OB Rag

In European culture, Friday the 13th, conjures up bad luck. And some bad things have happened on the date. I was once kicked in the leg by a pony while ridding another pony as a young pre-teen. But good things have happened also — my mate, Patty Jones, was born on Friday the 13th.

But some people have taken it seriously over the years. For instance, did you know that certain older high-rise buildings in downtown San Diego don’t have a 13th floor?

There’s lots of myths of its origins.

According to some folklore historian, the unlucky nature of the number “13” originated with a Norse myth about 12 gods having a dinner party in Valhalla. The trickster god Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the 13th guest,

By Geoff Hueter –Chairperson, Neighbors For A Better San Diego

Partly thanks to a recent CBS8 news story about neighbors fighting back against multi-unit ADUs in the College East area, Neighbors For a Better San Diego has a lot of engagement. (An ADU is an accessory dwelling unit, sometimes called a “granny flat.”)

In the news story, Eric Rosenzweig was interviewed and spoke for many residents when he outlined the very negative consequences of building eight-unit apartments in older neighborhoods that were designed, engineered, and built for single-family homes.

You’ve heard the arguments before, but they’re always worth repeating:

David Garrick at the San Diego U-T wrote up a summary of Monday night’s District 2 candidate forum at the Point Loma Library. We’ve reconfigured it and broke it down around the main issues discussed. (Comments are Garrick’s.)

As we know, incumbent Democrat Jen Campbell is being challenged by 3 other Democrats, Lori Saldana, Joel Day and Mandy Havlik, and one Republican, Linda Lukacs. The primary is June 7 and the top two vote getters will move on to the General Election.

Go here for the link to the video of the candidate forum, sponsored by the San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board.

Vacation Rental Legislation

Campbell fought back against opponents’ attack on her compromise vacation rental legislation she has touted as a major success

Shadowy Group “New San Diego” Backed by Republicans, Developers, Some Labor Accuses Saldaña of Being in Big Oil’s Pocket

By Geoff Page

Dark money in the District 2 San Diego City Council race appeared in this writer’s mailbox on Monday, May 9. It appeared in the form of a hit piece on District 2 city council candidate Lori Saldaña.

The only clue regarding who put it out was at the bottom of the second page where it stated:

“Ad paid for by New San Diego – Not Authorized by a candidate or a committee controlled by a candidate.”

It took some effort to find out more about this group, but first the flier. The front page of the mailer has, in big font, “Lori Saldaña Showered By Big Oil.” Below that were three claims. The first stated:

Reward Offered in OB Hit-and-Run Against Bicyclist

First Beer Solely Brewed on Tribal Land Opens in OB: Rincon Reservation Road Brewery

Presentation on New OB Library Design – Tuesday, May 31 – Place Unknown

OB / San Diego Pier on Agenda of OB Planning Board – June 1

Coastal District C School Board Race Heating Up

Point Loma Office Building Sold for Nearly $3.6 Million

Will OBceans Be Able to See Blood Red Moon Sunday Night?

Come inside for the link to the video of the District 2 candidate forum Monday night, May 9, at the Point Loma Library. The forum was sponsored by San Diego Union-Tribune editorial board and the video is on the U-T site.

By Kathy Blavatt

(All photos by Kathy)

My husband and I started our Spring with visits to local gardens, starting with the Point Loma Native Plant Garden by Collier Park.

Spring is the perfect time to put on your walking shoes and get out and visit the peninsula gardens while they are in their peak season. The flowers burst forth in color, and branches fill with fresh green foliage.

Unlike the popular Sunset Cliffs Natural Park, which has become full of crowds on most days and evenings, we decided to go to the Native Plant Garden, which is quieter and less crowded.

By Geoff Page

The Ocean Beach Planning Board held its regular monthly meeting in person for the first time in well over a year, Wednesday, May 4 at the OB Rec Center. The meeting was held to two hours because of the Rec Centers current operating hours.

The short meeting agenda was shortened even more when one of the two projects on the agenda was postponed until June by the applicant.

4953 Coronado Avenue

The project that was presented at the meeting is located at 4953 Coronado Avenue. This project actually generated a great deal of discussion.

Famosa Canyon is back in the news – that section of open land with bike trails just off upper Voltaire Street.

It’s in the news because the group, “Save Famosa Canyon,” is taking the San Diego Housing Commission – who owns the land – to court. The group is trying to get the Housing Commission to release documents it has about potential plans for the land and it filed a lawsuit on April 28.

Attorney Everett DeLano represents Save Famosa Canyon and warns that the case is all about the public records act. If the Housing Commission has entered into some king of agreement with a particular developer, his clients as taxpayers need to know exactly what is happening.

By Ted Walker / Peninsula News of the Point Loma Association

Many of us drive past Point Loma High School and wonder what it looks like inside, and when will the project be finished?

Clark Burlingame and I recently toured the campus with Principal Kelly Lowry to ask those questions. There was so much to see that we will share our observations over 3 editions of this newsletter.

The construction project is divided into 2 phases, the first being the current activity, which is about 95% complete according to Lowry.