Grassroots and Progressive views on local, national and world news

The lone Torrey Pine at 4633 Long Branch, saved by local residents along with the OB Rag 11 years ago, now is dead and needs to come down.

After multiple “trimmings” and the cutting off of major limbs over the years by the city, the Torrey — which dominates the block — is now brown and is dangerous to residents and houses along the street.

Close observers of the issue knew it would happen. In its latest move on Monday, the San Diego City Council — in an unanimous vote — placed the measure to eliminate the 30-foot height limit in the Midway on the November ballot.

If approved by voters, the measure would wipe out the height limit in a 1,324-acre area of the Midway District that includes the sports arena and nearby city-owned land, and not to the entire Midway.

This is the latest chapter in a saga which Councilmembers Jen Campbell and Chris Cate began

By Colleen O’Connor

Have you notice them? Recently renovated, remolded, sold, or added on granny flat homes that are almost identical, white houses with black trim.

Is it the work of a new Kardashian fad among home buyers and sellers? Or a massive discount on the exact same paints from an overstocked source?

Perhaps it is a rage among the Home and Garden fans. Rarely is there a developer or contractors name prominently featured on any of these homes.

By Judi Curry

Sometimes I find myself in a position of writing a story that I think will find the reader feeling good without any negative vibes. I am hoping that this tale does that for you, because it did for me.

Let me give you a fast background. I met Mona in 1992 when I was hired to be the Vocational Manager at San Diego Job Corps. Mona was the Academics Manager. Our offices were on the same floor but at opposite sides of the room, and our interactions took place numerous times during the day.

By Joni Halpern

On some days, I am conservative. On other days, liberal, or maybe progressive. At times I believe in God. At other times, I am plagued with doubt. I believe in my right as a woman to govern the processes of my own body, but I regard abortion as a hard personal decision.

I am moderate on some days, and furiously righteous on others. I almost always believe in the goodness of others, but sometimes I am hard-pressed to find it. I do not wave the flag; I do not even salute it, because I never want what I owe to my country to become something rote, as if once I recite the words, it’s all that I expect of myself. Like all Americans underneath the skin, I defy labels.

But labels are what we live by these days. Red states. Blue states. Right-wing. Left-wing. Christian right. Atheist left.

Thanks to the Point Loma Association newsletter, we have some nifty photos to show about what’s going on at Voltaire and San Clemente, along with a message from the builder.

Here are details from the builder.

Activity on the northwestern corner of Voltaire & San Clemente Streets is construction on an approved mixed-use development which will consist of seventeen 1,375-1,662 SQ FT residential, for-sale homes with 45 onsite parking spaces and one retail storefront opportunity facing Voltaire. This project, Cabri, comes to you from CityMark, the San Diego-based team

by Edwin Decker

Dear SWAT, I was on a date with a woman I recently began seeing named, “Sue.” We had gone to see a play and after the show, went to a nearby bar for a nightcap where it turned out the cast also went. At one point, one of the actors approached the stool beside us and ordered a beer.

While he was waiting, I told him how much I enjoyed his performance and offered to buy his drink. He said yes . . . and immediately directed his attention to Sue. It was loud and his back was to me so I couldn’t hear them but when he left, Sue told me he was hitting on her.

I was shocked. She and I had been touchy feely in his presence, so he knew we were together. After about 30 minutes, he came back and put the moves on again. I was infuriated and humiliated and couldn’t decide what to do. I won’t say yet how I eventually reacted because I first want to hear what you would have done. After you respond, I’ll tell you what I did. I’m just curious to see if we’re on the same page.

Sincerely,
Musheerah from National City