OB Rag

by Ernie McCray

It’s great
that we continue
to chant and sing
“No Kings”
and constantly scream
at ICE
and other such things
but now
it’s time to
take-to-the streets
and demand
the termination of Donald J’s presidency
before he makes our democracy
look like a ship
sinking in a turbulent sea,
and we should do so
for any number of reasons
that we could list randomly,

Here is the August 4, 2026 Newsletter

Editordude: In mid-July, Robert Campbell wrote “Footnote 7: The Truth, the Corruption, the Timeline” here at the Rag where he…

By Judi Curry

I think I began watching Jackie and Shadow’s eagle nest and their offspring about 5 years ago. They are fascinating to watch and the learning styles are so similar for each set of baby birds.  It is so uplifting – or has been until Jackie became so ill.  One has to give so much credit to the group working to save her.

But I am not here to write about Jackie and Shadow.  No…I am here to introduce “Mutt and Jeff” to Pt. Loma.  Well….sort of because many of you know them already.  I am not sure what their “given” names are, but over here – my house – we named them Mutt and Jeff.  Let me tell you about them.

One week ago today we didn’t know they existed.  Sure, we hear them, particularly at 2-3:00 am every morning.  They have a nest in a tree nearby, and almost without exception you can see the adults sitting on the electric pole in the alley to the south of my house.  And if you can’t see them you sure as hell can hear them!

Last week I heard a person living here YELLING at my German Shephard – Charlie – in such a loud voice I was sure that Charlie must have done something terrible wrong.  I went outside to see what the ruckus was as fast as this old lady can move and found that roommate Amber was yelling at Charlie because she had her paw on this large bird and was not letting the bird get up.  (We think that maybe Charlie was getting ready to have a large snack but fortunately Amber was there at the right time and managed to get Charlie away from the large black and while bird with the most beautiful wings that looked like they had been drawn by an artist!

Amber and I watched the bird, and it looked like it might have been injured because it could not fly.  We later thought it might have been a fledgling that had fallen out of the next and was just learning to fly.

Ongoing

Every Saturday at 10:30 am. San Diego Climate Mobilization Coalition Meetings.  August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. Keep up to date on climate issues and Climate Action events. To register email Jon Findley at jon@climatemobsd.org.  More info: https://www.facebook.com/SDClimateMobilization/

Every Saturday 10 am – 12 pm Peace Vigil for Palestine: Advocate for Peace and Justice in Gaza and Everywhere Join CODEPINK SD, San Diego Veterans for Peace, and Palestine Pals every Saturday at 10:00 am at Ocean Beach Gateway Plaza, on the corner of Sunset Cliffs Blvd. and W. Point Loma Blvd.  Wear pink and bring a peace-related poster if you have one!  Contact: Nathanael sandiego@codepink.org  More info:  https://www.instagram.com/codepinksd/

The San Diego River Park Foundation has volunteer opportunities in Ocean Beach: San Diego River Mouth Habitat Restoration on August 11th. For other volunteer opportunities go to https://sandiegoriver.org/

Indivisible is a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda. For places, dates and details go to: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/  Also check out their Change Begins with me calendar: https://changebeginswithmesite.wordpress.com/events/

Every Sunday 1:30 pm – 3:15 pm Otay Mesa Vigil Otay Mesa Detention Center 7488 Calzada de la Fuente San Diego 92154

Beginning August 1, NPR Music will publish a week-long list of stories and podcast episodes exploring the legacy and future of the Grateful Dead fandom. And they want to hear from you!

They want to know: How did you become a fan of the Grateful Dead? Maybe it was a specific album that converted you, or you were transformed by a show you saw. And what would you say to someone who just doesn’t understand the band’s appeal?

By Steven Mihailovich / PB Monthly / July 30, 2026

Local outrage over the city’s closure of 13 public restrooms in Mission Bay Park to balance the budget was evident at the Pacific Beach Town Council’s July meeting.

As the sole city government official present, Savannah Stallings — PB rep for Council President Joe LaCava — bore the full brunt of criticisms and frustrations arising from the move projected to save San Diego about $547,000 through the elimination of six custodian positions at the Parks and Recreation Department. Their responsibilities included the public restrooms’ maintenance.

The audience of about 35 was audibly upset that the city’s decision caused outsized disruptions for minor savings.

“Personally, don’t you think this should go a little further than just, it’s a budget cut, just accept it?” asked Ron, a resident who didn’t give his surname. “I understand it’s a budget cut. What about the people in the community? I mean, we’re all not homeless here. We’re all taxpayers here. I don’t understand why they targeted the bathrooms.”

Stallings said the initial budget proposal called for closures of restrooms along the shore, but were reinstated after heavy lobbying by LaCava.

In addition, Stallings said only one of the 13 closed restrooms is located in District 1 under LaCava. The remaining 12 are in District 2 served by Councilmember Jennifer Campbell.

ArtWalk Liberty Station encourages attendees to immerse themselves in the art world and supports the appreciation and acquisition of original artwork.

Editordude: The following is the substance of Ralph Teyssier’s presentation (slightly edited for clarification) at the Town Hall event at the Point Loma Library, July 28, 2026.

By Ralph Teyssier

Engineering Challenges in Delivering Affordable Housing

Eric Law has discussed the legislative promise of affordable housing, and Patty Ducey-Brooks has addressed the environmental concerns around Midway Rising and Senate Bill 958. I’d like to spend just a couple of minutes discussing the engineering realities of delivering affordable housing.

As a structural engineer, I support affordable housing. But we also need to recognize that SB 958 extends well beyond the Midway Rising project. If enacted, it could influence how future coastal developments are evaluated throughout California. That makes it all the more important that we fully understand the engineering realities, geological conditions, and economic consequences before establishing a statewide precedent. Political will alone does not create affordable housing. Engineering, geology, construction, and economics all play important roles. Nor should we assume that simply allowing taller buildings  automatically results in more affordable housing.

In fact, when increased building height is removed from meaningful CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) review, it becomes more difficult to fully evaluate the engineering and economic consequences associated with that increased height. In that sense, it works against one of CEQA’s fundamental purposes—providing informed decision-making.

By Debbie L. Sklar / Special to the OB Rag

Today, Mission Bay Park is one of San Diego’s most recognizable recreational destinations, filled with beaches, sailboats, paddleboards, bike paths and visitors enjoying the waterfront.

But before the bay became the sprawling aquatic park San Diegans know today, the shoreline was home to something unexpected: a small airport.

Known as Peik Airport, the airfield operated along the southwestern shore of Mission Bay during the mid-20th century. At the time, the area looked nothing like today’s landscaped parks and beaches. Much of Mission Bay was made up of tidal marshes, mud flats and undeveloped shoreline.

The airport’s story began with Arnold H. Peik, a pilot who arrived in San Diego in the 1930s. A 1967 San Diego Evening Tribune article by John McPeek (reprinted in PB newsletter below) recalled Peik’s arrival as a young barnstorming pilot flying a Stinson monoplane into San Diego before eventually establishing his flying operation near Mission Bay.

“It all began when a young barnstorming pilot in a battered Stinson monoplane flew into San Diego” in 1934, the article recalled.

By Tom Coat / SD U-T Commentary / July 31, 2026 

As battles swirl around Pacific Beach’s Turquoise Tower, Midway Rising and ADU “apartment buildings,” a more fundamental concern surprisingly has been pushed to the sidelines.

For 54 years, historic Proposition D protected San Diego’s coastal communities with a 30-foot height limit. That allowed all San Diegans access to our magnificent shoreline.

In an essay published in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Opinion section, City Council President Joe LaCava summed up Proposition D’s importance to San Diego: “San Diego’s 30-foot coastal height limit symbolizes a commitment to preserving the city’s coastal access and differentiating our valued shoreline from walled-off cities like Miami. The height limit is not only a regulatory restriction but a reflection of San Diego’s identity,” LaCava wrote.

Today, this “reflection of San Diego’s identity” has been blacked out — “voided.” All it took was a declaration of a crisis in the Legislature and bureaucratic approval. That’s so easy, it begs the question: What is the next declared crisis where votes won’t count?

The will of 64% of San Diego voters who approved Proposition D in 1972 was trashed because the state said Proposition D conflicts with developer-friendly state density bonus housing laws. Those laws, incidentally, resulted in a hugely unpopular “unintended consequence” — the 268-foot high Turquoise Tower proposal over which the city and developer are still haggling.

District 4

On election night during the June 2 California Primary, incumbent Henry Foster and challenger Martha Abraham secured the top two spots and will face off in November.

On that fateful night, Abraham led Foster by 249 votes when final election night totals were posted in the early morning hours of June 3.