OB Rag

The OB Planning Board meets this Wednesday, April 6 – and their meetings are still virtual and you need to pre-register here in order to participate. It starts at 6 pm.

The major presentation of the meeting will be from the city representatives on Mayor Gloria’s “Build Better San Diego.” (The OB Rag just posted an article about it – see here.)

Much of the meeting will be taken up with certifying the March election results, electing a new executive committee, and selecting members for the sub-committees.

By Michael Steinberg / Black Rain Press

Nuclear Shutdown News chronicles the decline and fall of the nuclear power industry in the US and beyond, and highlights the efforts of those who are working for a nuclear free world.

Russian Attacks on Ukraine Nuclear Plants Continue

As Russia’s war against Ukraine enters a second month, so too has its game of chicken against Ukraine’s nuclear facilities. One of the first actions of the February action was the Russian Army’s takeover of the devastated Chernobyl nuclear power station, as detailed in last month’s edition.

All events are online and free unless stated otherwise.

Every Saturday 10:30 am. Climate Mobilization Coalition Zoom Meeting. April 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th.

April 6th Wednesday 5:30 pm – 7 pm Public Surveillance vs. Personal Privacy
April 7th Thursday 1 pm – 2 pm Achieving Green Infrastructure in San Diego
April 9th Saturday 10:30 am – 12 pm JOIN US FOR A DAY OF ACTON. Event by Climate Mobilization Coalition

Rents Fall As 1000s of Former Vacation Rentals Return to the Market

With San Diego’s new short-term vacation rental policy going into effect, local rents have dramatically fallen as thousands of former vacation rentals have returned to the market. The number of “For Rent” signs have significantly jumped across the beach communities, particularly in Ocean Beach. There is one report of a landlord standing at an intersection with a large sign that said, “I Have a Great Place for Rent” followed by his phone number. There is such a demand for renters, that rental agencies and many homeowners have dropped their strict credit requirements and background checks.

This is satire written for April Fool’s Day

Houlahan, Candidate for U.S. Congress, Says East County Should Rethink Gillespie Field Airport

By Colleen Cochran

During a recent townhall meeting, Stephen Houlahan, candidate for CA’s 48th Congressional District, discussed the ways Gillespie Field airport negatively impacts adjacent Santee and El Cajon residents. He cited crashes and noise and air pollution, and said, given all the development that has taken place in these East San Diego County cities over the years, the region may not be the right place for an airport anymore.

Recent Plane Crashes

Houlahan has long voiced apprehensions about planes crashing into the airport’s nearby neighborhoods, and unfortunately, recent events prove his fears have merit.

by Ernie McCray

Oh, I hope
that the image
of seeing a Black-on-Black Crime
that came out of nowhere
right in front of me
on my big screen TV
will someday escape my mind.

It was such an ugly sight to see,
the vision of a man,
Will Smith,
whom I associate with laughter and glee,

By Geoff Page

In September 2021, The OB Rag carried a piece titled, “The Politics of Fear: Bicycling Deaths, Crosswalks and Dog Bites,” by this writer. The piece contained a review of 13 cycling accidents and it created a howl of anger from cycling advocates.

The anger was directed at anyone who had the temerity to question the public agenda of those promoting cycling. It was shown in the article that the use of these 13 accidents to further the cyclists’ cause was dishonest. The reaction to the piece was so strong

By Colleen O’Connor

Surprise!

Despite all the nay saying, downer news, and extraordinarily weak approval ratings for President Joe Biden, the Democrats have reason to cheer.

Pessimists point to voter suppression in the former Confederate states; to gerrymandered census redistricting maps in numerous GOP controlled statehouses; higher gas prices; inflation; huge debts; and culture wars about “baby racists,” the definition of a “woman.”

And the Trump-inspired right-wing adoration of Putin’s war in Ukraine. Taken together that should cause most Democrats to throw in the towel; to give up; to weep in despair.

San Diego’s Fox5 reported yesterday that two Arizona teenagers are getting national recognition for a dramatic July 3, 2020 rescue that took place at Sunset Cliffs. A young woman and a 11-year old girl were saved by Zachary Johnson Haugen and Jake Vageli Watson of Scottsdale.

Here’s their report – followed by our original post in July:

According to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, Zachary Johnson Haugen and Jake Vageli Watson of Scottsdale, Arizona saved the lives of 18-year-old Thanya Huerta and an 11-year-old girl who had been swept into the Pacific Ocean from a cove at Sunset Cliffs.

(Come inside for a larger poster.)

by Ernie McCray

I can’t remember who the player was
in all the March Madness
the other day
but he
grabbed a rebound
with such power and grace
it etched a “Wow” in the expression on my face
and he had a look on his face
that I used to have when I played,

By Lori Weisberg / San Diego Union-Tribune / March 25, 2022

Last year, as more and more businesses fully reopened amid relaxed pandemic restrictions, long-deferred rental payments came due for hundreds of tenants occupying San Diego-owned properties — including SeaWorld. Even as it is now enjoying a resurgence of visitors, the theme park remains the only city lessee in default for unpaid rent — for a total of $10 million.