OB Rag

Over the weekend, we found out sadly that Kip Krueger had passed Thursday night, September 15.

In the hospital since late July with blood clots, and after a critical surgery in an attempt to save his life, Kip was finally diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. He died in his sleep, done in by blood clot to his lungs.

As residents of San Diego prepare to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 30-foot height limit, the Rag has prepared a brief outline of the long slog to achieve the height limitation in the city’s coastal regions.

The Beach Action Group 

A collection of Pacific Beach residents form Beach Action Group (BAG) around 1969 and begin a petition drive against a large building about to be constructed right on the water’s edge. The petition effort was unsuccessful and the building was built — known today as the Capri by the Sea. BAG activists first came up with the idea of placing a height restriction

Here are Tom Ultican’s recommendations for the two races for the San Diego Unified School District Board, Area B and Area C.

By Tom Ultican / September 12, 2022

San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Public school students 95,250 – Charter school students 19,217 – Percent charter 16.8%

Area B

Area B represents northeastern San Diego from Scripps Ranch to Normal Heights. And Godwin Higa is perhaps San Diego’s foremost expert on trauma informed education.

Join other San Diegans in celebrating the 50th anniversary of the passage of the 30-foot height limit. In November of 1972, 63% of voters throughout San Diego voted to pass the citizen-initiative, known as Prop D.

Beginning in early October, a group of beach residents and supporters who are forming an ad hoc committee will carry out a series of celebrations and press conferences in San Diego’s beach and coastal areas to bring the message of this historic celebration to our fellow residents.

Donna Frye has endorsed this effort and states:

Fifty years ago, San Diego voters approved a ballot measure to preserve access to our beautiful coastal resources.  They did this by putting in place a height limit to protect our natural environment and prevent our beaches and coast from becoming overbuilt with high rises.

By Neighbors For A Better San Diego

Whether he was deliberately sticking a finger in the eye of Talmadge residents, or just promoting a former client of his communications director, Todd Gloria lavishly praised a Bonus Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) project on 49th Street in his latest weekly newsletter.

In the newsletter, Mayor Gloria says that the redevelopment of this former single-family home is a “huge improvement aesthetically from what it was before”. Talmadge residents would disagree

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.