OB Rag

George Varga at the San Diego Union-Tribune just published a piece about the new inductees to the San Diego Music Hall of Fame this year, and they include two musicians with strong ties to Ocean Beach.

One is being honored posthumously — and that is San Diego blues godfather Tomcat Courtney, who died in January 2020 at the age of 91. Tomcat used to play regularly at a bar on Voltaire Street in OB during the seventies. Also being inducted is the well-known Grateful Dead tribute group the Electric Waste Band,

By Geoff Page

As related in The Rag’s July 19 article, the Ocean Beach Planning Board Transportation subcommittee met Monday, July 23 to discuss a couple of radical traffic ideas – a Parking District and a new road through Robb Field.

The Rag story generated, to date, 28 comments. Many were not favorable but there was also a good discussion of alternative ideas. The subcommittee meeting did not generate a similar response, only four people attended, not counting this writer.

The meeting began by electing a new chair for the four-person subcommittee.

by Ernie McCray

I can’t help but wonder why
we’re making it possible
for Donald J. Trump
to become our president again
when he once failed at the job miserably,
nodding off in the oval office,
waiting for a ride, from time to time,
so, he wouldn’t miss his tee time.

OK Everyone! It’s time to rise out of our despair! It’s been 24 days of mourning since the debate debacle sunk all of us into believing this election was over, that we were going to be abused by Trump for another four years. A sick, sick feeling.

But in one shining moment, at 1:46pm Sunday afternoon, President Biden, in a true profile in courage, a selfless act for which he will be honored and remembered for years to come, put his country ahead of himself. May I ask you, Mr. President, for one more brave and bold action? Kamala Harris will be in a much stronger position to win if she can run as the President of the United States.

Ethan “Duce” Gourson, a former infielder from Point Loma High School, has been selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates after his junior season at UCLA.

The Pirates selected the 6-foot tall, 200-pounder in the ninth round of the recent MLB draft, a result of the second baseman’s performance after three seasons in a Bruins jersey.

Gourson has batted .300 from the left side during his Bruins career, covering 168 games with 49 doubles, 21 home runs, 119 RBIs, and 117 walks. He was named a freshman All-American in 2022 and to the All-Pac-12 team in 2023 after a career-high .319 batting average and .515 slugging percentage.

The coastal height limit is a reflection of San Diego’s identity  — The City Council should not support the state’s push to break the rule

By Joe LaCava / San Diego U-T Op-Ed / July 22, 2024

The will of the voters in the city of San Diego is absolute. In 1972, residents took to the ballot box to limit the height of new buildings in the coastal area west of Interstate 5 to 30 feet. The measure passed citywide, withstood legal challenges, and has been recognized by the city and its residents ever since. No city, state or developer has the authority to reverse the will of San Diego voters without seeking a vote by the public.

From SanDiegoVille / July 22, 2024

After nearly four decades serving diner staples in San Diego, Perry’s Cafe is set to close its doors this summer to make way for a new residential building.

Perry’s Cafe has been serving the community near the junction of Interstates 5 and 8 in San Diego’s Loma Portal/Old Town area since its inception in 1985. Founded by Greek immigrants Constantine “Costas” and Margaret Georgakopoulos, the cafe quickly established itself as a beloved destination for locals and tourists alike looking for classic American diner fare, generous portions, and friendly service. .

University Community Plan Update Also on Docket

A number of grassroots and community groups are inviting their fellow San Diegans to an important hearing today by the City Council. The Council will hold a meeting on the General Plan Update including the controversial “Blue Print San Diego” and an update to the University Community Plan Update. The hearing begins at 2 pm, today, Tuesday, July 23 in Council Chambers at the 12th floor of the City Administration Building, 202 C Street, San Diego, California 92101.

By Jan Zverina, 20-Year Resident of University City

Dear Mayor Gloria:

Allow me to begin with the opening statement in the City of San Diego’s latest University Community Plan Update Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR), which is a blunt contradiction to the City’s stated intent to foster “an inclusive and constructive dialog” with University City residents regarding future plans for our community:

By Gary Wonacott

I filed a complaint against the short term rental office and SANDAG described below.  But in essence, it says that the STRO pressured SANDAG personnel to publish erroneous data for the number of housing units and population for Mission Beach.  For example, in 2020, the census value for number of housing units is 3188 for MB while the SANDAG published data is 3,620.  This is a huge difference.  This week, I should get back the results from the City’s fraud investigation.  It will be interesting either way it goes.

By Arturo Castañares / La Prensa / July 18, 2024

San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week asked staff to examine the level of corporate ownership of single-family rental homes in the region and look for ways to protect renters through legislation or even lawsuits.

The proposal by County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer directs the County’s Chief Administrative Officer Ebony Shelton to report back to the Board on the percentage of ownership of single-family homes held by corporate landlords and to “explore options for initiating, pursuing, and/or joining litigation against corporate landlords and property firms to address allegations …”