OB Rag

Midway Rising, the redevelopment team selected to remake the 48 acres at the Sports Arena property, has dropped the 250 middle-income family residential units from its plan. Instead it will build “market-rate” units. The 200-room hotel has also been removed from its plan. These moves have angered some City Council members

Housing for middle-income families is distinct from affordable housing, and includes units deed-restricted for families making between 80 percent and 120 percent of the area median income.

As U-T reporter Jennifer van Grove reported:

There’s 2 projects up for review at the Wednesday, Oct. 4th monthly meeting of the OB Planning Board.

The first one is the Valvoline Oil Changing Station at the corner of W. Pt Loma Blvd and Sunset Cliffs Blvd at 4805 WPL.

The second project is the Dish Wireless at the Masonic Lodge.

There is a community meeting of the Robb Field Community Recreation Group on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023, at 6:00pm. The City is inviting community members to attend and where the city will continue deliberating on long-term plans for improvements at Robb Field.

By Chas Smith / Beach Grit / October 2, 2023

As surfers, as seafaring adventurers, we are well aware of the dangers we face every time we step foot in the vast ocean. From sharks to stingrays, extra chilly temperatures to sunburn, trouble lurks everywhere to make no mention of the surfboard itself. The fiberglass and foam missile, either Patriot or SCUD (longboard), is the vehicle for fun, certainly, but get out of line and wham-o. Right in the kisser. Or worse.

 Only one thing can save us from predatory AIs: our own data

by John Robb and Jacob Siegel / Tablet / Sept. 25, 2023

As Hollywood recycles comic book remakes with funding from China, the once-great cultural capital appears to be in a state of steep decline. But in one area, at least, the movie industry is offering a bold and inspiring vision for the future. The writers and actors who went on strike to prevent studio owners from using artificial intelligence (AI) to exploit and expropriate their work are on the front lines of a new data war triggered by the explosive growth of AI. This past July, Fran Drescher, former star of the popular sitcom The Nanny, and now president of the SAG-AFTRA union,

This awe inspiring video, Our Beautiful and Dangerous Sunset Cliffs, by Charles Landon is a must see.

Original music by Phil Rockhold.

Beginning today, Friday, September 29, OB Rag administrators will enforce the Comment Policy that has been on the books since 2010. We hope this will keep out the trolls. Commenters who’ve been making comments here for weeks, months or longer will not be affected.

Hundreds of ocean lovers and beach enthusiasts from throughout San Diego County are invited to make a statement in support of clean water at Surfrider Foundation San Diego County’s 31st Annual Paddle for Clean Water.

This year, the Paddle will focus on the border pollution crisis and Surfrider’s ongoing advocacy through the Clean Border Water Now program.

Now that the racist, hate-fueled attack against 3 African-American young men by a mob of local Hells Angels in OB back in early June has made national news (MSN, The Hill), several questions continue to linger.

Mainly, why weren’t the racist and hate crime elements of this vicious incident disclosed by law enforcement, the police or the press?

During the Monday, Sept 25 news conference splash announcing the indictments against 17 Hells Angels members and supporters, District Attorney Summer Stephan made this statement:

“In San Diego County, we cannot and will not tolerate violence and racism of any nature, “

When local NBC reporter Omar Fleming asked Rev. Trudy Robinson, lead pastor at First United Methodist Church, about their closing of Water’s Edge in OB, she had some very interesting things to say.

First United is the parent church to Water’s Edge and has decided to shut down the Ocean Beach sanctuary and sell off the building complex ostensibly for affordable housing. There’s also a duplex next door to Water’s Edge that will also be sold.

Fleming brought up the closure of the site, which includes the large chapel, an attached annex and a 2-story building. But Rev. Robinson downplayed the shuttering of the complex and stated: