OB Rag

From the United Food and Commercial Workers Union:

Tentative Agreement Reached between UFCW and Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions and Ralphs

A tentative agreement was reached by the bargaining committee representing seven UFCW Locals across southern California and Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, and Ralphs.

Once our members have had an opportunity to review and vote, we will release more information on this historic and transformational deal. Nothing is final until our members decide.

Restaurant Review

Cesarina’s
4161 Voltaire St.
Point Loma, CA 92107
619-226-6222

By Judi Curry

It has been some time since I ate at Cesarina’s. The pandemic, new restaurants opening, etc., but Steve and I had something to celebrate and I wanted to go to Cesarina’s for their octopus and other authentic Italian meals.

A great many of the their recipes come from Napoli, and each of my three daughters spent a year in that city and raved about the food so I wanted to try it out again and see if it was as good as it was three years ago. In case you don’t want to read any more of this review I can honestly say, “It is!”

By Kathy Blavatt

All photos by Kathy

On March 20, 2022, the joy of welcoming Spring with the scent of Wisteria was intoxicating.

After years of isolation, the long-awaited O.B. tradition of the Ocean Beach Historical Society (OBHS) Wisteria Garden Party was revived and turned into a blooming good time!

While setting up for the party, the forecast of rain put a damper on the Ocean Beach Historical Society event. Like previous parties, much luck, or wishes coming true, the clouds parted and ushered in a perfect day for the Wisteria Party. Luckily, years of rain dissipating before the party began prevailed yet another year.

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.