OB Rag

Midway Rising, HomeTownSD and Midway Village+ On City’s Short List

ON Monday, May 23, the San Diego City Council choose three of the five teams vying to redevelop the 48-acre sports arena site in the Midway District. The council — in a unanimous vote — picked development teams Midway Rising, HomeTownSD and Midway Village+ — all recommended by the mayor and the city’s real estate department. The city will now begin negotiations with the three teams.

As today’s San Diego Union-Tribune surmised,

By Geoff Page

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is a concerted effort to torpedo Lori Saldaña’s campaign for the District 2 city council seat. And it appears that it is other Democrats, the mayor’s friends, who are behind it all.

A May 21 article in La Prensa about the 101 Ash Street debacle was an eyeopener for many reasons. The biggest bombshell was that the District 2 incumbent council member, Campbell, voted with the majority to approve purchasing the building. Campbell was previously opposed. La Prensa stated:

Here’s a chance to “meet” the members of the OB Planning Board. And to think on attending their monthly meetings and even serving on the Board itself- currently, there are 3 vacancies. (All text and most photos from the OBPB website.)

About the OBPB

The all-volunteer Ocean Beach Planning Board is recognized by the City of San Diego as the primary advisory group for land use and land development issues in the Ocean Beach community. One of over 40 community planning groups across the city, the Planning Board was formed by the San Diego City Council to make recommendations to the Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, …
Come inside for bios of board members and more info

Generations Keeping Point Loma “Festa” Traditions and Beauty Alive

By Colleen O’Connor

The flags are up, the bunting unraveled, and the volunteers are prepping for Point Loma’s 2022 “Festa” or Feast of the Holy Spirit, which celebrates the city’s oldest ethnic festival and commemorates Portugal’s Queen St. Isabel.

Portuguese Hall and St. Agnes Church will provide the customary venues for the tradition of nightly rosary prayers and end with a celebratory Mass and parade on June 5th.

San Diego’s new eviction moratorium just went into effect Sunday, May 22, and is now the rule that prevents landlords from removing tenants for ‘no fault’ reasons. It applies to renters who are up-to-date on their rent payments and abiding by the terms of their leases.

With the moratorium in place, if a landlord or family member wants to move into the unit, they need to provide the tenant with 90 days-notice. If they want to take the property off the rental market, they now must provide six months-notice.

The ‘no fault’ eviction moratorium is set to expire September 30 — or 60 days after the pandemic state of emergency ends, whichever comes first.

OB Rag Reporter Geoff Page One of Panelists

From Lori Saldaña for City Council

Three local investigative journalists will conduct an educational forum on Sunday, May 22 at 7:00 PM, to discuss a San Diego Political Action Committee (PAC) that is filling District 2 mailboxes with false and misleading attack ads.

The ads began in early May, and are intended to suppress votes in support of San Diego City Council candidate and former California Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña.

The video Ode to Jeff Stone is by Charles Landon with original music and lyrics by Phil Rockhold.

Jeff Stone adopted Ocean Beach in the late 1970s and he and his sweetheart Carole Landon raised their two sons, CJ and Cody from their house on Long Branch. Born on May 25, 1946, in New Jersey, Jeff passed on March 8.

Always the artist and intellectual, Jeff took on several personas during his OB life’s path: an oil painter, the drummer for the local punk band, “Bowling for Larva,” a photographer, a surfer, an Irish nationalist – but always the teacher. Jeff loved kids and he loved to teach them– which he did for decades. He constantly ran into former students as he moved about town and they always expressed their appreciation for him.
Come Inside for the Vid

San Diego Gas and Electric — which already charges its customers the highest electrical rate in the country — now wants to raise gas and electric bills even more — by almost 9 percent. This would begin in 2024 if state regulators authorize a proposed four-year spending plan submitted this week by the utility.

That means a typical residential customer would see their utility bills jump around $18 per month, according to the utility. (SDG&E defines “typical residential customer” as a user of 400 kwh hours of electricity and 24 therms of gas per month.)

by Ernie McCray

I sat
the other day
as a dancer,
a Black woman,
moved her body and feet
to African rhythms and beats,
giving honor
to how Black arts
have enriched humanity
since near the dawning
of our species.

As she danced
a young aspiring White supremacist,

From Regional Task Force on Homelessness

2022 Point in Time Count Data Released

Data shows progress and opportunities, provides insights into who is experiencing homelessness in San Diego County

The Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH) on Thursday, May 19, released the topline results from the 2022 WeAllCount Point-in-Time Count, a one-day snapshot of the minimum number of San Diegans living in emergency shelters, transitional housing, safe havens and on our streets and along our riverbeds.