OB Rag

By Mary Clare Jalonick / LA Times – SD Union-Tribune / Jan. 3, 2022

They’ve interviewed more than 300 witnesses, collected tens of thousands of documents and traveled around the country’ to talk to election officials who were pressured by Donald Trump.
Now, after six months of intense work, the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection is preparing to go public.

In the coming months, members of the panel will start to reveal their findings against the backdrop of the former president and his allies’ persistent efforts to whitewash the riots and reject suggestions that he helped instigate them. The committee also faces the burden of trying to convince the American public that their conclusions are fact-based and credible.

It’s anti-insurrection week at the OB Rag.

One year ago this week, Trump instigated an attempt at a violent coup and thousands of his supporters laid siege to the Capitol while the Presidential election was being certified.

Over the course of the next few days, we plan to acknowledge the anniversary of this act of treason and review what the status is of the Big Lie. Here are some major points worthy of note (in the coming days we’re examine many of these with accompany links and evidence):

• In the year since the insurrection, no one of any significance has been brought to account for the act of treason, despite plenty of evidence that shows high-level planning and coordination of the riotous siege of our democracy.

By Anonymous Blogger

I can relate to the following article by Erik Anderson at KPBS. Within the last week or so, two of my roommates have come down with COVID. Another roommate was sent home from work because of the positives in the house.

That roommate did not have COVID symptoms but in order to get back to work, they had to test negative. Other roommates also wanted to be tested just to be on the safe side.

But, lo and behold, nobody could find those at-home COVID test kits. Several pharmacies were tried. Nothing.

By Ernie McCray

Joan Didion.

Betty White.

Both touched my life.

After hearing that Joan had died, I suddenly remembered how she helped me when my wife passed on, leaving me trapped in heart-rending sorrow and grief beyond belief, feeling as though I would die, too, with all the pain I was going through.

But as days and weeks and months passed the intensity of my suffering eased a tad – and I read Joan’s “The Year of Magical Thinking,” her account of losing her husband and daughter within a couple of years of each other.

We have an avid reader who raises a good point:

I’m probably missing the obvious, but I can’t figure our why Nathan Fletcher, who jump-started his tenure on the board of supervisors by literally stealing the spotlight every day with his COVID pronouncements, is now no where to be found on the issue.

His publicist won’t even respond to a request for any sort of comment, from the UT.

I’m sure other San Diegans have noticed him MIA, and would also appreciate any insight into his disappearance, as well as this new-found silence by other board members, the county health department, Mayor Todd Gloria, etc.

The Ocean Beach Planning Board meets this Wednesday, January 5. It will be held virtually via Zoom at 6 pm. Register for the meeting here.

Notable agenda items include a presentation by the Election Committee for the March 2 annual election of board members, and another presentation by the Monarch Group, one of the five redevelopment teams vying for the Midway Sports Arena contract with the city.

The board will also review and make recommendations to the city’s Draft Housing Action Package, including possible revisions to the City Code regulating Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) or so-called granny flats.

By Sheila Pell / San Diego Reader

Tiny houses on wheels, the cheapest and easiest small units to build, were initially left out of San Diego’s granny flat ordinance.

That changed in July 2020, when the city, seizing on their potential as low-cost housing, decided to allow movable tiny houses on residential lots. Even in the pricey coastal zone.

Friday, December 17, 2021, the Coastal Commission approved the changes, which regulate the number, size, location, and appearance of the homes, but with several modifications – none likely to appease critics.

By Rory Devine / 7SanDiego / December 31, 2021

During the pandemic I have been covering education, one of the most important issues of this time. When the pandemic started, I was privileged to be able to follow teacher Joanne Ensign through her experience, from when schools closed and on-line learning kicked off to when schools re-opened and in-person learning began.

It was inspirational.

All events are online and free unless stated otherwise.

*** Every Saturday 10:15 am. Climate Mobilization Coalition Zoom Meeting. January 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th.

*** January 3rd Monday 6 pm King Tides Discussion Pt. Loma/Hervey Branch Library Community Room 3701 Voltaire St. 92107

*** January 7th Friday 7 pm – 8 pm Sierra Talks – The Making of Beauty & the Beast: CA Wildflowers & Climate Change

*** January 8th Saturday 1 pm – 2 pm Youth4Climate January Community Service

*** January 8th Saturday 12-2 pm, Meet up for Racial Justice Event

by Ernie McCray

2021.
Whew! What a year.
Makes you entertain hopes for what the New Year might bring.

And there could be a variety of hopes.
Know what I mean?

And I have hopes for the New Year.

Based on this past year, a year I suspected would be a bit crazy, considering all the sadness and madness we had to tolerate during the previous four years or so, I would hope we never experience anything so bizarre and frightening ever again.