OB Rag

The consultation company just approved by a San Diego council committee for services on the pier expects to have construction begin on the new pier by 2026.

Moffatt & Nichol was approved Wednesday, Sept. 14, by the council’s transportation and infrastructure committee for additional services needed for the OB Pier improvement project.

And Moffatt & Nichol expect to begin an evaluation of the pier this year and to have construction begin on the new pier by 2026. The cost ranges from $40-$60 million with a life expectancy of 50 to 75 years.

By Judi Curry

The freezer was cold,
The food was icy,
Opened the refrigerator to find
The food was dicey.

The temperature read 60,
When it should have said 40
Oh my goodness,
Oh My, Lordy, Lordy.

Here are some telling excerpts from the grilling of the Midway Rising redevelopment team by San Diego City Councilmembers on Tuesday.

Councilmember Jen Campbell:

Hi. Will you promise to build the number of units you say you’re gonna build?

Midway Rising:

Uh-huh.

Campbell:

Do you promise to work with city staff, our consultants, our budget analyst, MTS, SANDAG, the US Navy and the Padres?

Midway Rising:

Uh, let me just write those down … ah, sure, we promise.

By David Garrick / San Diego Union-Tribune / Sept. 14, 2022

San Diego made sweeping changes Tuesday to the city’s 42 neighborhood planning groups in an effort to diversify their membership and make them better organized, but critics call the changes a developer-driven effort to squelch public opposition to dense housing projects.

The shelter will slowly admit people, 15 at a time

As Gary Warth at the U-T reported: “The beds are made, the showers and restrooms are in place, and mental health and addiction specialists are ready to work with clients at the new homeless shelter in San Diego’s Midway District.”

Councilmember Raul Campillo Only One With Guts to Ask Tough Questions

In a non-surprising but indeed disappointing move, the San Diego City Council Tuesday, September 13, went  7 to 1 for Mayor Todd Gloria’s selection of a developer team to redevelop the Sports Arena area — Midway Rising.

Despite serious questions and issues raised by the Union-Tribune, La Prensa, CBS8 and the Rag, the council selected the development group with one of its main guys being, along with his spouse, the top contributor to Gloria’s mayoral campaign.

From the Ocean Beach Town Council

We’re back on the pier this year for the 24th Annual Pier Pancake Breakfast!

Bring your family & friends for a delicious full breakfast, a raffle and live music! Tickets available in bio or visit pierpancakes.com. $15 Adults, $8 kids.

by Ernie McCray

I might be in trouble
if I were in a classroom today,
approaching learning
as I did in the early 60’s,
trying to hip my students
to what was happening in their world,
first, letting them know who their teacher was
as a living breathing human being,
by telling them of my upbringing
as a Black boy
in a city

By Judi Curry

A year ago I wrote a story about our very own surfing duo – Derby the Golden Doodle and his blue Mohawk partner, Kentucky.

Several things have happened since.  Number one, the pair has been competing in surfing competitions and early this month they went to Waikiki to compete in the Duke Kahanamoku Ocean Fest.  Plus, a new book has hit the bookshelves, entitled, The Adventures of Derby California – Derby learns to Surf.

Full San Diego City Council approval seems close to certain next week after the council’s Land Use and Housing Committee’s unanimous vote Thursday to back Mayor Todd Gloria’s recommended developer — a team of companies called Midway Rising — for the 48-acre sports arena site in the Midway area.

But instead of the site’s rebirth being cause for celebration, the fast-tracking is cause for concern.

From Cool San Diego

A memorial to a beloved Ocean Beach man now appears on the small building where he repaired and polished shoes for decades. William L. Washington “Shoeshine Willie” passed away early this year. The memorial contains two short poems written by Aaron Bryant.