hours, creating a nuisance and sparking concern over public safety and adherence to the law.

by Ernie McCray

I like the image I saw of
Tim Walz,
Kamala Harris’s
vice-presidential candidate,
walking comfortably
at her side
into a political rally,
to thunderous applause
which he accepted without pause,
his hands held high,
wearing a smile|
as bright as the audience’s festive energy,
like a man ready, as we used to say,
to take care of the b-i-z,
something the country truly needs.

by Danielle Dawson / Fox5 San Diego / Aug 7, 2024

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, his predecessor Kevin Faulconer and city staff regularly increased spending limits for city contracts by amounts totaling millions of dollars without obtaining the required city council approval beforehand, a recent audit found.

By John Ziebarth / San Diego U-T Guest Op-Ed / August 7, 2024

Last month, Union-Tribune reporter David Garrick authored an excellent article on housing highlighting valuable information in the city’s recent housing report and some information that is missing. As an architect who volunteered for 28 years to help develop the zoning code and has reviewed and commented on the development of the general plan and eight community plans, I would like to offer one perspective on the results in the report. We all agree that we have a housing crisis of not enough units being built and not enough middle, low and affordable units.

Public Service Announcement

The new school year begins Monday, Aug. 12 for Point Loma Cluster and its nine schools – Cabrillo, Dewey, Loma Portal, Ocean Beach, Silver Gate, and Sunset View elementary schools, along with Dana and Correia middle schools, and Point Loma High School.

The Point Loma Cluster is part of the San Diego Unified School District, the second-largest school district in California, which includes 121 elementary schools, 24 middle schools, 21 high schools, and two atypical schools.

The Point Loma Cluster serves over 6,400 students in grades K-12 and its student population is diverse. Over 40% of the cluster’s student population qualifies for the federal free and reduced lunch program. About 25% of students come from outside the cluster, while 14% are English learners.

Incredible. In less than 3 days, the OB Rag fundraising campaign has reached 80% of our goal of $3,000! As of this writing, we’ve received donations totaling $2,370. Somebody likes us, despite our vocal detractors.

Here’s 13 Reasons to Support the OB Rag:

1. Our Progressive Politics: we stand for liberty and democracy and for a woman’s right to choose. We are diametrically opposed to Trump’s banana republic and against his authoritarianism — which include plans for the end of the Constitution and the Rule of Law. We’re for racial and gender equality.
2. We Oppose the Direction that San Diego Is Going: the current city leadership is taking us down the wrong road in its imposition of un-democratically-forced rules that threaten our neighborhoods. We stand for more affordable housing, renters’ rights and an end to the corporate ownership of our housing stock. We also find it unacceptable that large campaign donors can reap the award of public land and development projects.

If a towering “accessory dwelling unit” (ADU) is throwing shade at you and your neighbors, the OB Rag wants to hear from you. Why? We’re holding a contest, ta-dah.

The OB Rag is inviting submissions for its “Worst ADUs in San Diego” contest. We are looking for extreme examples of ADUs that are excessive in size and overpowering in impact.

The nomination process is easy. Just send an e-mail with “Worst ADUs” in the subject line to obragblog@gmail.com.

By Rebecca Hersher / NPR News / August 7, 2024

High tide floods – when water collects in streets or even seeps into buildings on days without rain – are increasingly common in coastal areas as sea levels rise, a new report warns.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST: Tropical Storm Debby has flooded the southeastern U.S. this week. Many of the hardest-hit areas also have the fastest sea level rise in the country. Nicole LeBoeuf is the director of the National Ocean Service.

NICOLE LEBOEUF: These areas are already under the thumb of sea level rise, making the combination of Debby’s rainfall and storm surge potentially catastrophic.

MARTIN: Rebecca Hersher from NPR’s climate desk has learned of a new report that warns those sea level changes are accelerating.

By Katie Hyson / KPBS /  August 6, 2024

The Commission on Police Practices recommended last month that the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) make changes to their vehicle pursuit policy. At the top of their list: Limiting vehicle pursuits to incidents involving violent felonies.

The San Diego Police Officers Association (SDPOA) is pushing back against the suggestion, calling it horrific and dangerous. They didn’t respond to requests for an interview, but have been posting on social media about it. They wrote that the change would prevent them from pursuing people suspected of things like driving under the influence, dealing fentanyl, battery and human trafficking.