OB Rag

Who says no politicians ever attend our Ocean Beach Town Council meetings? Last night, the monthly gathering was graced by not one, not two – but three politicians and one wannabe politician.

Assemblyman Todd Gloria made a surprise visit. Councilmembers Lorie Zapf and Chris Ward both made presentations to the Council and audience, while Dr Jen Campbell – Democratic candidate for District 2 – reminded everyone she’s in the race. And the OBTC awarded nearly $10,000 in grants to local Ocean Beach and Point Loma community organizations.

Zapf Urges OBceans to Attend “2nd Reading” of New Ordinance Regulating Vacation Rentals on August 1

Thanks to Daniel Powell’s regular column at the San Diego Reader, we have some details of the falls that occurred at No Surf beach and cliffs on the same day earlier this month.

Yeah, unbelievable. Two people fell at No Surf on July 1.

As Powell recounts, a 29 year old woman fell from the cliffs at 3:51 pm – and then less than 6 hours later at 8:14 pm a 20 year old guy fell off the cliffs.

Editordude: On Monday, July 23, we posted a “Reader Rant” by Point Loman Michael Winn entitled, “Peninsula Planners Promote Increased Density in Point Loma”. At the end of his rant, Winn refers to a letter sent by the Board to Councilwoman Lorie Zapf which he criticizes.

Here is a short response by Robert Goldyn, the Chair of the Peninsula Community Planning Board, to Winn’s post:

The Peninsula Community Planning Board would like to respond to a false accusation as stated in this article.

When the San Diego City Council voted by a wide majority on July 16 to regulate short term vacation rentals, it was using the democratic process to resolve an issue that has been plaguing the city and especially the beach and coastal neighborhoods for years. By a vote of 6 to 3, the bi-partisan majority vote saved coastal residences for long-term renters.

Yet, immediately, the Airbnb crowd cried foul, threatening legal suits – and more against the vote – which has to be confirmed on Wednesday, August 1 in a so-called “second reading” of the ordinance. The second reading will be at 1PM in the Council Chambers at 202 C Street, 12th floor.

So, now Airbnb, HomeAway, and local STVR operators are planning “an all-out assault” against the regulations just passed coming up for that second reading. One owner of a local mini-empire of vacation rentals has called for a “firestorm of anger” to be unleashed at the City Council meeting.

It’s time for straight talk. The American nation had a moment of Epiphany during Trump’s Helsinki press conference a week ago while he stood next to a smirking Russian dictator. Our president’s collusion with Putin and the Kremlin government was open for all to see.

Let’s not mince words. Trump and Putin had a 2-hour secret meeting and made some kind of agreements and then Trump openly supported the Kremlin version of things and denied the analysis of Russian intervention and credibility of the US national security networks.

This is treasonous.

And the answer to this treason is impeachment. But the only why we’re going to have Trump impeached is with a mass movement for his impeachment.

That’s right, kids! This is a contest for the slogan for the next freeway banner put up by the OB Resister Sisters.

For months and months, the OB Resister Sisters have been hanging freeway banners on San Diego roadways – and now they’re on a little break.

But to welcome them back – they’ve agreed to go with this exclusive OB Rag contest – and put up the winning message – that they pick.

So – send us your ideas for a cool and timely banner. There’s really no rules, except this:

By Geoff Page

The controversy over the Famosa property was alive and kicking at the Peninsula Community Planning Board’s July 19 meeting. This is the parcel of land bordered by Nimitz and Famosa Blvds. across the street from the Bill Cleator Park.

There are basically two sides to the issue.

On the one side is the San Diego Housing Commission that is planning to build 78 units of some kind of affordable housing.

On the other side is the community that wants it to remain open space or parkland.

The connections between San Diego’s Comic-Con and Ocean Beach are not that generally understood and appreciated.

But in fact, two of the founders of Comic-Con were from OB.

Sheldon Dorf and Ken Krueger were both co-founders and present at the very beginning of what’s become one of San Diego’s leading annual cultural events.

Krueger and Dorf met in early 1970. Kruegar was owner of Alert Books here in OB. The two, with a group of teen-aged fans, organized the first Golden State Comic Con, held Aug. 1-3, 1970, at the U.S. Grant Hotel.

By Michael Winn

Peninsula Community Planning Board is tacitly promoting densification, expressed in this letter to Councilmember Lorie Zapf.

The board voted to send it as if on the behalf of all Peninsulans, certainly without our consent and/or knowledge or debate. Present board members, most of whom were elected by less than 200 of their friends, weigh in about whether projects are compliant with our Community Plan. Elected by a couple hundred residents (hopefully), it doesn’t reflect the political will of a community of 80,000 souls.

This letter, however, oversteps their authority.

By Geoff Page

Concern by Planning Group of Status of Community Plan

The Midway/Pacific Highway Community Planning Group’s biggest concern, during its regular monthly meeting July 18, was its community plan, specifically, pushing it over the finish line.

The plan was supposed to go to city council in June, but it was delayed by questions from the city council’s Smart Growth and Land Use Committee over mobility issues.

The Land Use Committee met on May 21. The following results are from the minutes on the City’s website:

The OB Town Council will be hosting its usual monthly meeting on Wednesday, July 25, from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. The meeting will be at the
Masonic Lodge, 1711 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107,