OB Rag

From Lori Saldaña Campaign

Retired Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña has announced her candidacy for San Diego City Council, to represent the newly created District 2 in San Diego’s vibrant, diverse, and oldest established communities, from the tip of Point Loma, up to Mission Beach, and inland to Loma Portal, Midway, Old Town, Bay Park, Clairemont, and Linda Vista.

Lori represented all of these communities for 6 years in the California Assembly. In 2022 she is running to continue providing leadership for San Diegans in the communities where she has lived and worked all her life. She recently retired from teaching Business and Information Technology for the San Diego Community College District, and serves on the Board of Protect Our Communities Foundation, to promote sustainable and affordable energy.

Public Service Announcement

The San Diego City Council voted Tuesday, Feb. 1, to delay new rules for short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, from taking effect until the California Coastal Commission reviews the changes.

The council voted after listening to staff recommendations. City staff says the delay would allow the California Coastal Commission to review and certify the ordinance, reduce costs for onboarding and training of staff and give proper notice to short-term rental hosts that accept advance bookings.

The short-term rental ordinance, approved last year, limits vacation rentals to just 1% of the city’s housing. In Mission Beach, 30% of homes can be rented short-term. A lottery system will determine those properties and their owners.

By Andrew Morgan / Progressive City / February 25, 2020

As a planning consultant, I was intrigued when my colleagues labeled residents who opposed a development project as “NIMBYs”. Sometimes the label was appropriate; in fact, planners often encounter people who are stubbornly against any kind of development in the area where they live.

It is also common to encounter a more perverse xenophobic NIMBY reaction to certain kinds of development, like mosques, transitional homes, or low-income rental housing. These cases represent the conventional understanding of “the NIMBY syndrome”. But as I saw in practice, NIMBY is also used as shorthand for any local opposition to development,

by Ernie McCray

I saw something the other day
about what would you say
to your twenty-year-old self
as advice.

I’ve thought about it
once or twice
and what I would say to my
twenty-year-old self is:

“You’re on the right track, Jack!”

All events are online and free unless stated otherwise.

February 9th Wednesday 5:30 to 7 pm “Teaching about Diversity and the Controversy Over Critical Race Theory”

February 10th Thursday 4 pm – 5 pm San Diego Building Electrification Coalition monthly meeting.

February 10th Thursday 5:30 pm Smokescreen: Debunking Wildfire Myths to Save Our Forests and Our Climate.

February 10th Thursday 6 pm – 7:30 pm Transportation Equity Forum Event by SD350

February 12th Saturday 4:30 pm – 8 pm Fundraiser for WILDCOAST

COME INSIDE for all details and links.

Over this past weekend, Mike Williams, a good friend and occasional writer and photographer for the OB Rag, passed away. He had just begun treatment for lung cancer.

Mike is survived by his spouse, Michele Engleman, his daughter Jessica from a prior marriage, Michele’s daughter Emily, and Mike’s brother Jim – all of whom were with him until the end on Sunday, Jan. 30. And by many friends.

Mike – who recently authored posts for the Rag under his legal name, John M. Williams, on street vendors and the OB Rassle House – had penned several for the original OB Rag newspaper back in the 1970s.

An encampment of nearly 100 tents and makeshift structures along a section of Sports Arena Boulevard has been the home for many houseless citizens, but has drawn the wrath and concerns of local neighbors, businesses and the local planning committee – for valid reasons.

But Tuesday morning, Feb. 2, the city will send crews to the sprawling tent city, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria announced Monday. In a press release, Gloria stated:

“The situation on Sports Arena Boulevard in the Midway community is wholly unacceptable. The potential for an outbreak of disease and the threat to public safety compels us to act now. As we continue to provide shelter and wide array of supportive services to unsheltered people living in the neighborhood, we cannot wait for something terrible to happen before we take decisive action.”

By Judi Curry

As a new grandmother today (Jan.31) – well, not exactly new as Elliott is my 20th grandchild – I am somewhat mellow. But only a little bit mellow – because there is a lot bothering me that I will be saying in the next few months. But let’s start with the new garbage collection procedure.

Have you watched any of the football games during the past few weeks? Have you attended any concert? Ice Hockey game? Wedding? Large gathering activity?

The OB Rag has just heard that a developer is now cutting down 3 large owl nesting trees and one towering palm tree at 5074 Lotus St. in OB (9 am, Tues, 2-2-22).

The Ocean Beach Planning Board meets Wednesday, February 2 at 6 pm. (Wow! 2-2-22!) As they have consistently done throughout the pandemic, the board meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. You can register for the meeting here.

4751-53 Pescadero

The only development project up for review and recommendation is an application for a Coastal Development Permit for 4751 Pescadero. The permit is for the construction of a new 2-story single unit with an attached ADU (accessory dwelling unit) and for a new additional detached ADU. There is already a 2-story house in the rear of the lot at 4753 Pescadero.

By Colleen O’Connor

Speaker Nancy Pelosi, first woman to head a major party in Congress and first woman ever elected Speaker, not once, but twice, has filed for re-election.

Many consulted the tea leaves and believed Pelosi would “retire” after she pledged just “two more terms as Speaker” in 2018. Those two terms are up this year. Not retiring, but perhaps giving up the Speakership?

So, why run again? Just to hang on to power in a year the Democrats are widely predicted to lose “bigly?”

Doubtful.

Here are the five most logical and daring reasons she is seeking re-election.