OB Rag

By Frank Gormlie

Claudia Jack – a venerable fixture in a “who’s-who” of the people who make OB run – is definitely THE “Go-to-Woman” of Ocean Beach. If you need something, somebody, or have a question or issue about OB, Claudia’s the woman to see. It was just a couple of months ago that the OB Town Council presented her with their Lifetime Achievement Award for 2014.

By Judi Curry

As I sit here in front of my non-functioning computer for the 5th day in a row, with my hand on my inoperative land line – and cell phone for that matter – I am frustrated beyond words. And to make matters worse even though I am not a television watcher, my television is not working either!

I can’t begin to tell you how many technicians I have talked to at Cox. Each and everyone has been friendly; each and every one has put up with my increasing irritation; each and every one has offered an adjustment on my bill; and all I want is an explanation and to have the damn thing work.

Councilwoman Lorie Zapf voted the Republican Party line on Monday, June 12th, which was to support Republican Mayor Faulconer’s bid for a Special Election. Zapf represents Ocean Beach, Point Loma and much of the beach area in District 2.

Zapf joined the other Republicans on the City Council to oppose a measure that was against holding a special election in November 2017. The final vote tally that day was 5 to 4 against the special election, and Zapf and the other GOP members lost that vote. Yes, the entire Council voted their ‘party lines’, and there’s 5 Democrats on San Diego’s legislative branch. But this is all in the context of some severe partisan actions and reactions going on in city politics of late.

Faulconer’s Veto Likely Dooms the Convention Center Expansion

By Jeeni Criscenzo / San Diego Free Press

June 5 to 9, 2017 will go down in San Diego’s history as the week Mayor Faulconer revealed the Trump wannabe lurking beneath his compassionate conservative disguise – tweets and all! From Monday to Friday, the San Diego mayor’s office went from sending out a press release declaring:

“Our homeless crisis is staggering and the struggles on our streets are growing as more people fall into homelessness. The time to act is now. Lives of so many men, women and children are on the line.”

….to vetoing the teeny line item to fund a half-time consultant to support the newly formed Select Committee on Homelessness.

Last Thursday, June 8th an 8 foot great white shark was reportedly seen in the waters off Coronado, just outside the surf line at Silver Strand State Beach. Lifeguards promptly posted warnings to beachgoers and surfers.

Local observers cannot forget that in April, a woman was bitten by a great white while she swam off San Onofre State Beach. It was during May that lifeguards at Capistrano Beach in Orange County reported more than a dozen great whites at that beach. And in mid-May, Dana Point harbor patrol officers spotted four great whites at the surf line.

Does it seem that San Diego and Southern California ocean waters are becoming more inundated with the great white predators?

Not to worry, say local marine biologists.

The OB Historical Society presents “O.B. Signs Remembered” by Claudia Jack this Thursday, June 15th.

Presenter Claudia Jack has an extensive Ocean Beach sign collection of the community’s most memorable and funny signs we laughed at over the years. She saved many signs that were on the way to being trashed or destroyed.

Claudia will also talk briefly on the importance of community volunteerism. Claudia has often been called, “the mayor of OB” and has been one of the key people in keeping the OB Farmers Market together over the years.

Restaurant Review

Supannee House of Thai
2907 Shelter Island Drive #110
San Diego, CA 92106
619-795-8424
www.sdthai.com

By Judi Curry

It’s been about four years since I last reviewed Supannee House of Thai. A new friend – Marie – suggested that we meet there for lunch and I am glad that we did.

We arrived at 11:45am, and it was already busy. There was a large group of people at one table, and five other tables were already taken. I noticed while we there that there was a steady stream of people coming in for take out as well as dine in. After looking at the extensive menu I could understand why.

. . . and conservative journalism isn’t news journalism

By Bill Adams / San Diego Free Press

Mainstream news media has long been accused of having a “liberal bias.” Some studies have supported this belief. “Liberal bias” may be inherent in news journalism for reasons that aren’t flattering to conservatives.

Defining Liberal and Conservative. While political views are neither immutable nor binary, certain characteristics have remained relatively consistent. Broadly speaking, liberal policies support labor, equality and a strong social safety net, strong public institutions, progressive taxation, diplomacy and the avoidance of military conflict, and protection of the environment.

By Jim Miller

A couple of weeks ago I saw Dead and Company open their tour in Las Vegas. The trip was filled with a bit of personal nostalgia for the many other times I came see the Grateful Dead play two or three show runs there before Jerry Garcia died.

Of course, all of those trips, taken with friends steeped in the larger history of the band, were full of easy, ironic references to Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas where he tells the tale of his own savage journey into the Heart of the American Dream.

Thanks for your patience, everybody!

We didn’t post Monday or Tuesday as we were on a much-needed vacation in the local mountains, and had a cabin up at Mt. Laguna.

But now we’re baaack. Refreshed with new energy but bummed that the news continues to be bad.

At the Ocean Beach Planning Board meeting held Wednesday night, June 7th, the Board quickly approved the only project before it, held a discussion about Bacon Street being turned into a bicycle boulevard, prioritized a list of capital improvements for Ocean Beach, and engaged in a preliminary discussion to formulate input to the city about the new OB lifeguard station.

4628 – 4630 Point Loma Ave

The project up for review at 4628-30 Point Loma Avenue was a condo-conversion of two existing residences. Ryan, representing the owners, said his clients have owned the property since 1979. Because the back house was remodeled in 79 and the front in 2013, there was no actual construction planned, just the conversion of the two into condos. The owners plan to live in one and sell the other.