OB Rag — Grassroots and Progressive views on local, national and world news

Compost and Mulch Giveaway — Dusty Rhodes Park June 6

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 01:03:25 +0200

Appeals Court Blocks Massive Fanita Ranch in Santee: Rules City and Developer Pushed Project Through Despite Knowing It Violated Laws

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:37:30 +0200

Developer HomeFed's 3,000+ Project Halted After Its Appeal Denied

by Dorian Hargrove / Times of San Diego / June 4, 2026 An appellate court on Thursday denied an appeal from the developer looking to build a massive, 3,008-home project in Santee known as Fanita Ranch. In the ruling, the appellate court said that the city of Santee and developer HomeFed pushed the project through despite knowing it violated state planning and environmental laws. The ruling now puts the massive residential development, which was first proposed in 2017, on hold, once again, and likely for good, barring any petition to the California Supreme Court. The appellate court judges found Santee and HomeFed improperly tried to push the project through without the city amending its General Plan. The plan had allowed for the construction of 1,395 homes on 2,638 acres in Northern Santee.

Name, Image, Likeness at the White House

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:16:55 +0200

By Steve Rodriguez Preface

Major college sports are dominated by the concept of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL), which allows student-athletes to control how their name, image or likeness is commercially used. Since 2021, college athletes have been allowed to monetize their personal brand without losing a scholarship or team eligibility. In many cases, star athletes can make millions of dollars.

However, one gets the impression NIL at the White House means the current President of the United States aggressively seeks like a king of old to unashamedly stamp his name, image and likeness on numerous objects, institutions and concepts as a way of signaling success and legitimizing his legacy. Proposing his own image be placed on a commemorative two hundred and fifty dollar bill – though federal law bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency – is just one example.

Name, Image, Likeness at the White House

Plaster his face on a two-fifty note? Name, Image, Likeness goes beyond game day. Needy king keeps weighty ego afloat.

Shelter Island Continues as Major Center for San Diego’s Waterfront Culture

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:01:50 +0200

By Katherine Clements / the Log / June 4, 2026 Tucked along the north end of San Diego Bay near Point Loma, Shelter Island continues to serve as one of the region’s most active centers for recreational boating, marine services, and waterfront culture. While longtime boaters still recognize the area for its marinas, sportfishing fleet, and working waterfront atmosphere, the harbor district continues evolving through new upgrades, changing boating trends, and increasing demand for marine services tied to modern boating lifestyles. For many boaters, Shelter Island functions as far more than a place to dock a vessel. It has become a full-service boating ecosystem where owners can outfit, repair, provision, upgrade, launch, and maintain their boats within just a few blocks of one another. That concentration of marine businesses continues making Shelter Island one of the busiest boating corridors in San Diego Bay. Recent years have brought growing interest in electronics upgrades, stabilization systems, lithium battery conversions, modern navigation equipment, and comfort-oriented improvements designed to support longer stays aboard. Local marine businesses increasingly are seeing boaters invest not only in performance and reliability, but also in onboard livability. As more owners use their vessels for extended cruising, overnight trips, and remote work flexibility, demand has expanded for upgraded interiors, refrigeration systems, air conditioning, solar integration, and connectivity improvements.

Sitting Shiva for my Beloved Country, America

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 21:33:45 +0200

By Sam Halpern In the Hebrew tradition, when a family member dies, first order relatives (husbands, wives, children, brothers, sisters etc.) mourn for seven days (Shiva means seven) beginning with the day of the deceased’s death. This is the first part of a mourning process which extends to about a year. I am a secular Jew, and the last of my generation died long ago. With so many gone, for whom would I sit Shiva? That brings me to my country, America. In a way, America is like a beloved family member for me. America took my young parents in, made them citizens, and I was born in this great land. She has given me a home, safety, freedom, a good life. I cannot believe how lucky I have been. My family has risen from sharecroppers to property owners, and in one generation, has allowed one of their children to become a professor at one of the great teaching institutions of the world.

Primary Results and Recent Poll Show San Diego Establishment Just How Unhappy People Are with City Hall

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:23:30 +0200

Reporter David Garrick at the Union-Tribune today wrote an article entitled, "Public displeasure with San Diego City Hall boils over in early election results." He wrote that the primary results "show notable voter backlash against San Diego City Hall, with outsiders leading in three out of four council races as some well-funded insiders struggled and incumbents fared worse than usual." He's right, of course, as 'public displeasure' with City Hall has been building dramatically over this last year or two. All one has to do to survey this building displeasure -- or even rage -- is to peruse the pages of the OB Rag. From the devastating San Diego extremist rules for bonus ADUs, the increased fees for paid parking, the trash fee debacle to the paid parking in Balboa Park quagmire, the budget crisis and threats to libraries and rec centers, the cuts to arts funding, to the general sense by the San Diego public that city hall is trying to "nickel and dime" them to death. This "displeasure" with downtown San Diego political leaders has finally surfaced in results that the establishment can recognize -- voting tabulations and results.

‘We’re Fighting Mass Surveillance Tech — and Winning’

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 20:06:47 +0200

By Dave Maass / Electronic Frontier Foundation EFF / June 2, 2026 People around the world are pushing back against the mass surveillance that undermines privacy and free expression for everyone. One of the people who joined the fight for digital rights is EFF client Will Freeman. Will created the website DeFlock.me to reveal the dangers of automated license plate readers (ALPRs)—cameras that collect location data on every vehicle they see and upload that to a massive nationwide police database. Deflock.me turns the tables by enlisting ordinary people to track the locations of tens of thousands of ALPR cameras. But when the police spy-tech company Flock Safety went after Will's website with legal threats citing trademark law, he saw it for what it was: an attempt to silence critics and dim the light on mass surveillance.

Public Service Announcement: ‘Save a Life. Lock Up Your Gun’

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:51:20 +0200

100th Graduating Class at Point Loma High Includes 383 Students

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:46:37 +0200

by Scott Hopkins / Times of San Diego / June 3, 2026 The sun shone brightly as the 100th graduating class of Point Loma High School was presented with diplomas during a 5 p.m. ceremony on May 28. But along with the solar glow came mischievous gusty winds that sent some caps flying off the heads of Class of 2026 members. While it was the final event for the 383 students, it was also the end of a 34-year career for Principal David Jaffe who was applauded enthusiastically by his final class.

New Coastkeeper Report: ‘Chronic High Pollution Levels in Mission Bay Creeks’

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 19:30:57 +0200

by: Amber Coakley / Fox5 San Diego / May 31, 2026 A new report released by San Diego Coastkeeper is raising concerns about ongoing water quality issues in Mission Bay, finding that pollution levels remain persistently high in several creek systems that flow into one of the region’s most popular recreational waterways. The nonprofit environmental agency group published its 2025 Mission Bay Water Quality Monitoring Report last week, detailing two years of monthly water quality testing at 10 locations throughout Mission Bay. The findings point to both storm-related pollution and year-round contamination sources affecting the bay, particularly at Rose Creek and Tecolote Creek. According to the report, bacteria levels surged across all monitoring sites following rainstorms. However, researchers found that both of the creeks consistently recorded elevated bacteria counts even during dry weather conditions, exceeding state recreation safety standards at least half of the time. Environmental advocates say those findings suggest chronic pollution sources may be contributing to water quality problems.

For First Time Under Trump, Congress Exerts Its War Powers Authority — House Passes Bill to Block Further Strikes on Iran

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:39:52 +0200

By Theodoric Meyer and Mariana Alfaro / Washington Post / June 3, 2026 The House passed a resolution Wednesday to block President Donald Trump from ordering further strikes on Iran, ratcheting up pressure on the administration to find a way to end the unpopular war. The 215-208 vote marked the first time that such a measure has cleared the House or Senate on a final vote since the start of the conflict more than three months ago. The Senate advanced a similar resolution last month on a procedural vote, reflecting growing impatience with a war Congress hasn’t authorized. The effort faces sizable hurdles, however, before Congress could force Trump to end hostilities. In the House, four Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (Kentucky), Tom Barrett (Michigan), Warren Davidson (Ohio) and Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania) — joined Democrats in voting to force Trump to end the war.

‘Mural, Mural, On the Wall – Who’s the Luckiest Off Ramp of Them All?’

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 21:11:28 +0200

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Help Out Artist and Point Loma Native Jim Welch Complete His Mural on Nimitz Off Ramp

By Geoff Page In the midst of all the bad news inundating us these days, it is nice to have something positive to report on once in a while. This brief account is intended to bring some attention, and hopefully some help, to the on-going work of art along the Nimitz to Famosa exit ramp retaining wall. A bright, colorful, a 150-foot long coastal scene greets drivers to the right as they exit Nimitz to Famosa. It is beautifully done, as the pictures will show. It is the work of one man, Point Loma native Jim Welch.

Planning Dept. Holding Community Input on Mayor Gloria’s ‘Homes for All of Us’ — Be There to Ask Questions – Tues. June 9th

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 20:39:13 +0200

Help Make Sure Gloria's "Homes for All of Us" Includes "All of Us" By Paul Krueger The Mayor's Planning Department is hosting a June 9 "community input" meeting on his "Homes for All of Us" initiative on Tuesday, June 9, at 5:30 p.m. at the Malcolm X Library at 5148 Market Street in Valencia Park. If you care about the impact of new housing development on your community, please plan on attending. And be prepared to cut through the bureaucratic spin by asking pointed questions. Gloria says Homes for All of Us "...will create clear pathways to build townhomes, duplexes, and small-scale multiple homes ... and provide more homeownership opportunities." Such a program would be a positive step towards providing much-needed for-sale housing, as opposed to the high-rise, cookie-cutter, $2,750/month studio and one-bedroom apartments (with no parking) that are blighting our neighborhoods. But there's a very real danger that this potentially valuable initiative will morph into yet another program that serves developer and investor interests by ignoring community input,

Xavier Beccera Will Be the First Mexican-American Elected as Governor of California Since Pio Pico — the Last Mexican Governor in 1846

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:23:02 +0200

With the clarity of the morning after, the California Primary results of 2026 show that Xavier Becerra -- the top Democrat in the slugfest that was the gubernatorial race -- will be the first Mexican-American to be elected governor of the state. This will be the first time since 1846 when the last Mexican governor, Pio Pico, fled to Baja as American military forces swarmed into Alta California after war between the U.S. and Mexico began. A bold assertion? Just look at the numbers. Steve Hilton, the top Republican, received 27.8% of the total vote to Becerra's 25.4%. But if one adds up the percentages for Tom Steyer, Katie Porter and Mike Mahan -- you get 28.3%, and coupled with Becerra's, you have 53.7% of the vote available for Xavier. That smashes Hilton even with Bianco's numbers -- a total of 39.1%. (A Republican has not won a state-wide race in California for years.) Absent some unforeseen upset or crisis or calamity, Becerra will journey to the General Election in November -- and win it. This victory 6 months away will result in the first Mexican-American elected as governor for California -- the first time since the state has been in the Union.

It Will be Nicole Crosby vs. Richard Bailey in District 2

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:56:15 +0200

Election day and night are over and it's now clear who will advance to the General Election in District 2: Nicole Crosby with 31.3% and Richard Bailey with 38.8%. The two other top vote-getters were Josh Coyne with 11.3% and Mandy Havlik with 10.5%. Here's the latest numbers from the Registrar of Voters -- with nearly 25% of the ballots counted:

Changes Coming to Coastal Parking Lots

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:58:24 +0200

by Katheryn Rhodes On June 10th of this year, the California Coastal Commission will hear the case of Coastal Development Permit (CDP) 6-26-0202 (Item w17c-6-2026) to revise vehicle parking restrictions at 35 Coastal Public Parking Lots and public access areas with a consolidated CDP. These consist of approximately 9,255 off-street parking spaces the City manages, including parking lots from Sunset Cliffs to the Torrey Pines Gliderport, and beach and bay access in Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay Park, Pacific Beach, and La Jolla.

Voice of San Diego: ‘No, Richard Bailey Won’t Stop the Midway Rising Project’

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 23:26:56 +0200

By Scott Lewis / Voice of San Diego / June 1, 2026 A campaign text message hit phones Friday with a striking claim: “No more overdevelopment! Richard Bailey will stop the Midway Rising mega-development, limit ADUs, and stop city hall politicians from destroying our communities.” The mailer was paid for by Steven Richter, the resident who poured money into an effort to support Larry Turner for mayor in 2024, This was interesting because we’ve tracked Bailey on Midway Rising for months now and, while he was at first saying pretty harsh things about it, he seemed to be settling into a it’s-not-my-favorite-but-what-are-you-going-to-do message.

Woman Suspected of Causing DUI Hit-and-Run in Ocean Beach Arrested

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:13:57 +0200

City News Service - Patch San Diego / June 1, 2026 A 37-year-old unidentified woman suspected in a DUI crash in Ocean Beach Friday, May 29, that left her and three people in the other vehicle injured was arrested. San Diego Police Department officers responded at 3:55 p.m. Friday to Ebers Street and Bermuda Avenue where the suspect, who was driving a 2009 Mazda 6 eastbound on Bermuda Avenue, failed to stop for the stop sign at Ebers Street and struck the left rear of a Chevrolet Bolt, which was driven by a 42-year-old man.

Opposition Grows to SDG&E Hi-Voltage Line Through Anza-Borrego Desert Park

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 22:01:19 +0200

San Diego Gas & Electric wants to lay down a 140-mile, 500-kilovolt high-voltage transmission line that would cut through California's largest state park, the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. They call it the Golden Pacific Powerlink and it would run from the Imperial Valley to the Orange County border. The proposed line has also sparked massive opposition from environmentalists and local communities who are strongly against the overhead route. They are demanding the project be entirely rerouted away from protected environments and population centers. Opposition to the line is lead by the Anza-Borrego Foundation, which is fighting to keep the lines out of California's largest state park. Opponents point out that a previous proposal (the 2008 Sunrise Powerlink) was rejected for its park path, and warn that nearly 200-foot-tall towers would ruin dark skies, impact endangered bighorn sheep, and destroy fragile cryptobiotic soils.

The Story of a San Diego Poll Monitor on Primary Election Day

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:30:10 +0200

Rag Writer Signed Up for Nonpartisan Voter Assistance

By JW August I signed up with California Common Cause as a nonpartisan poll monitor at three locations. CCC chose the three locations, all in the 92111 area. I was connected with a partner who, like me, is a first timer. Our bottom line is to support all voters, regardless of political affiliation. There is a long check list of responsibilities, including but not limited to making sure the polling locations provide the materials voters need, that all concerns or questions voters may have are responded to in a courteous manner by the poll workers.