OB Rag

By Geoff Page

The conflict over the Newport palm trees that are allegedly interfering with aircraft flying over Point Loma is quiet at the moment. No official word yet.

A resident reported that the trees that supposedly posed an immediate safety hazard were recently trimmed.

However, thanks to some archival video of Newport Avenue, the major fallacy of tree growth can be substantiated. OB resident and vice-chair of the OB Planning Board Kevin Hastings dug up a 1970 video that shows Newport Avenue from Venice Street,

by Ernie McCray

It’s said that this century is the Age of Knowledge,
but how can that be
with the banning of books
and hints in the air
that we don’t really
love to read?

I ask such a question
as one who needs a good read
as much as my lungs need oxygen to breathe
as much as Count Dracula needs
a victim’s neck to bleed.

Vote Portends Trend in Local Community Planning Group Elections

By Mat Wahlstrom

The result of the Uptown Planners community planning group election concluded Tuesday, March 1, gives reason to hope for authentic community advocates.

With 925 ballots counted, all three of the Uptown for All candidates came out on top by almost 2-to-1. Despite a lower turnout, this is about the same margin as in last year’s election when we won all eight open seats.

This time around the desperation was on the side of the self-identified YIMBYs, the Rise Uptown slate. They somehow paid for a five-figure direct mail piece to every Uptown household. But unlike the targeted letter we self-funded last year, theirs was a glossy postcard heavy on hype but light on substance.

More than 60 people showed up at Dog Beach on Sunday to show their support for the people of Ukraine.

And they did this by making a giant peace sign with their bodies on the sand.

People showing support for Ukraine are coming together at Dog Beach in OB to form a Human Peace Sign on Sunday, March 6. At 2 pm.

The event is being organized by Rhonda June Blaine and Mike James is helping out.

Both Saldaña and Day Claim Credit for Stalling Local Dems

The news from the Jen Campbell for re-election camp is mixed. Campbell did pick up the endorsement for District 2 from the San Diego Labor Council.

But she lost the endorsement from the San Diego County Democratic Party – which is huge. An incumbent Democrat not receiving the green light from the local party organization is a rare occurrence and reflects poorly with Campbell’s relationship with her own Democrats.

Of course, this refusal to endorse greatly helps her main challengers, Lori Saldaña, Joel Day, and Mandy Havlic.

Yet, the Labor Council endorsement is a mighty heft from organized labor. And is a key endorsement in San Diego.

Restaurant Review

The Third Corner
2265 Bacon Street
Ocean Beach, CA 92107
619-223-2700
WWW.THE3RDCORNER.COM

By Judi Curry

At Christmas time, friends gave me a gift certificate for The Third Corner. I had been there many times before; usually for lunch or their weekend brunch, but never for dinner. Steve and I decided to give it a try because we were in a celebrating mood.

That mood almost evaporated within the first 10 minutes of walking in the door. I had made reservations, and when we were shown to our table it was along the wall with the windows facing West Point Loma Avenue; there was a large party just to the left of us, and two women sitting to the right of us. The large party was so noisy that I asked Steve to see if we could change tables.

By Kathy Blavatt

All photos by Kathy

A little more than a stone’s throw away, to the north, is O.B.’s groovy sister, Encinitas. Like Ocean Beach, this colorful little beach town loves its palm trees, pines, native plants, exotics, and succulents.

Within Encinitas, borders are some of the best public and private gardens in San Diego County. These include the renowned San Diego Botanical Garden and Swami’s Meditation Gardens.

When in law school years ago, we were taught in a Legal Ethics class that the attorney-client privilege was very strong. Yet, the privilege would not stand up if it was being used to hide criminal activity. That rule is well-accepted. Attorney-client communications cannot be used to conceal crimes by the client.

And that is exactly what lawyers for the House panel investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol argued in a federal court filing Wednesday. Former president Donald Trump and key allies were involved in potential crimes. Therefore, Trump lawyer John Eastman’s claim of privilege is voided by the “crime/fraud exception” to the confidentiality usually accorded attorneys and their clients.

What were the potential crimes?

From Save Our Heritage Organization (SOHO)

Affordable Housing

Within San Diego and across the country, skyrocketing housing prices and the loss of naturally occurring, or unsubsidized, affordable housing plague our communities.

One important solution is to reinvest in and preserve older buildings for housing. This would alleviate some of the pressure for three compelling reasons: existing buildings are inherently more affordable and sustainable, enable less costly housing and more of it to be produced faster, and don’t contribute to the landfill.

Obviously, older buildings can play a significant role in meeting affordability and housing challenges.

By David Garrick / San Diego Union-Tribune /March 1, 2022

San Diego cracked down Tuesday on thousands of street vendors who have dramatically changed the look and feel of many popular city locations, including Balboa Park, Ocean Beach and areas near the Convention Center.

The City Council voted 8-1 to approve legislation that partially bans street vendors in parks and such pedestrian-heavy areas as Little Italy and the Gaslamp Quarter. It also requires vendors to obtain city permits and institutes fines and possible impoundment for rules violations.

Supporters call it a balance between fostering vendors as a new class of entrepreneurs and preventing them from damaging the character of parks, beach areas and business districts. Merchant groups mostly praised the new law, which takes effect June 1. But some lobbied unsuccessfully for more restrictions, such as banning vendors in more areas and requiring them to have insurance.