OB Rag

By Joan McCarter/Daily Kos

On Sunday [April 5], John Oliver had what is easily the most educational and fun half hour of journalism on the surveillance state that you’re ever likely to see, including an interview with Edward Snowden.

Open Letter By Herman Baca – President of Committee on Chicano Rights

April 8, 2015

As the Chicano community and the Chicano Park Steering Committee (CPSC) prepares to celebrate the 45th Anniversary of historic Chicano Park, Ms. Tommie Camarillo, Chairperson of the CPSC, and longtime Chicana activist has raised issues of the U-T’s historical negative reporting of the Chicano community.

Ms. Camarillo responded to a 3-29-15 U-T article on Barrio Logan and accused the U-T reporter of not doing his homework, research and history on Barrio Logan.

By a vote of 7 to 2 on Monday, April 6, the San Diego City Council approved the controversial amended lease agreement for Belmont Park. With only Sherri Lightner of District 1 and David Alvarez of District 8 voting against it, the approved lease covers the long-term operation and maintenance of Belmont Park, Plunge pool, and Giant Dipper, the wooden roller coaster.

District 2’s Lori Zapf voted for it and then later made this statement: …

In a letter to Councilwoman Lori Zapf, the OB Planning Board blasted her for her vote to approve the controversial project One Paseo slated for Carmel Valley. In the letter approved at the Board’s recent April 1st meeting, the Board expressed that it is “extremely disappointed” by her vote.

The letter – dated April 1 – also cites that a number of local planning groups voted to deny the project – a project that was approved by a majority of the Council, and that it “does not meet the requirement of City and local community plans.”

By John Lawrence

Vanuatu is a small island in the Pacific that was effectively wiped out by a Category 5 cyclone. It is emblematic of the plight of small islands at the mercy of global warming.

On March 17, Cyclone Pam swept through the Pacific island nation, an archipelago of over 200 islands located in the South Pacific and home to approximately 270,000 people. Packing winds of up to 155 miles per hour, the cyclone caused widespread devastation.

Californians want immediate action from their government

The citizens of California will not take the drought seriously until they see that their government is taking the drought seriously. Until government at all levels – from the state to the smallest township – shows Californians that it is enacting measures to immediately deal with the drought – now in its 4th year – people in this state won’t face up to the drought themselves.

And until government enacts these 5 measures – at a minimum – , government is not taking the drought seriously: …

Spring Renovations Include Re-Surfaced Gym Floor

By Matthew Wood

This isn’t your grandfather’s Ocean Beach Recreation Center.

Oh sure, it’s the same building that has been on Santa Monica Avenue for the past 60-plus years. But recent renovations have sharpened up the place that gives kids of all ages a chance to, well, be a kid again.

The first thing you’ll notice is a brand-new paint job on the walls, …

By Ernie McCray

A couple of weeks or so ago I dined with a number of friendly folks at a RISE Urban Breakfast Club forum that asked, concerning Community-Police Relations, “Can we build a safer San Diego together?”

The answer seemed to be “Yeah, we can,” …

OB Planning Board Takes a Stand Against Carmel Valley Project

By Lois Lane

On Wednesday, April 1, the Ocean Beach Planning Board had a somewhat mystifying item on the agenda when the opposition to One Paseo, a Carmel Valley project, requested a slot. One Paseo lies in the Northern reaches of the City of San Diego, not quite to Del Mar, at Del Mar Heights Road and El Camino Real. This project was described by Jeff Powers as the largest mixed used project in California without public transit – 608 units.

Many readers liked our “OB”s coolest house” shot – a house almost at surf line on Pescadero that we ran last week.

By Jim Miller

California’s epic drought has finally made its way to the front page. Last week, Jerry Brown signed an executive order mandating the first-ever water restrictions in our state.

At the press conference announcing the move Brown observed that, “People should realize we are in a new era. The idea of your nice little green lawn getting watered every day, those days are past.”

Report on Progress with OB Community Agreement

By Matthew Wood

When CVS moved into the old Appletree Market building at Santa Monica Avenue and Bacon Street, it was with great fanfare – and an equal amount of worry around the community as to whether the store would be a positive for Ocean Beach.