OB Rag

By Jim Miller

There’s been a wave of pushback of late against progressive calls for big structural change. Corporate media pundits and neoliberal Democrats alike have been raising the alarm that America is not ready for bold policy when it comes to economics, healthcare, the environment, or anything else.

At the heart of much of this is the contention that it’s all too expensive and the Republicans will scare suburbanites into voting for Trump with cries of socialism and high taxes. Whatever we do, the argument goes, we need to beat back Warren and Sanders so Mayor Pete, Joe Biden, or maybe even Michael Bloomberg can come in and save the day with a healthy dose of “centrism.”

The old North Chapel at Liberty Station – the focus of much controversy over the last couple of years – will be newly rehabbed and will be revived into “a community gathering space” by its landlord, it was just announced.

The plans to revive North Chapel by 828 Venue Management Company received “federal review and approval by the California State Office of Historic Preservation and the National Park Service,” a press announcement states. Here’s more of a press statement:

By Rick Boyd

I see, “Okay Boomer.” written in social media as a sarcastic dismissal of anyone older than 20 – remarking about anything that bares an air of responsibility, or sense, or even in a shockingly revolutionary form of actual disagreement.

But “okay boomer” is the least of the concern. Words, now banned by the same generation for being insensitive or not politically correct are now flung freely at those of us who would dare express that opposing thought.

Threats come just as quickly but are as empty as their users abilities to back them up. To these social justice warriors who act as our jury and judge. Who scoff and roll their eyes at our words and actions then use the full weight of their followers to shame us for “bullying”, “racism”, or whatever other inappropriate definition chosen as a trigger word they can use to quickly label and dismiss the rest of us.

Editordude: A group called the Electronic Frontier Foundation, EFF, just announced that due to their efforts, San Diego will cease all face recognition programs being used by more than thirty agencies in San Diego County.

In an article posted December 11 by Dave Maass – who used to write for Voice of San Diego – the face recognition system will be suspended on January 1, 2020. Maass called the programs “one of the largest, longest running, and most controversial face recognition programs operated by local law enforcement in the United States.” This is so important, we have to run the full article:

By Dave Maass / Electronic Frontier Foundation

We just stopped one of the largest, longest running, and most controversial face recognition programs operated by local law enforcement in the United States.

There is still a water quality advisory for Dog Beach in Ocean Beach – according to the County’s Department of Environmental Health – due to high bacterial levels. Humans and dogs are advised to avoid any water contact at Dog Beach.

The advisory covers the San Diego River Outlet to 300 yards south. It’s been in effect actually since November 26, 2019.

By OB Rag Staff

The OB Subway shop on Cable Street is indeed closed. In fact the former owner, Maziar Boushehry, wrote a good-bye of sorts on social media, re-posted below. What is coming in to take its place?

Our intrepid reporter walked into the location and saw 4 people reading blueprints. They told him a Thai restaurant was coming in – and they hope to open in February 2020. The owner of the new Thai eatery owns another shop in North Park, called Soi 30th.

By OB Rag Staff

The space at the former Lola Luna had been empty for a long time. The former women’s hip apparel storefront has been closed for years. There were rumors of structural problems with the building.

But someone took it over and installed one of those sliding gates and it’s been tough to figure out what was coming in.

By OB Rag Staff

It’s a sad day for those who loved the Electric Chair and knew Paul and Lynn Bolton the original owners. For the Electric Chair is no more. It’s closed up tight and the banner that proclaimed “New Ownership – Grand Re-Opening Just Days Away” is gone. And there’s a “For Lease” sign on the window. The place is at 4844 Newport Avenue.

The building owners, Lyle and Linda Cocking, are hoping to find the ideal tenant – another salon – to move in, as the place could still be a beauty salon. The space has 1,500 square feet.

A little over a week ago, we reported that the new owners were having a “Grand Re-Opening”.

By OB Rag Staff

Reliable locals told the OB Rag staff that Pepe’s – the Italian restaurant on Sunset Cliffs – has closed for good. It’s been closed for days or even weeks already.

It was just last March that we reported there were new owners – Vanessa Perez and her hubby John – and they promised they’d keep the restaurant the same as the previous owners. Vanessa had deep restaurant connections – her mother owned a Los Angeles restaurant for 12 to 15 years and was the personal chef for George Carlin. Vanessa’s extended family has restaurants in Mexico. And John come to Pepe’s with a lot of restaurant experience – he worked for the Marriott and for Brinker, who owns the Chili’s chain.

From SOS:

In a striking reversal, San Diego Supervisor Jim Desmond withdrew his last-minute proposal to change the ballot question for the Safeguard Our San Diego Countryside Initiative that will appear in the March 2020 election voter guide.

The decision to withdraw the proposed changes was announced at this morning’s Board of Supervisors meeting. Supervisor Desmond’s proposed amendments closely reflected the misleading messaging of the “No on SOS” campaign, which is funded primarily by the Building Industry Association, an advocacy organization for the building industry.

Careful observers of the OB development scene may have been wondering, ‘whatever happened to the commercial project coming in on Voltaire Street?’

It was a year ago almost exactly that the OB Planning Board’s Project Review Committee gave approval to a 2-story, mixed-use commercial project for 4870 Voltaire Street – which is the former Dover Plumbing property next to the Jim Bell property. Mark Brencick was the owner-developer. Brencick was going to demolish the former Dover building and the construct his 2-story, 7,430 square-foot, mixed-use building consisting of 2 for rent dwelling units and 2,380 square feet of commercial space. The dwelling units were designed to have 2 and 3 bedrooms.

“Today, in service to our duty to the Constitution and to our country, the House Committee on the Judiciary is introducing two articles of impeachment, charging the President of the United States Donald J. Trump with committing high crimes and misdemeanors,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said Tuesday morning, December 10. CNN reported:

Democratic leaders announced they will bring two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump, charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress to set in motion the third impeachment of a US president in history.