OB Rag

Update and Time Line of Scandal

By Sara Kent / San Diego Free Press

Six months ago news broke about Sandy Naranjo, a young mother, progressive activist, and passionate labor advocate filing a lawsuit against one of the most powerful men in San Diego.

Mickey Kasparian, President of United Foodservice and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135 was named in the complaint, which included claims of gender discrimination and retaliation she experienced while working at the Union. Kasparian was then also President of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council.

That litigation is ongoing.

Were you in or near OB during the “Summer of Love” in 1967?

If so, we’re looking for you and we’d like to hear your stories of those days. The OB Rag is looking for folks who were in OB – or San Diego – during the famous summer 50 years ago and can share what they experienced during that fabled summer.

The summer of 1967 certainly changed OB. Music, clothing, fads, drugs and a new rebelliousness among the young were the hallmarks of the emerging counter-culture which burst upon the national – and international – scene when the fabled Summer hit. And OB was right there – it became the hippie capital of San Diego, while San Francisco became the hippie capital of the nation.

by Dan Bacher

Responding to President Donald Trump’s decision on June 1 to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, California Governor Jerry Brown immediately issued a bluntly-worded statement condemning the decision.

“Donald Trump has absolutely chosen the wrong course,” said Brown. “He’s wrong on the facts. America’s economy is boosted by following the Paris Agreement. He’s wrong on the science. Totally wrong. California will resist this misguided and insane course of action. Trump is AWOL but California is on the field, ready for battle.”

By Ernie McCray

Jim Comey. My man! I wish I could shake his hand. I mean I’ve got to put aside my deep deep deep disdain for the FBI to give props to a man who has come through with something I’ve so much wanted somebody from a high place to do — call Donald J. Trump out for what he is: a liar. For all the world to hear and see.

Of course he was stating the obvious but it needed to be said just as he said it: out loud – because some of us and the media keep cutting him slack with witty intellectualizing about what a lie really is, how a lie might not be a lie if it wasn’t intended to be a lie. What a lie all of that is.

By Jim Miller

Trump is a train-wreck, I know.

But while the pathetic carnival that is the White House continues to distract and horrify Americans, some hugely important news is getting lost in the din.

Here are a few of the stories that should be getting equal time but have been drowned out by the drama of the Disaster in Chief.

1. American public education is under an unprecedented assault.

Through a combination of budget cuts and calculated policies to encourage rapid and wide-ranging charterization, the Trump administration’s Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is no joke when it comes to seeking to “disrupt” public education and …

Resource List for Help Dealing with Feral and Stray Cats

By South OB Girl

It was two years ago, that I first heard about the feral cat situation or cat hoarding or wild animal infestation in the 4500 block of Coronado Avenue in OB.

Unfortunately it sounds like the issue reared its ugly head again. Which is what happens if food is left out and stray cats are not spayed or neutered. The population of feral -stray cats recently reached a reported number of approximately 50.

Two years ago residents near Coronado and Santa Cruz Avenues, west of Sunset Cliffs Boulevard spoke of an enormous number of cats and a disgusting odor from a residence where the “cat lady” lived that could be smelled even a whole block away.

Today – June 17th, 2017 – is indeed the 45th anniversary of the infamous Watergate break-in.

It was the night of June 17, 1972, that 5 so-called “burglars” were caught red-handed inside the National Democratic Party Headquarters in the Watergate complex in Washington, DC.

But as it turned out, not only did the burglars have CIA and anti-Castro Cuban connections – they also – and most importantly – were being paid out of a slush fund from the Committee to Re-Elect President Nixon, which was managed by the highest officials inside the White House.

The burglary of the Democratic Party’s HQ was just the tip of the iceberg – but it was that tip that eventually led to Nixon’s resignation on August 8th, 1974.

Before an audience of 50 people inside the chapel at the former Methodist Church on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard, Claudia Jack got to show off many of the signs and memorabilia from Ocean Beach that she’s collected over the decades. The show was the monthly public gathering of the OB Historical Society.

After an introduction by the new OBHS president Eric Duvall, Claudia presented slides of many of the signs she has amassed – all kept in her house – and each one with a story. She also had a whole pile of objects from OB’s past.

By Don Sevrens and Jon Linney

Great news! Public workshops are finally scheduled for the pocket park on Avenida de Portugal.

Well, that is half true.

Workshop No. 1 will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday July 26 at the UPSES Social Hall at 2818 Avenida de Portugal. There is ample public parking and ADA access. The United Portuguese graciously agreed to waive the rental fee …

By Jack Doxey / Veterans For Peace

When I pick up people at the San Diego Airport, I enjoy watching their reaction as they see, for the first time, the San Diego skyline. Most are impressed with the breathtaking views at night. The bright lights shine like beacons; especially the Emerald Shapely Building with its elegant architecture and its emerald green sparkling lights. San Diego is, indeed, a beautiful city.

However, there is more to the city than meets the eye. San Diego, for me, conjures up memories of the movie The Wizard of Oz in which Dorothy and her newfound friends skip along the yellow brick road and although they get to visit the castle and the wizard himself, they never get to the Emerald City because it is illusionary. It does not exist.

Volunteer for the OB’s Annual Festival – Saturday, June 24, 2017

It’s the 38th Annual Ocean Beach Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off Festival, and volunteers are still needed.

From OB Mainstreet Association

PLEASE NOTE: Volunteer assignments have been sent to all our registered volunteers!

If you’d still like to lend a last-minute hand, please contact Isabel in the OBMA office (619-224-4906 or isabel@oceanbeachsandiego.com) so we can find a place for you.

Current volunteers, please contact Isabel with any questions about your volunteer service.

Volunteer Information

Major news organizations – including the Washington Post – have announced that President Donald Trump is now under investigation for possible obstruction of justice by special prosecution, Robert Mueller. The Post ran:

The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia’s role in the 2016 election is interviewing senior intelligence officials as part of a widening probe that now includes an examination of whether President Trump attempted to obstruct justice, officials said.