OB Rag

by: Amber Coakley / Fox5 San Diego / May 31, 2026 

A new report released by San Diego Coastkeeper is raising concerns about ongoing water quality issues in Mission Bay, finding that pollution levels remain persistently high in several creek systems that flow into one of the region’s most popular recreational waterways.

The nonprofit environmental agency group published its 2025 Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Report last week, detailing two years of monthly water quality testing at 10 locations throughout Mission Bay. The findings point to both storm-related pollution and year-round contamination sources affecting the bay, particularly at Rose Creek and Tecolote Creek.

According to the report, bacteria levels surged across all monitoring sites following rainstorms. However, researchers found that both of the creeks consistently recorded elevated bacteria counts even during dry weather conditions, exceeding state recreation safety standards at least half of the time.

Environmental advocates say those findings suggest chronic pollution sources may be contributing to water quality problems.

By Theodoric Meyer and  Mariana Alfaro / Washington Post / June 3, 2026

The House passed a resolution Wednesday to block President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran, ratcheting up pressure on the administration to find a way to end the unpopular war.

The 215-208 vote marked the first time that such a measure has cleared the House or Senate on a final vote since the start of the conflict more than three months ago. The Senate advanced a similar resolution last month on a procedural vote, reflecting growing impatience with a war Congress hasn’t authorized.

The effort faces sizable hurdles, however, before Congress could force Trump to end hostilities.

In the House, four Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Tom Barrett (Michigan), Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania) — joined Democrats in voting to force Trump to end the war.

Help Artist and Point Loma Native Jim Welch Complete His Mural on Nimitz Off Ramp – GoFundMe Set Up

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By Geoff Page

In the midst of all the bad news inundating us these days, it is nice to have something positive to report on once in a while. This brief account is intended to bring some attention, and hopefully some help, to the on-going work of art along the Nimitz to Famosa exit ramp retaining wall.

A bright, colorful, a 150-foot long coastal scene greets drivers to the right as they exit Nimitz to Famosa.  It is beautifully done, as the pictures will show. It is the work of one man, Point Loma native Jim Welch.

Help Make Sure Gloria’s “Homes for All of Us” Includes “All of Us”

By Paul Krueger

The Mayor’s Planning Department is hosting a June 9 “community input” meeting on his “Homes for All of Us” initiative on Tuesday, June 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the Malcolm X Library at 5148 Market Street in Valencia Park.

If you care about the impact of new housing development on your community, please plan on attending. And be prepared to cut through the bureaucratic spin by asking pointed questions.

Gloria says Homes for All of Us “…will create clear pathways to build townhomes, duplexes, and small-scale multiple homes … and provide more homeownership opportunities.”

Such a program would be a positive step towards providing much-needed for-sale housing, as opposed to the high-rise, cookie-cutter, $2,750/month studio and one-bedroom apartments (with no parking) that are blighting our neighborhoods.

But there’s a very real danger that this potentially valuable initiative will morph into yet another program that serves developer and investor interests by ignoring community input,

With the clarity of the morning after, the California Primary results of 2026 show that Xavier Becerra — the top Democrat in the slugfest that was the gubernatorial race — will be the first Mexican-American to be elected governor of the state. This will be the first time since 1846 when the last Mexican governor, Pio Pico, fled to Baja as American military forces swarmed into Alta California after war between the U.S. and Mexico began.

A bold assertion? Just look at the numbers. Steve Hilton, the top Republican, received 27.8% of the total vote to Becerra’s 25.4%. But if one adds up the percentages for Tom Steyer, Katie Porter and Mike Mahan — you get 28.3%, and coupled with Becerra’s, you have 53.7% of the vote available for Xavier. That smashes Hilton even with Bianco’s numbers — a total of 39.1%. (A Republican has not won a state-wide race in California for years.)

Absent some unforeseen upset or crisis or calamity, Becerra will journey to the General Election in November — and win it.

This victory 6 months away will result in the first Mexican-American elected as governor for California — the first time since the state has been in the Union.

Election day and night are over and it’s now clear who will advance to the General Election in District 2: Nicole Crosby with 31.3% and Richard Bailey with 38.8%.

The two other top vote-getters were Josh Coyne with 11.3% and Mandy Havlik with 10.5%.

Here’s the latest numbers from the Registrar of Voters — with nearly 25% of the ballots counted:

by Katheryn Rhodes

On June 10th of this year, the California Coastal Commission will hear the case of Coastal Development Permit (CDP) 6-26-0202 (Item w17c-6-2026) to revise vehicle parking restrictions at 35 Coastal Public Parking Lots and public access areas with a consolidated CDP.

These consist of approximately 9,255 off-street parking spaces the City manages, including parking lots from Sunset Cliffs to the Torrey Pines Gliderport, and beach and bay access in Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay Park, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla.

By Scott Lewis / Voice of San Diego / June 1, 2026

A campaign text message hit phones Friday with a striking claim: “No more overdevelopment! Richard Bailey will stop the Midway Rising mega-development, limit ADUs, and stop city hall politicians from destroying our communities.”

The mailer was paid for by Steven Richter, the resident who poured money into an effort to support Larry Turner for mayor in 2024,

This was interesting because we’ve tracked Bailey on Midway Rising for months now and, while he was at first saying pretty harsh things about it, he seemed to be settling into a it’s-not-my-favorite-but-what-are-you-going-to-do message.

City News Service – Patch San Diego / June 1, 2026

A 37-year-old unidentified woman suspected in a DUI crash in Ocean Beach Friday, May 29, that left her and three people in the other vehicle injured was arrested.

San Diego Police Department officers responded at 3:55 p.m. Friday to Ebers Street and Bermuda Avenue where the suspect, who was driving a 2009 Mazda 6 eastbound on Bermuda Avenue, failed to stop for the stop sign at Ebers Street and struck the left rear of a Chevrolet Bolt, which was driven by a 42-year-old man.

San Diego Gas & Electric wants to lay down a 140-mile, 500-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line that would cut through California’s largest state park, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. They call it the Golden Pacific Powerlink and it would run from the Imperial Valley to the Orange County border.

The proposed line has also sparked massive opposition from environmentalists and local communities who are strongly against the overhead route. They are demanding the project be entirely rerouted away from protected environments and population centers.

Opposition to the line is lead by the Anza-Borrego Foundation, which is fighting to keep the lines out of California’s largest state park. Opponents point out that a previous proposal (the 2008 Sunrise Powerlink) was rejected for its park path, and warn that nearly 200-foot-tall towers would ruin dark skies, impact endangered bighorn sheep, and destroy fragile cryptobiotic soils.

Rag Writer Signed Up for Nonpartisan Voter Assistance

By JW August

3:18 p.m.  Kearny Mesa Rec Center

Much more activity compared with other stops.  Can’t say if it’s the time of day or location. All 5 check in spots are busy. Small line of voters on occasion.

My Common Cause Partner Jo Curcio is watching the check in desk. Monitoring the exchanges. They all have praise for the county registrars hotline

Site manager Olena tells me her parents were from the Ukraine.  She speaks passionately about the war and its toll.   “They are dying, they want to be able to vote as we do.” To be able to vote.

One poll worker smiled and nodded “we are ready for November. Hope the country is.”

2:27 p.m. San Diego – At Islamic Center of San Diego

When we arrived it looked like election day coverage as its supposed to be. Lots of people moving around.

But then I find out their midday service just ended.

Nearly 100,000 Impacted in San Diego County; 665,000 in California

New federal rules will go into effect Monday, requiring some San Diego County residents who receive CalFresh food benefits to meet work or volunteer requirements to get or keep benefits.

State-wide, the updated CalFresh work rules impact approximately 840,000 recipients, with state officials estimating that up to 665,000 Californians are at risk of losing their food benefits if they do not meet the new requirements.

The updated federal rules apply to certain Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents, or ABAWDs, who are applying for or renewing CalFresh benefits. Those affected are individuals who:

• Are between 18 and 64 years old;
• Are not living with a child under 14;
• Do not meet a federal exemption;
• Are physically and mentally able to work; and
• Are not pregnant or disabled.