OB Rag

By Colleen O’Connor

Super-forecasters study data, science, trends, history, social and economic conditions to foretell the future. Not really astrologers, but seers of a kind. You can do this yourself.

Just pay attention to the news and details around you. Then ask yourself what will be the most tumultuous and consequential event this summer and fall? Probably, the general election which will control the future of this country and many others.

What will be the defining issue? The impeachment? The protests? The stock market? Taxes, tapes, or “terrific” pardons? Possible. Arguably, the single most upending, calamitous, and dangerous condition during this election season could also be President Trump’s precarious health.

California Dems Need to Avoid Catastrophic Cuts to Education and Vital Social Services

By Jim Miller

The COVID-19 crisis and subsequent economic collapse along with the national uprising against police brutality and systemic racism have cast a glaring light on the nature of American inequality on the healthcare, criminal justice, and economic fronts. It has never been clearer that as most Americans struggle, the elite thrive. As a recent Forbes piece put it back in April, “Billionaires are Getting Richer During the COVID-19 Pandemic While Most Americans Suffer”:

According to the Institute for Policy Studies, billionaire wealth has boomed, while over 26 million people have filed for unemployment since mid-March. The percentage of taxes paid by billionaires has fallen 79% since 1980.

Plant Power Donated 100% Weekend Profits to Black Organizations

Plant Power Fast Food, said it’s dedicating 100% of its profits

New Film, “Mighty Oak”, Set in Ocean Beach

‘Mighty Oak’ – a new film is set in OB.

OB Pier Cafe to Reopen

A restaurant on the Ocean Beach Pier that has been closed

Midway Chuck E Cheese May Have to Close (Along with 526 Other Locations)

The popular children’s restaurant chain, Chuck E. Cheese, may be the latest business to close

Mr. Moto’s Expanding

The Ocean Beach Farmers Market reopened on Wednesday, June 10. It does look a bit different.

Here’s what the sponsor the OB Mainstreet Association says about the new rules and the new look:

The market is a one-way market. The entrance is located at Cable Street & Newport Avenue. Please come prepared with a list, rather than to browse, to make the best use of your time and allow us to move the public through efficiently.

NO BACKPACKS and NO PET ALLOWED other than service animals COME INSIDE FOR THE COMPLETE LIST OF NEW RULES

Here are some of the latest charts on the status of COVID-19 in San Diego County. By time many readers view the above chart, the total cases for the county will be over 9,000.

The number of people in San Diego County who have tested positive for novel coronavirus infection hit 8,998 Thursday, June 11, 161 more than were reported Wednesday, county officials said. Those additional positive tests were among 4,997 that the county received for a positive rate of 3 percent. The 14-day rolling average positive rate remained at 3.1 percent.

Recently – within the context of discussions over the City of San Diego’s plans to bring massive redevelopment to the Midway District on this site – there has been some serious disparagement of the 30 foot height limit, and it’s being blamed for everything from the housing crisis to the lack of affordability at the coast.

So, apparently it’s time, once again, to present some local history – the origins of the 30 foot height limit – and some of the good folks who made it happen.

It all began back in the late Sixties when beach residents began to rebel against a wave of unbridled development occurring at the coast.

By Marjorie Cohn / Truthout / June 1, 2020

The rights of women to terminate their pregnancies and to receive free contraceptives under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are on the chopping block. Those challenges to reproductive freedom are consistent with Trump’s agenda of pandering to the religious right while erasing Barack Obama’s achievements. The Supreme Court will rule on these cases during the month of June.

Burdening the Right to Abortion

Although the Court does not yet have a case that contests the constitutionality of Roe v. Wade, it has the opportunity to chip away at the right to abortion as opponents continue to erect obstacles to reproductive health care. Their strategy is to bring about death of abortion by a thousand cuts.

It now appears that the measure to destroy the 30-foot height limit in the Midway District will appear on the November general election ballot.

Yesterday, June 10, the San Diego City Council’s Rules Committee voted 3 to 2 to endorse a measure that would lift the city’s nearly 50-year old height limit for a 850 acres of the Midway area, land between Interstate 5, Point Loma, Mission Bay Park and San Diego International Airport. The measure the Committee voted on had been sponsored by Councilmembers Dr. Jennifer Campbell – who, of course, represents the Midway area, OB, Point Loma and the rest of District 2 – and Chris Cate. Those of the Committee who voted for the measure include Co

by Ernie McCray

It’s been said
that I preach to the choir
and I pretty much do
day after day,
hour after hour
as the choir
is composed of
my allies,
those who hear
and understand my cries,
eager to eradicate
our country’s
original and everlasting sin:
racism.
Besides who else am I to
preach to other than them?
Yahoos in Klan robes?
Homophobes?
MAGA folks
who bow to a cretin

Until everything’s opened up, or until the OB Town Council continues its “in-person” public meetings, we have to rely on others. Here we are relying on an article by Savanah Duffy of the OB-Point Loma Monthly published on June 4, 2020.

By Savanah Duffy

The reopening of local businesses and other establishments as closures and restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic are eased was a major topic of discussion at the Ocean Beach Town Council’s monthly meeting.

Restaurants were given government approval in May to reopen dine-in service, and retail stores, churches, hair salons and barbershops were allowed to resume in-person services, all with virus-related safety restrictions.

Business leaders gave updates during the May 27 Town Council meeting held via Facebook Live.

Tierrasanta Tipping Point?

By Nat Krieger

“People feel like they don’t have anything to lose. We might die anyway from the virus, so we may as well go all out for justice now.”

Trey is one of about 30 neighborhood folks who have gathered on a traffic island in Tierrasanta in the twilight hours of June 4 to show their support for Black Lives Matter and police reform. An African American about to graduate from Serra High, Trey’s articulation of the ancient wisdom recognizing that confrontations with death can lead to clarity about what counts in life is testament to the reality young people of color are facing as they come of age in this nation.

Trey’s three friends on the island, Mariana, Ezekiel, and Junior all graduated from Serra (just half a block away) last year.

The times have made these young San Diegans grow up fast.