OB Rag

The Callen Report

By Kate Callen

As part of its coverage of the presidential debate calamity, the New York Times ran a July 3 opinion piece with a headline that caught me up short: “The ‘Philly Girl’ Shielding Biden from the Bad News.”

The op-ed by columnist Michelle Cottle recalled how Jill Biden physically blocked a heckler from approaching her husband at a 2020 campaign event. She told reporters afterward, “I’m a good Philly girl.” “Philly tough,” Cottle wrote. “

On July 3, members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) voted to ratify a new three-year contract with Food 4 Less/Foods Co. The contract was reached after months of negotiations and active participation from thousands of Southern California grocery workers. The members are from Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442.

This contract will go into effect immediately for over 6,000 essential grocery workers in Food 4 Less/Foods Co. locations across Southern California.

On July 4th, 1776, we kicked the king out, and on July 1, 2024, the Supreme Court brought the king back. It took 248 years.

Because of the calamitous direction our country is headed, today, July 4th could be the last time we celebrate the nation’s founding. Seriously. This is not hyperbole.

Trump and the Supreme Court are burning the flag.

By Bruce Coons / SOHO Newsletter / July-August 2024

As San Diego grapples with actual housing affordability—not the luxury rental units being built today—we/SOHO cannot overstate the importance of adaptive reuse for historic buildings. While new construction is routinely being prioritized, we should consider the steep cost of demolishing existing structures and discarding affordable housing stock into landfills.

Quality construction and materials, authentic character, and meaningful history make old buildings prime candidates for adaptive reuse. There is a lucrative and growing market for these inspired living quarters, creative workspaces, and attractive retail and dining places, which people enthusiastically embrace.

From Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens

Big Wins at City Hall and the our advocacy efforts!

We got zoning clarification and assurances that discrepancies in the zoning of the Epicentre will be cleaned up and fixed. The zoning will be “Open Park Space,” relieving fears of encroachment by residential or commercial uses. This correction addresses several public records that showed the area zoned for commercial use.

by The Editorial Board / The Philadelphia Inquirer / June 29, 2024

President Joe Biden’s debate performance was a disaster. His disjointed responses and dazed look sparked calls for him to drop out of the presidential race.

But lost in the hand wringing was Donald Trump’s usual bombastic litany of lies, hyperbole, bigotry, ignorance, and fear mongering. His performance demonstrated once again that he is a danger to democracy and unfit for office.

I

San Diego police broke up a “rave” Monday night, July 1, being held at Garbage Beach – a fragile ecosystem off Sunset Cliffs — and reported that this was the second such party that they’ve had to disperse in less than a week. The first one was on Sunday, June 23 at the same site.

The rave — which was held at midnight — was attended by dozens — if not hundreds — of partygoers, many of whom had to get to the beach site via the dangerous cliff trails.

Lt. Dan Meyer of the SDPD reported that 4 officers responded to the party shortly after midnight, according to  Fox5.

From Mira Mesa Concerned Citizens

A Call to Action! 
Please Attend the City Council Meeting TODAY
Tuesday, July 2nd, 2024 @2pm

City Administration Building
City Council Chambers- 12th Floor
202 C Street San Diego, CA 92101

Item S504: Forty-Five (45) Year Ground Lease between the City of San Diego and the County of San Diego for City Owned Property, Commonly Known as the Mira Mesa Epicentre for $1 dollar per month.

Every Saturday at 10:30 am. Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings July 6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th. Keep up-to-date on climate issues and Climate Action events. To register email Jon Findley at  jon@climatemobsd.org.  More info: https://www.facebook.com/SDClimateMobilization/

Every Saturday 12 pm – 1 pm Ocean Beach Peace Vigil for Palestine: Advocate for Peace and Justice in Gaza and Everywhere Join CODEPINK SD, San Diego Veterans for Peace, and Palestine Pals every Saturday at 12:00 pm on the plaza corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and W. Point Loma Blvd., entry to Ocean Beach, San Diego. Wear pink and bring a peace-related poster if you have one! Contact: Nathanael · ob4peace@riseup.net  More info:  https://www.instagram.com/codepinksd/

By Lori Weisberg / The San Diego Union-Tribune / June 29, 2024

San Diego restaurateurs, who had been fretting for months about the prospect of having to stop tacking surcharges onto diners’ bills to help cover rising costs, have gotten an 11th-hour reprieve.

With just two days to go before a new law barring so-called junk fees was to go into effect, Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday [June 29] signed emergency legislation that will free California restaurants

By Leo Collis / Yahoo News / Wed, June 26, 2024
The beaches of southern California are bucket list destinations for plenty of people. But those dreaming of the clear waters and golden sands might want to hasten their plans to make the trip.

What’s happening?

A study published in the Shore & Beach journal, summarized by Surfer, has mapped out the alarming future of California’s shoreline. The “Sea level rise impacts on coastal access” provides data about which areas will be affected by coastal water rises of

By David Corn/ Mother Jones / July 1, 2024

In response to the Supreme Court’s momentous decision ruling that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution for “official” acts, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson issued blistering dissents. They blasted the reasoning of the six conservative justices who essentially created a new power for presidents. Each contended this decision poses a fundamental threat to American democracy and the rule of law.