OB Rag

Voting is under way for half of the current OB Town Council board members and will run through Friday, February 3.

You can read candidate statements HERE.

By Ken Stone / Times of San Diego / February 2, 2023

In a rare move, lawyers for KUSI-TV are asking a Superior Court judge to prohibit news media and the public from attending “portions” of former anchor Sandra Maas’ pay-equity trial starting Friday. Last Friday, McKinnon Broadcasting Co., the Kearny Mesa station’s operator, asked Judge Ronald Frazier to close parts of the civil trial

The San Diego City Attorney’s office just announced today that the Point Loma couple who had sued the city over its removal of historic Palm trees has dropped the suit.

John and Tracy Van de Walker had sued the City in federal court to prevent the trees from being cut down, claiming violations of the California Environmental Quality Act. They then dismissed that suit and filed a new action in state court alleging the City cannot cut down the trees under the San Diego Municipal Code and Council Policy.

By Geoff Page

The City of San Diego began enforcement of the new vendor ordinance in Ocean Beach, Wednesday morning, February 1, at the foot of Newport Ave. Upon getting a tip that this was happening, around 11:00 a.m., this writer went down for a look.

The tipster said they saw SDPD and sheriff’s personnel, which seemed unusual. As it turned out, what looked like sheriff deputies were city of San Diego park rangers, as can be seen in the picture above.

It is remarkable to see the rangers were dressed in the same military manner as the SDPD.

By Kathy Blavatt

All Photos by Kathy Blavatt

Lovely views, incredible sunsets, hometown charm, and Palm trees describe Ocean Beach. Another berg, Borrego Springs, has these same characteristics but is the opposite of Ocean Beach in climate and surrounding desert mountain terrain of Anza-Borrego.

This little community rests in the flat section of the desert where the climate is primarily dry and hot, with cool nights in the winter months.

by Ernie McCray

Oh, I’m practically overflowing
with joy
having my name
living on in perpetuity
as a
University of Arizona
Basketball Ring of Honor honoree,
mostly for the reason that it highlights
just how far Tucson, my hometown,
has come
since my growing up days,
as I was the second Black basketball player
to perform at the U of A
and now there are

By Ricardo Flores /  Op-Ed San Diego Union-Tribune / Jan. 30, 2023

The Navy wants to redevelop its Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, or NAVWAR, a sprawling 70.3-acre complex in San Diego’s Midway District. According to the Navy, the site can accommodate up to 10,000 housing units, but, no surprise, there is no requirement in its request for qualifications/proposals that any of the units be affordable housing.

This is unfortunate because San Diego is experiencing an affordable housing crisis that has become a homeless crisis.

By Danna Givot / Commentary – San Diego Union-Tribune / Jan. 30, 2023 

In October, as part of its 2022 Land Development Code Update, San Diego’s Planning Department introduced the concept of “Sustainable Development Areas.” Then, at every subsequent presentation, department officials changed the definition, preventing full public understanding and debate.

But the term is important to understand because it is a major housing policy shift by city officials. The general idea is that new high-density housing could be built up to a mile walking distance from bus or trolley stops, instead of the almost universally accepted half-mile walking distance.

All events are online and free unless stated otherwise.
See inside for “More on Kip Kruegar”

Every Saturday 10:30 am. Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings  February 4th, 11th, 18th,and 25th

February 8th Wednesday 5 pm Conscious Closets Webinar

February 9th Thursday 5:30 – 7:30 pm Fossils, Fertilizers, and False Solutions 
February 9th Thursday 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm Restorative Justice in Education Event by League of Women Voters 

February 11th Saturday 11 am – 4 pm City Heights Multi-Cultural Festival of Love 
February 11th Saturday 10 am – 1 pm SD Fixit Clinic with Goodwill Industries  

There’s certainly beauty in San Diego during these rainy, snowy winter months.