OB Rag

Back in January, Frank Gormlie wrote this piece for the OB Rag, entitled:

“It’s time for Lifeguard Ed Harris to Jump in and Rescue Residents of San Diego City Council District 2″

I was humbled by Frank’s opinion and proud that he had the courage to share his controversial thoughts, despite the fact that he might make enemies.

Obviously, I did not agree with him 100% and I did not enter the race. It is my belief that there comes a time when leaders must step back and allow others to move forward. I believe it is time for younger leaders with new energy and new ideas to take control of their future and the future of their generation.

The March for the Ocean is promoting a rapid transition from drilling and spilling to clean, job-generating renewable energy.

By David Helvarg and Bill McKibben / The Nation

Summer beckons—and with it, the season’s first trip to the beach, which remains the number-one outdoor recreational activity for Americans of all classes and ideologies. It may be one of the last truly nonpartisan activities we do together.

But thousands will come out of the water on June 9 for the first ever March for the Ocean—and that should be nonpartisan too.

Today in Spring Valley – an unincorporated community of San Diego County – sheriff deputies raided an unlicensed marijuana dispensary on Troy Street. This effort demonstrates that the war against pot continues in this area of California.

Twenty-two years after the voters of California legalized medical cannabis and a year and half after voters over the state voted to legalize recreational marijuana, the County of San Diego pushes on against the will of the people, cracking down on pot shops.

The current crop of County supervisors voted in March 2017 to prohibit any marijuana operations in the unincorporated areas of the County and phase out existing ones.

New Police Chief David Nesleit Visits OBTC

The audience at the Ocean Beach Town Council last night, Wednesday, May 23, was graced with the presence of San Diego’s new police chief and heard all about how to help the OB Parrots, in particular, why Spring is the worse time to trim trees.

Fairly early in the meeting at the Masonic Center, Chief Nesleit swept in and addressed the meeting – and was warmly welcomed. Nesleit, a 30-year veteran of the SDPD, was captain of the Western Division – the Division OB is in – for “105 days” he said to some laughter. Some of us recall those days when it seemed like that position was being constantly rotated to someone new.

Looks Like It’s Too Late to Complain – Or Is It?

Perhaps passersby thought it was just one more of the other construction and real estate signs hanging on the chainlink fence that surrounds the unfinished skeleton of the Ocean Beach Plaza.

But there it was.

An application for a liquor license. Geez, the place isn’t even built yet and they’re already trying to get the crucial permission from the ABC.

Did you think Papa Doug was gone?

If you did, think again, for Doug Manchester is roaring back after disembarking from the good-ship Union-Tribune, and is about to install his latest and largest implant on San Diego yet. The shovels and cranes are about to start digging – for it’s Papa Doug’s Pacific Gateway project – a massive redevelopment of the Navy Complex at the foot of Broadway in downtown San Diego.

Lori Weisberg at the San Diego Union-Tribune calls it,”the single largest and costliest project in downtown San Diego history.”

Manchester, one of the kingpins of the San Diego hotel industry,

A class-action suit against the City of San Diego by a group of disabled homeless challenging the enforcement of parking laws that prevent homeless people from living and sleeping in recreational vehicles is winding its way through Federal court.

The suit was filed in November 2017 by 9 homeless men and women who say they have no other housing option except to live in their RVs – which forces them to park overnight in city parks or streets. Their disabilities make them unable to afford rent and that homeless shelters are unsuitable for the disabled.

Their lawsuit demands that the city immediately stop citing disabled people under its long-standing vehicle habitation ordinance and its relatively new RV ordinance. The RV ordinance, enforced by the city in 2014, prohibits such vehicles from parking on any San Diego city street or in any public parking lot between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m.

Reflecting on my 80 years I find myself still dreaming of a better world. Not some “Kumbaya” singing fantasy world, but one where people, at the very least, try to find ways to understand and appreciate each other. A loving world.

But that was not the dream of my generation. Getting our hands dirty in pursuit of a world where concepts like “peace and justice and equality” rang true, just wasn’t something we cared to do.

We were called the “Silent Generation”

Please join the Ocean Beach Town Council at their next meeting, Wednesday, May 23, where they will be discussing the OB Parrots and ways in which the community can support these beautiful and unique residents of Ocean Beach.

In particular the discussion will examine the City’s springtime tree-trimming policy, which often endangers parrot nests.

Ceviche House
2415 San Diego Avenue
Old Town.

Bright Flavors at Ceviche House in Old Town

by Bob Edwards

It’s hard to find a good new restaurant to review in the Beach Area. Although it seems like there’s one or two restaurants opening every month, I find that most are boring and predictable or just don’t provide the quality cooking that inspires me to do a review.

I ate three meals at a seafood place in Point Loma recently, took a ton of photos, and started writing about it a few times and finally gave up.

Editordude Note: The following is an interview with our friend, OBcean Gio Ingolia, who sits on the powerful Mission Bay Park Committee, via email.

Question: Gio –I know you’ve been involved in Ocean Beach for many years as a community volunteer, on the OB Planning Board and the OB Town Council. Can you give a brief history of some of the roles you’ve taken on, things you’ve done, positions you’ve occupied?

Answer: I served on the Ocean Beach Planning board for 8 years. This included 4 years as vice chair, and the chair for 2 years. …I co-chaired (2 yrs.) the Ocean Beach Community Plan Sub-Committee, along with Mindy Pelissier. Currently I sit on the Ocean Beach Town Council.

San Diego Housing Commission Met With Many Questions From Community Members
By Geoff Page

Once again, the Peninsula Community Planning Board’s regular monthly meeting May 19 provided entertainment value for those who attended. And, this time, it was also an excellent illustration of what a planning board is meant to be.

The controversy over that piece of open land off Famosa Blvd. across from Cleator Park more or less erupted. The often heated discussion took up about an hour and a half of the meeting, far longer than originally intended.