OB Rag

by Kevin Hastings

Yesterday, March 10, the California Coastal Commission voted in favor of Councilmember Jen Campbell’s short-term vacation rental (STVR) ordinance. This is a key approval before it can go into effect in the “Coastal Zone” which generally covers everything west of the I-5 freeway.

This was largely a foregone conclusion, because the Commission’s mission statement is to protect public access to the coast, which generally places the interests of tourists over residents. Coastal access is a noble endeavor and can mean many things, but increasingly over the past 10 years they’ve interpreted it to mean that existing residential neighborhoods should accommodate tourist lodging.

Jen Campbell’s ordinance in a nutshell

The light was just right. Here’s a dog at Dog Beach in Ocean Beach by Albert C Elliott, March 10, 2022.

By Geoff Page

Pickleball versus Tennis

The clash of an old venerable sport and a much, much younger, but fast-growing sport was the highlight of the regular monthly meeting of the Ocean Beach Planning Board, Wednesday, March 2nd.

The sport with a history that goes back about 1,000 years is tennis. The younger sport with a history that only goes as far back as 1965 is called pickleball.

It is important to deal with its name first. Here is the explanation

By Mat Wahlstrom

Even by the terms of the recent years’ fire sale of our city, this week has been exceptional.

On Monday, March 7, we got the launch of “Bridge to Homes,” a plan to spend over $80 million in public funds to make construction of 662 units of low income housing ‘financially feasible.’

Soldiers Also Built a Peace Movement Within the U.S. Military

Timely Stories as World Watches Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking at the University of San Diego’s Copley Library *

March 16 – the 54th anniversary of the My Ly Massacre:

Ronald L. Haeberle, the Army photographer whose color pictures of the My Ly Massacre published in the December 5, 1968, issue of LIFE Magazine, galvanized American public opinion against the war.

Next weekend – March 19 — the inaugural St. Paddy’s O’Beach Party is officially here!

This is happening near the Ocean Beach pier and it’s by the same organizers that do the OB Oktoberfest and the legendary OB Chilli Cook Off. All event organizers are San Diego-based.

Headliners for the event are all San Diego-based includes:

About International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is marked on the 8th of March every year and is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for those social achievements.The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women’s achievements or rally for women’s equality.

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.