OB Rag

Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Workers Announce Strike Authorization Votes as Contract Expires

The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442, together representing 6,000 Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers across California, released the following statement on the day of their contract expiration to announce scheduled strike authorization votes following numerous labor violations by their employer throughout negotiations that have prevented them from getting the fair contract they deserve.

Roll up for Cannabis Equity

by Terrie Best

The County is Rolling a Fatty

Last year, a group of longtime cannabis advocates and professionals, community leaders and persons formerly incarcerated for cannabis got together and responded to the County of San Diego’s Request for Proposal to implement a cannabis social equity program in the unincorporated areas of the county.

It was a dream team of talent and it took awhile but we won the contract and the county is on its way to rolling out an application website, public meetings and eventual onboarding and training of new licensees.

Thousands of demonstrators surrounded the perimeter of the White House in a sea of fabric Saturday, saying they were drawing a red line for President Biden and calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.

On the same day that Gazan officials said at least 210 247 Palestinians were killed in a refugee camp, the demonstrators — many of whom had arrived on buses from more than two dozen cities — marched to chants of “Free Palestine!” while holding signs that said “Genocide is our red lin

The County still has an advisory up for Dog Beach in OB. They advise that bacteria levels exceed health standards and that people and dogs should avoid water contact in the advisory area. It’s been on since June 6. The advisory covers the San Diego River outlet to 300 yards south.

There’s also an advisory for a part of Mission Bay —  for the North Cove of Vacation Isle and 150’ each side of the southern drain. This has been on since May 30, 2024.

By Colleen O’Connor

Point Loma is not just a tourist mecca, a powerful fishing industry, a substantial military presence, home to a national park dream, ship repair and maintenance facilities, but is also an invaluable contributor to San Diego’s economic health.

Often unnoticed and until recently happily so.

Its residents are now constantly fighting off mega developments SB10, the Kettner and Vine project, the colossal new high rise where Midway Post Office once stood, the coming SpaWars’ complex and the ever-changing planned Midway high-rise construction. Ocean Beach already under siege. All rammed through by Mayor Gloria and council. Overstuffed and under-imaginative.

Don Carter. A local musician – loved by many.

Local 135 Members Act for Better Wages, Staffing, Security, and Benefits

By Brent E. Beltrán

Local 135 union members of the United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) at Food4Less gathered for a contract rally on Wednesday, June 5, at the Mission Valley Food4Less. With their current collective bargaining agreement set to expire on Saturday, June 8,the rally was an important step in highlighting the workers’ fight for a new contract.

In another campaign swing this morning, Thursday, June 6, Mayor Todd Gloria held a news conference at the site of the now-demolished H-Barracks on Harbor Drive. The subject of his message at this “conference” was budgeting to address the homeless crisis in our city.

Gloria is holding a series of these events, called news conferences, but they’re not really. There’s no press — and no public attending. They’re his staged platforms to spout the latest PR on his key campaign issues.

Bleached coral in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, off the coast of Galveston, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico, in September 2023.

By David Helvarg / Los Angeles Times Op-Ed / June 5, 2024

On May 21, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ruled that greenhouse gases are marine pollutants and nations must take action to “reduce, control and prevent” their effects.

The group that wants to oust San Diego Gas & Electric within the city limits of San Diego and replace it with a municipal utility has submitted a sufficient number of signatures to pose the question of establishing a municipal utility to the San Diego City Council.

The San Diego City Clerk has confirmed the Power San Diego Campaign collected enough valid signatures to pose the question to the San Diego City Council.

Bill Powers, a representative from Power San Diego, claimed responsibility for gathering over 31,000 signatures,

Eighty years ago today, in the early morning hours of June 6, 1944, the largest invasion fleet in human history crossed the English Channel and launched an unprecedented, world-turning assault on Nazi-occupied France. Remembering the enormity of that moment is as critical for America now as it has ever been.

Eighty years ago exactly, on June 6, 1944, some 160,000 troops from the United States, Canada, Great Britain and other allies descended upon these shores in Normandy by air, land and seat to liberate Nazi-occupied France.

Callen Reports

By Kate Callen

You only need to look at the picture.

This photograph shows Cathie and Marc Umemoto in the backyard of their Crown Point home in Pacific Beach. The stark yellow wall behind them is part of an unfinished accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that backs onto their property.