OB Rag

By Sheila Pell / San Diego Reader

A dispute over an addition to the Salk Institute in La Jolla has ended. Last week, the Planning Commission denied an appeal claiming the proposed design ruins the historic integrity of the East Torrey Pines building.

It’s like installing a two-story-high picket fence around Stonehenge, as one critic put it.

By Heather Hope / CBS8

From armrests in the middle of benches to large rocks added underneath bridges and along sidewalks, some homeless advocates in San Diego call these designs “hostile architecture” or anti-homeless. In Hillcrest along University Avenue, it’s not hard to spot a metal bench at MTS bus stops with armrests that prevent people from sleeping on them.

MTS spokesperson Mark Olson says the benches are industry standard. “Prevents people from sleeping on them, so multiple people can sit down. Partitions also offer dedicated space to sit and help people with mobility issues stand up to get on the bus,” said Olson, via text message.

Our country is facing a healthcare crisis. We invite you to show up for reproductive rights and freedom now!

by Ernie McCray

It sometimes seems like our country is overwhelmed by lies, a mixture of little white lies and innocent lies, all the way up to the infamous “Big Lie!”

Now the Supreme Court has joined in, acting as though their plot to deprive women of the right to terminate a pregnancy, is protecting children, children yet born, by the way.

The lie here, another big one, is the implication that we, as a society, hold children dear while millions of them live among us in despair:

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.