OB Rag

By David Helvarg / Los Angeles Times / August 8, 2021

Kelp forests are a crucial California marine ecosystem. From kelp’s floating canopies to its “holdfast” roots, the giant seaweed — algae, actually — supports greater biodiversity and sequesters more carbon than a redwood grove, while also protecting our coastline from the full force of Pacific storms. Kelp forests shelter fin fish, shellfish, whales, seals, octopuses and sharks — more than 1,000 animal and plant species in all.

Unfortunately, since 2013 the state’s kelp beds have been in an unprecedented state of collapse. From San Diego to Monterey the losses are patchy, but north of the Golden Gate

By Thomas Ultican / Tultican

In a court settlement, Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) agreed to implement inappropriate dyslexia remedies. The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) claimed the district failed to identify students with reading disorders, including dyslexia, and did not provide them adequate services.

To end the litigation begun in 2016, district leaders agreed to implement a universal screening program for reading disorders and adopt new reading intervention programs. BUSD also agreed to hire a nationally recognized outside consultants.

By Colleen O’Connor

Holding to Predictions of February, 2021. Coming into focus sooner than expected.

Prediction #5:

Majority Senate Leader, Schumer, will be a surprisingly strong legislative leader. He will check Biden’s “come together” moments, while delivering legislative victories for Democrats via the reconciliation process.

Status: Already won big with $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan; using reconciliation.

Then, just two nights ago, Schumer secured a Sunday night victory on the $1 trillion dollar “bi-partisan” Infrastructure plan to end debate. It passed 68-29. Even Mitch McConnell voted for it.

Which put it on a glide path to passage.

Editordude: The following was submitted by Dan Dennison as a comment to an earlier post about the current crisis with the OB Town Council. We decided to run it on its own.

By Dan Dennison

Ocean Beach genuinely is a community—A unique and rare characteristic for most places where people live and work.

Because of the character, demographics and extraordinary diversity of issues directing community attention and concern within OB we need to have consistent, strong and sometimes assertive advocacy with the City and County. The Ocean Beach Town Council clearly is the mechanism to do this.

By Mat Wahlstrom

As noted in my previous articles, developers have launched a two-front assault on development responsive to public input: getting collaborators onto the boards of community planning groups and city commissions, and changing the laws at the state and local levels to make opposition to future projects impossible.

Senate Bills 9 and 10 are efforts to effect the second part. Introduced by our state senator, Toni Atkins, SB 9 would require cities to approve splitting single-family lots into duplexes, which combined with recent accessory dwelling unit rule changes would lead to automatic approval of six units per lot.

SB 10, co-authored by Atkins, would authorize projects of up to ten units in areas with single-family zoning along with (as reported here) giving “city councils and boards of supervisors the ability

The OB Rag summer fundraiser is rolling along, and we’re now over three-fourths on the way to our goal of $2,000. We have raised $1,545 so far.

And we’re further along than we were last year at this point in the fundraising. This is all wonderful. So, help us reach the last $500.

The OB Rag survived Trump and the pandemic, unlike some media and news platforms. (Yeah, we know Trump has not disappeared and is still trying the insurrection scenario, plus we’re very aware of the new variant and the current wave.) The OB Rag has not folded like some that were based on advertisements, because we rely on our readers and supporters to survive and thrive.

By Geoff Page

Building code violations, bike parking in exchange for car parking, traffic roundabouts, a vendor ordinance, a Capital Improvement Project wish list, and arts & culture news. These were the items of interest that were discussed at the OB Planning Board’s regular monthly meeting, August 4.

Pizzeria Luigi

Board member Craig Klein, who initially brought up what he saw as code violations on the Pizzeria Luigi property at last month’s meeting, had more to say. Klein directed his comments to the District 2 representative, Teddy Martinez. Apparently, Code Enforcement is involved and has visited the site but according to Klein work is progressing. Klein wanted Martinez to make this a priority.

The OB Rag today received the following letter from current OB Town Council president, Corey Bruins, who also included a copy of the letter the board sent then-president Mark Winkie on July 6:

August 6, 2021

To Whom It May Concern:

I write primarily to the signers of the letter sent to the OBTC on August 5th to address two key points: 1) the untrue narrative that Mark was ‘forced’ to resign in a manner out of accordance with the organization’s bylaws, and 2) the concept of holding a special election to fill the four vacancies on the board.

Originally published August 6, 2021
In an unprecedented move this morning, 22 community leaders published an open letter to the Ocean Beach Town Council and stated:

“… we call upon OBTC to hold a membership-wide election rather than privately appointing so many vacant seats. We further ask that the board address the community’s concerns about Mark [Winkie’]s departure. Only by airing these issues and allowing the community to be involved in the election can OBTC begin to re-establish trust.”

It’s the membership of the OB Town Council – a private organization – that elects new board members.

Beach Cleanup – Ocean Beach Pier

Saturday, August 07 2021 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am

Ocean Beach Veteran’s Plaza, 1900 Ocean Front St, San Diego, CA 92107, USA

Join Surfrider Foundation for a beach and street cleanup at Ocean Beach Pier.

Meet at Ocean Beach Veterans’ Plaza, just south of the lifeguard station where Abbot St. meets Newport Ave. If there is another event on the grass, we’ll be on the beach nearby. Just look for the blue Surfrider tent!

Beach Cleanup Information

The following was received by the OB Rag this morning, August 6:

An Open Letter to the Ocean Beach Town Council

August 5, 2021

As members and leaders of the Ocean Beach community, we are deeply concerned with the recent Ocean Beach Town Council (OBTC) board vacancies. Members of the OBTC voted for a new slate of board members in February, and already there are four vacancies and a lack of transparency over the board’s request that Mark Winkie resign as president. This is especially puzzling since the board re-elected Mark as president just a few months ago.

Our Summer Appeal for Donations During the Pandemic – Again!

Keep the Press Local and Free and Healthy

The OB Rag‘s second Pandemic Summer Fundraiser starts today! Who would have known that when we started our 2020 fundraising campaign, we’d be still wearing masks in indoor public spaces. But here we are. For the last several years, we’ve held one fundraiser a year, in the summer. This week our goal is to reach $2,000 in donations and contributions from our readers and supporters.