OB Rag

By OB Rag and San Diego Free Press Editors

We anticipate that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will visit San Diego during the California presidential primary campaign.

We at the OB Rag and San Diego Free Press will join with other San Diegans during his campaign stops in our city in expressing our adamant opposition to the racist, xenophobic and misogynist policies espoused by Trump.

And we join in solidarity with those whom Trump has targeted. Upon Trump’s arrival in San Diego, we want to join with others protesting his policies and we will support any and all of those who express their opposition through various forms of non-violent and civil-disobedient direct actions.

OB Historical Society Presents

In 1887 Billy Carlson and Frank Higgins, a couple of the first early developers and land speculators renamed “Mussel Beds” to “Ocean Beach”.

They were also were linked to numerous scandals. To name a few: land deals, an O.B. hotel and trains. Later Carlson became San Diego’s youngest Mayor and ended up going to prison for tax fraud, while Higgins became a tragic figure.

Some still credit these two characters as the founders of O.B. but more thoughtful historians, such as name Charles Collier as OB’s true founder.

This Thursday, April 21, 7 pm at P.L. United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B., the OBHS presents “The Carlson & Higgins O.B. Scandals” By Bruce Semelsberger.

Come inside for more history of OB …

Police have released a photo of the driver.

Council Committee Ignores Community Alliance’s Call for Subpoena Powers

By Hugh Moore

The San Diego City Council Charter Review Committee met yesterday, Wednesday, April 20 and voted to submit for approval to the full City Council a Charter Amendment recommended by the Public Safety & Livable Neighborhoods Committee.

The recommended amendment changes the name of the Citizens Review Board on Police Practices (CRB), mandates that all police involved deaths be reviewed by the board, and gives the Mayor and City Council joint authority over the board.

However, these are only cosmetic changes, according to Martha Sullivan – member of Women Occupy of San Dieg – and do nothing to improve the CRB’s ability to actually investigate a complaint about the police department.

OB Green Center

Annual Anniversary Celebration Fundraiser- Sat., April 23rd

Come help the OB Green Center Celebrate Earth Day
& 27 Years of Environmental, Peace, and Social Justice Activism!

Saturday April 23, 2016
2:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

There will be music & speakers, refreshments & raffle. It’s a Great Community Event!
Honoring co-founders: Colleen Dietzel & Kip Krueger;

… for celebration schedule, see inside …

Billboard:

Prince died earlier today (April 21) at age 57 at his Paisley Park home and studio, his publicist confirmed to the Associated Press. TMZ first reported the news.

Prince was hospitalized last week after his plane for was forced to make an emergency landing in Moline, Ill. Released a few hours later, a rep told TMZ that he had been battling a bad case of the flu.

One of the most iconic musicians in music history, Prince’s extensive career grew out of the music scene of his native Minneapolis, where he lived his entire life. His 1978 debut album For You and self-titled second LP, released in October 1979, kicked off an incredibly prolific run of albums that included 1999, Purple Rain, Around The World In A Day, Sign O The Times and Batman, among others, throughout the 1980s at a clip of nearly one per year, evolving with each release.

It was 1984’s Purple Rain — his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 -,,,

By South OB Girl

What is up with the news recently, Point Loma?

Bomb Threats at Pt Loma High Linked to Online Gaming Group

First the bomb threat at Point Loma High School last Wednesday, April 1th. Which was the third bomb threat made against PLHS this month (threats were also made on April 5 and 6).
According to San Diego police, the teen was linked to an online gaming group that made bomb threats – often called “swatting” – in five other states including Georgia, Michigan, Massachusetts, Texas and Illinois.

Attempted Abduction of Woman Student from Nazarene Jogging on Moana

Then the attempted abduction of a young woman on Thursday, April 14 near Point Loma Nazarene University. …

Ye Ol’OB Hippie Speaks

It seems rather fitting, doesn’t it, that today we celebrate the last 420 before recreational marijuana is legalized in California? It’s on the November election ballot – (a bunch of other different initiatives are trying for the ballot). But by all polls and tokens, marijuana legalization, in some form or rather, is expected to pass.

The last time weed legalization was on the California ballot, it was Prop 19 – the marijuana legalization initiative on the November 2010 ballot. It lost, 53.5% to 46.5%, but more people voted for Prop 19 than voted for the Republican candidate for governor – Meg Whitman. Remember her?

Since then, all kinds of polls show Americans increasingly favoring legalization. Majorities of Americans, in fact, have favored legalization for 3 years already.

Adult Use of Marijuana Act

Has the City squirreled away millions of dollars in off-budget funds which could be used for affordable housing and housing for the homeless?

By Katheryn Rhodes and John Lawrence

In the City of Palo Alto, if you make less than $250,000 a year, you’re eligible for a housing subsidy. The city council has voted to study a housing proposal that would essentially subsidize new housing for what qualifies as middle-class nowadays, families making from $150,000 to $250,000 a year.

Here in San Diego, the situation is not much better as teachers, police and government workers cannot afford to live in the city they work in. So if middle class, college educated professionals can’t afford to live here, how can anyone else lower on the economic ladder afford to live here either? In particular, those on the bottom most rung, the homeless, can’t even afford a foot in the door.

* OB Pier Surf Classic on April 30th

* Meanwhile, Still Time for Art at Pier’s 50th Birthday Celebration

* Frank Gormlie to Speak on “Hippies in OB” – Sat., April 30th – at OB Library

* O.B. Reggae Band Remembers Patrolling Iran with New Single, “Black Line”

* Jessops Project Battles Point Loma Grassroots Group

AND MUCH MORE INSIDE ….

Editor: The following open letter to the San Diego City Charter Committee was accompanied by this urgent call for action from Martha Sullivan:

This Wednesday, April 20th, at 9am is our last chance to convince the City Council Charter Review Committee to recommend our CRB Reform Ballot Proposal be put on the November Ballot. It’s Item 1 on the agenda – come to the 12th Floor Council Committee Room in City Hall. Allow time for parking and to get through the ground floor security screening.

See our latest letter to the Charter Review Committee following — and come on Wednesday morning to support more independence, transparency and accountability for civilian police review:

By Steven Rosenfeld / Alternet

Thousands of protesters from across America descended on the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court on Monday, where hundreds of pro-democracy activists were arrested for blocking Congress’ doorstep and loud crowds of young people, undocumented familes, and immigration advocates rallied at the Court.

The action was a stunning display of a growing and vibrant progressive spectrum, reflecting a determination to work together on a range of justice issues that define much of what’s wrong with America’s political system.

The day began together, with thousands filling a nearby park for early morning speeches, prayers and pledges to protest non-violently.