OB Green Center Celebrates 30 Years at New Location – Sat., May 11

May 10, 2019 by Source

On Saturday, May 11th the Ocean Beach Green Center’s is celebrating 30 years and is having its Grand Opening at their new location.

It’s all happening at 4862 Voltaire Street in OB at Jim Bell’s place (Right across from the old location), from 2 pm – 7 pm.

Come join and help celebrate their 30 years of environmental, peace & social justice activism.

There will be live music featuring the following line-up:

Read the full article → 2 comments

Keepers of the Dream -To the Boys of Excellence of Hoover High

May 10, 2019 by Ernie McCray

by Ernie McCray

Hey, I just want to say
“Hi” to you “Boys of Excellence”
of Hoover High,
especially since I haven’t
met with you as much as
I would have liked to.

But, I often think of you
and I value each moment
I have spent with you
kicking back in my seat
munching on a treat
listening to you speak,
coming to realize
that you young men,
when it comes to excellence,
can’t be beat.

Read the full article → 0 comments

It’s Official: We’re In a Constitutional Crisis

May 9, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

The US of A is now officially in a Constitutional Crisis. That’s not the rant of a Southern California beachtown raq, that’s what the top Democrats in Congress are saying.

On Wednesday, Representative Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said that the nation was in a constitutional crisis after his committee recommended the House hold Attorney General William P. Barr in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over an unredacted version of the special counsel’s report, along with the report’s underlying evidence.

And today, Thursday, Speaker of the House Pelosi said she agreed with Nadler.

Read the full article → 39 comments

What Public Improvement Projects Does Ocean Beach Need?

May 9, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

It’s that time again in the large public project process when communities give feedback to city government about what they’d like to see in their neighborhoods.

These are Capital Improvement Projects – CIPs – and are usually projects that cost $100,000 or more.

CIPs were the topic at the most recent OB Planning Board meeting in early May when Chair Andrea Schlageter offered ideas to the board. According to City Council Policy 600-24,

Community planning groups may be called upon to advise on, or participate in, additional efforts such as CIP infrastructure needs identification discussed in Council Policy 000-32.

Read the full article → 5 comments

Nearly 800 Former Federal Prosecutors Say They Would Have Indicted Trump

May 9, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

9 Prosecutors From San Diego Sign Letter

A bipartisan group called Protect Democracy has organized a letter that is now signed by nearly 800 former federal prosecutors, prosecutors who have served in both Republican and/ or Democratic administrations, which states the Mueller Report findings would produced obstruction charges against President Trump — if he wasn’t currently President.

The Mueller report describes several acts that satisfy all of the elements for an obstruction charge: conduct that obstructed or attempted to obstruct the truth-finding process, as to which the evidence of corrupt intent and connection to pending proceedings is overwhelming. These include:

Read the full article → 1 comment

Restaurant Review: Euphoria XIX Grill in Midway District

May 9, 2019 by Judi Curry

Restaurant Review

Euphoria XIX Grill
3944 W. Point Loma Ave
San Diego, CA 92110
619-222-0020

By Judi Curry

I try to wait until a restaurant has been opened for 6 months or so before I do a review. I have been to “Euphoria XIX” three times now, and each time with a different person. I have combined our experiences into this one review.

The restaurant is light and airy. Around the windows are individual couches on the side against the windows and chairs in the front. There are a few high tables along the north side of the restaurant, some seating outdoors; and a few tables to the south of the entry door.

I usually don’t go into this much detail about the seating, but feel it is necessary here, because although the couches are comfortable and pretty, there is no way that I can sit in one and be comfortable.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Homeless in Vehicles Hold Ocean Beach Protest Against San Diego’s Proposed Ban on Vehicle Habitation

May 9, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

On Wednesday, May 8th at the foot of Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach, there was a protest of sorts by people who are forced to live in their vehicles and homeless advocates.

A couple dozen people gathered to listen to personal stories in what was billed as a Speak-Out and Singalong called “No Housing, No Choice!” They were protesting the city’s proposed Vehicle Habitation Ordinance.

The ordinance would make it illegal to live in a vehicle between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and anywhere within 500 feet of a school or housing at any time. Cars would also not be allowed to have any evidence of cooking, bathing or sleeping materials.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Rep. Duncan Hunter Just Can’t Stop Doing Stupid Things

May 8, 2019 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / Words&Deeds / May 6, 2019

San Diego Congressman Duncan Hunter is embroiled in yet another scandal. This one involves a former Soviet Republic, a fugitive from justice, and a seemingly innocuous submission to the Congressional Record.

Normally this wouldn’t be that big a deal, but the statement came via a Russian-tied lobbyist who attended the Trump Tower meeting and Republican operative Lanny Wiles tied to suspicious payments related to other matters of concern to the Kremlin.

The Kazakh fugitive at the heart of this matter is Bergey Ryskaliyev, a former official who fled his home country for London following allegations that he stole millions from the state budget.

Kazakhistan, for those of you who might have slept thru that class, is the 10th largest country in the world; a authoritarian plutocracy known for shelling out millions of dollars to western public relations consultants to burnish its image.

Read the full article → 4 comments

Former Mission Beach Elementary Demolished, Work to Begin on 59-Unit Project

May 8, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Now that the former Mission Beach Elementary School has been demolished, the development of a 3-story, 59-unit mega-plex planned for the property can move forward. The school site on Mission Boulevard, vacant since 2013, was sold off to private developers that year by the San Diego School Board – to much controversy.

Critics at the time derided the school district for selling forever prime beach property – and on Tuesday, May 14th, the San Diego Unified School District board authorized the sale of the former Mission Beach Elementary School property to private developers – despite objections by Mayor Filner, residents and community activists.

The pleas fell on deaf ears and the site was sold for $18.5 million to a duo of developers, doing business as McKellar-Ashbrook LLC, registered in La Jolla.Another controversy broke out about the down-sizing of a public park promised the community by the developer. The community of Mission Beach was first told that the park would be almost one-third acre. However, now, under changes, the so-called park has shrunk by a third or almost 40% depending on what formula is used.

Read the full article → 2 comments

‘No Housing, No Choice!’ Speak-Out, Singalong at Newport Ave. & Abbott St. Wed., May 8

May 8, 2019 by Source

Today – Wednesday. May 8th there’s a Speak-Out and Singalong called “No Housing, No Choice!” Newport Ave. & Abbott St. in Ocean Beach. There will be participation by the Light Brigade and Drum Circle.

Hosted by the San Diego Housing Emergency Alliance, the event begins at 5pm and runs to 8pm. It’s all about the true stories of people forced to use their vehicles for shelter.

Organizers are asking folks to join the event. They say PARKING IS TIGHT, so they’re asking people to meet at Robb Field, 2525 Bacon Street, between 3-4:30 pm to shuttle to the event. The return shuttle goes from 6:30-8:15 pm More info:

Read the full article → 3 comments

Public Service Announcement: What Goes Into Recycling and What Doesn’t

May 6, 2019 by Frank Gormlie


Are you aware of our recycling crisis? There is one. China doesn’t want our trash anymore. (See this from a September 2018 post at the OB Rag.)

It’s hitting home now when recent reporting reveals that “about 10,000 tons — or 15 to 17 percent — of the recycling collected from homes in San Diego each year is thrown out.

Read the full article → 1 comment

The Numbers Who Used Homeless Services Is 3 Times the Number of Homeless Counted in San Diego County

May 6, 2019 by Source

Officials say this year’s point-in-time count numbers reflect changes to the process made at the direction of federal officials. Meanwhile, a separate stat sws homelessness could be more than triple the number found in the count.

By Lisa Halverstadt /Voice of San Diego / April 29, 2019

At first glance, San Diego’s latest annual point-in-time count appears to show a modest drop in homelessness. This year, the group counted 8,102 homeless San Diegans countywide compared with last year’s 8,576 estimate.

But officials caution the data isn’t comparable because of changes to the way the count is carried out and to the methodology the group uses to arrive at a final tally.

The Regional Task Force on the Homeless, which coordinates the homeless census, changed its strategy this year at the urging of federal officials

Read the full article → 3 comments

Horton Plaza’s Replacement Moves Forward

May 6, 2019 by Source

By Antonio Pacheco /Architectures Newspaper /April 29, 2019

A preliminary plan to transform the Jon Jerde–designed Horton Plaza Mall complex in San Diego has taken several steps forward in recent weeks as developer Stockdale Capital Partners detailed plans to reconfigure the dazzling postmodern shopping mall into a mixed-use technology campus.

In mid-April, San Diego’s economic development committee unanimously supported a change of deed request made by the developers to reduce the amount of retail space that must be included in the development.

Read the full article → 6 comments

San Diego’s Reactionary County Supervisors Keep On Earning Their Reputation

May 6, 2019 by Doug Porter

By Doug Porter / Words&Deeds

The need to pay attention to local electoral contests was reinforced on Tuesday, April 30 as a majority of San Diego’s County Supervisors failed to read the handwriting on the wall twice in one day.

Supervisors Dianne Jacob, Jim Desmond and Kristin Gaspar voted against a move to dramatically shift regional transportation priorities and a legislative effort to reduce the use of lethal force by law enforcement.

Supervisors Greg Cox and Nathan Fletcher’s affirmative votes were in the minority following contentious public hearings on both resolutions.

The Supervisors voted to keep highways a priority. We can’t keep enabling the dirty energy industry and expect to emerge from the next decade or so without serious consequences.

Read the full article → 0 comments

Taking Stock of Life on My Birthday

May 6, 2019 by Jim Miller

By Jim Miller

Today my column falls on my birthday, and while I have never been much for formal celebrations, there is something about turning the page (in this case to 54) that makes one stop for a moment and ponder the passing of time and the meaning of this day in the stream of all the others. It is, in fact, just another day, one we arbitrarily mark in the larger collection of them that we call our lives.

For this reason, the Buddhists prefer to say things like “Happy Today’s Day” or “Happy Continuation” rather than attaching themselves to the illusion of measured time. Surely this is a wise practice.

Nonetheless, the Western temptation to measure and/ or evaluate persists, so we like to notch our belts as we go with lists of accomplishments: I got a degree, a job, a marriage, a family, a set of social or material accomplishments, etc.

By this reckoning, the birthday can become a sort of life resume check

Read the full article → 0 comments

May 5, 1970 Was One of the Most Explosive Days in American History

May 5, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

Those of us long in tooth and gray in hair remember the tumultuous days of the May 1970 national student strike and the murder of four students at Kent State by National Guardsmen on May 4; those younger know the song “Four Dead in Ohio” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young about the Kent State shootings.

The deadly clash was part of the student response to President Nixon’s invasion of Cambodia, which he announced on April 30.

But what most of us don’t realize is that the day following the Kent State killings, May 5th – was indeed one of the most explosive days in American history as literally hundreds of university, college and high school campuses blew up in response – and for that day at least, the American educational system broke down.

Angry, tearful young people across the nation reacted with an intensity and in numbers not witnessed before or since.

Emergency meetings, rallies, protests, mid-night marches, letter-writing, impeach Nixon petitions, sit-ins, flag-lowerings, leafleting downtowns, confrontations with local police and guardsmen, teargas, rocks, road blockades, memorials for the dead, fires in ROTC buildings – all of these were part of the response of thousands upon thousands of American students across the land.

Read the full article → 36 comments

Ocean Beach Library Expansionists Press City for ‘Seed Money’ to Begin

May 3, 2019 by Source

By Laura Dennison

The Ocean Beach Friends of the Library want to get the OB Library expanded, and May 1st down at City Hall was the beginning of that process for the coming fiscal year. Expansion committee members Mary Cairns, Tony Cataldo, Judy Collier and myself spoke to the San Diego City Council at the first of many fiscal year 2020 city budget hearings. (see photo)

Fourteen years ago, the City acquired the building and land between the OB Library and the Post Office on Santa Monica to expand the library. Known as the “Owen Building” and later as the “Gee Building,” the 1960s-era building was purchased with a $2 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for educational and/or cultural purposes. When the recession slowed the economy, the City could no longer afford the expansion.

The building remained as law offices and rental property management until the City decided not to renew the tenant leases expiring in 2017 and early 2018.

Read the full article → 6 comments

Restaurant Review: ParAgon Deli Café on Shelter Island in Point Loma

May 3, 2019 by Judi Curry

Restaurant Review

ParAgon Deli Café
2724 Shelter Island Dr.
San Diego, CA 92106
619-888-4997

By Judi Curry

Just recently I was told about a new restaurant that had opened up about five months ago in Point Loma that had some of the best soup on the Point.

When I asked where it was I was told it was “in the same parking lot as ‘Fiddler Green’.” I was not told that it was a deli; only that they were touting “Cinco de Mayo” and tortilla soup.

I decided that when my newly married grandson came over today that he, my daughter Stephanie and I would go try it out. The day was cool and soup sounded warm and inviting. Little did I know that we would be walking into Point Loma’s newest gem.

The first thing that we saw was a sign that listed the “specials of the day” with the admonition – “and tomorrow too”. Tortilla soup was listed. (I later found out that they fluctuate between their soups of the day with Clam Chowder).

The facility in itself is small; only 5 tables inside and 3 outside.

Read the full article → 1 comment

Once Again, Mainstream Media Get It Wrong on Venezuela

May 3, 2019 by Source

News outlets, dutifully supporting Trump administration calls for regime change, reported that a widespread uprising was underway, even though Juan Guaidó’s coup attempt had little support.

By Michael Fox / Nation Magazine / May 2, 2019

Caracas—It began with a tweet.

In it, Venezuela’s self-declared president, Juan Guaidó, stands in front of a line of military vehicles and rows of Venezuelan soldiers in green uniforms. Beside them is opposition leader Leopoldo López, whom they have freed from house arrest, which stemmed from his role in the 2014 guarimba street protests in which dozens of people were killed.

Guaidó, dressed in a black suit and a white shirt, talks to the camera. “Today, the armed forces are clearly with the people,” he says. “The time is now.” He calls on the military to rise up and says they are in the streets. He insinuates that they have taken the Carlota military base in eastern Caracas.

Read the full article → 3 comments

The Debate Over Proposed Changes to West Point Loma Boulevard Continue

May 3, 2019 by Source

Editordude: In the interests of furthering the discussion about the plans for West Point Loma Blvd, here is local bicycling enthusiast Nicole Burgess’s take. We welcome any other viewpoints on this issue.

A Wonderful Transformation for West Point Loma Blvd

by Nicole Burgess

Yay – I will finally be able to safely ride my bike down West Point Loma Blvd to get ice cream at 31 Flavors. And I can stop at Barons and Grocery Outlet for some groceries. And the next day, I might hit the bank and enjoy a yoga class. A short bike ride to local businesses is a great amenity for all of us.

I am truly grateful for the community of Ocean Beach and Point Loma for supporting this amazing opportunity to repurpose our streets as they are resurfaced. Many thanks also to Council Member Campbell for supporting a Class IV bikeway to provide a safe facility for all ages and abilities. Repurposing our streets as they are resurfaced is a very cost-effective approach to making our streets safer while providing an option for more people to bike, walk, and roll. And West Point Loma is a perfect example.

Read the full article → 6 comments

Suspect in Ocean Beach Killing Shot by Police in La Mesa

May 3, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

The saga of the killing of a woman in Ocean Beach on Wednesday ended in gunfire in a house in La Mesa when police shot and wounded Daniel Chase McKibben, the person of interest in that death. The woman has since been identified as McKibben’s mother, whose body was discovered in the garage of a residential unit on the 5000 block of Niagara.

McKibben was trying to hide out in a stranger’s residence in a La Mesa neighborhood east of Lake Murray, possibly brought there by the family’s son, who has mental issues. To the family, McKibben was an unwanted trespasser who they wished to have removed from their house.

They called a non-emergency police number, and when La Mesa Police showed up to remove McKibben – at that point unidentified – he resisted them, pulled a knife and was wounded twice. Taken to a local hospital, he is expected to survive.

McKibben had escaped from Ocean Beach, apparently able to slip through 2 SWAT actions on Wednesday. He had been seen running from the unit where his mother’s body had been found by his brother.

That was Wednesday, May Day.

On Thursday, about 8:40 a.m., a homeowner on Rainey Street called police to report an unwanted person inside his house. La Mesa police arrived about 9:15 a.m. but refused to leave.

Read the full article → 1 comment

OB Planners Juggle Projects to Be Funded, I-8 Problems, No Parking Hours and West Pt Loma Lane Reductions

May 2, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

At Wednesday nights meeting of the Ocean Beach Planning Board, the volunteer panel grappled with 4 different issues that converged to their agenda in the old community meeting room at the OB Rec Center:

  • Capital Improvement Projects (CIP);
  • the I-8 corridor improvements;
  • overnight parking lot enforcement; and
  • West Pt Loma Blvd “road diet”.

Without any development projects before them, chairwoman Andrea Schlagelet lead the board through the various issues with ease, allowing for plenty of discussion among board members and those in the audience – an audience that was fairly slim given some of the more controversial issues. This reporter counted a maximum of 17 people in the audience over the course of the several hour meeting.

Read the full article → 0 comments

May Calendar for Ocean Beach

May 2, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

There is so much going on in Ocean Beach during this month of May, that we put together a special calendar just for Ocean Beach events or events OBceans are involved in.,

May 6 – Monday – Monthly meeting of Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Council.

May 8th Wednesday “No Housing, No Choice!” Speak-Out, Singalong, Lights· 5 – 8pm; Hosted by San Diego Housing Emergency Alliance. Newport Ave. & Abbott St.

May 9 Thursday – Hat Contest – OB Woman’s Club Annual Hat Contest & Fundraiser –

May 11th Saturday OB Green Center’s Grand Opening at our New location

Read the full article → 0 comments

Trump’s EPA Claims Glyphosate Doesn’t Cause Cancer – Other Health Groups Disagree

May 2, 2019 by Source

By Ashley Curtin / NationofChange / May 2, 2019

The Environmental Protection Agency reaffirmed its 2017 findings and confirmed that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s weed-killer Roundup, does not cause cancer. The announcement made by EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler on Tuesday comes at the same time there are currently 13,400 lawsuits against the controversial weedkiller.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) ruled glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic to humans,” the EPA has “disregarded independent, peer-reviewed research that showed a link between glyphosate and cancer in favor of Monsanto-funded studies saying it was safe,” EcoWatch reported.

Read the full article → 5 comments

The Old Broad Questions Why the City Is Using ‘Round-Up’ on Ocean Beach and Point Loma Beaches, Parks and Playgrounds

May 2, 2019 by Judi Curry

By Judi Curry

Are you safe in the park? At Sunset Cliffs Natural Park? Robb Field; Dusty Rhodes? Dog Beach? Dog Park? Neighborhood playgrounds?

Have you seen many bees this spring? Have you seen as many birds this spring? Do people you know have cancer? Do you know dogs and cats that are being diagnosed with cancer? Do you have any idea what might be the cause?

Do you know what the ingredients are to kill weeds? Do you know what a “carcinogen” is? Do you know what “Glyphosate” is and what products contain it?

Did you know that here in our own “backyard” that glyphosate is being sprayed and there are no signs

Read the full article → 22 comments

The Green Activist Calendar for May 2019 – From the OB Green Center

May 1, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

May Events From the Ocean Beach Green Center

Ocean Beach Green Center, 4862 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach 92107 oceanbeachgreencenter@gmail.com

Dear friends of the Ocean Beach Green Center,

May 11th Saturday 2 pm – 7 pm Please come celebrate are Grand Opening at our New location 4862 Voltaire Street in OB at Jim Bell’s place (Right across from our old location). Celebrating 30 years of Environmental, Peace & Social Justice Activism, we will have live music, yummy refreshments, raffle prizes and so much more.

COME INSIDE FOR LINKS AND MORE CALENDAR

Read the full article → 0 comments

See How Pissed-Off Mueller Was With Barr : Here’s Mueller’s Letter

May 1, 2019 by Source

Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller was pretty pissed-off when Attorney General Barr released Barr’s 4-page “summary” of the Mueller Report back in March.

He was so pissed-off, Mueller “put it to paper” and wrote Barr a letter accusing Barr of not giving the report context or substance. Mueller did this not only to convey his views but also to make a record. There was also a follow-up phone call from Mueller to Barr.

Here below is Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller’s letter to Attorney General Barr, dated March 27, 2019.

Read the full article → 0 comments

183 Volunteers Removed 217 Pounds of Trash at OB Clean Up

May 1, 2019 by Staff

Saturday, April 27th was both beautiful and disgusting at the same time. 183 volunteers removed 217 pounds of trash from OB parks, streets, alleys and beaches in 3 hours.

The event was part of a larger countywide cleanup sponsored by I Love a Clean San Diego known as Creek to Bay.

Surfrider Foundation and Ocean Beach’s Cleaner Streets Initiative (CSI-OB) registered volunteers and helped coordinate assignments in some of the most littered areas. The most commonly found items were

Read the full article → 0 comments

Woman Found Dead in Garage Brings SWAT Action to Ocean Beach

May 1, 2019 by Frank Gormlie

The OB Rag is trying to piece together just what went down this morning in the Niagara – Bacon area of Ocean Beach.

But tragically, a woman was found dead in a garage on the 5000 block of Niagara. A son of the property’s owner who forced himself into the residence and found the dead women witnessed his brother running from the residence.

That man, identified as 36-year-old Daniel Chase McKibben is now being sought by police as a suspect in the woman’s death. after he was seen running from the residence.

It all began around 1am Wednesday morning when

Read the full article → 3 comments

Robert Reich: In Fighting All Oversight, Trump Has Made His Most Dictatorial Move

April 30, 2019 by Source

The president is treating Congress with contempt. This cannot stand – and Congress must fight back

By Robert Reich / RSN – Guardian UK / April 30, 2019

“We’re fighting all the subpoenas,” says the person who is supposed to be chief executive of the United States government.

In other words, there is to be no congressional oversight of this administration: no questioning officials who played a role in putting a citizenship question on the 2020 census. No questioning a former White House counsel about the Mueller report.

Read the full article → 0 comments

← Older Articles

Newer Articles →