Kudos to the OB Rag
By Lynne Miller
As San Diego City officials continue to sneak quietly behind their constituents and groom our communities for financiers and builders, there is a grassroots movement gaining traction.
I went to a Pacific Beach protest last night, joining about 200 people. The group ‘leader’ found out 5 days ago about the 23 story building planned for Pacific Beach. He did not read it in the San Diego UT, hear it on the radio, or get a flier from the City. Kudos to the OB RAG for posting the article that exposed the city’s intentions.
In April of 2024 a friend stopped by and asked me if I knew what was being planned on the corner of Point Loma Ave and Ebers Street I didn’t know. My friend reads the OB RAG daily and that morning she read the article about the 20 unit building planned and approved. Once again the OB RAG sounded the alarm that led to an appeal and victory at City Hall.
The speakers last night are embarking on that steep learning curve that I started in April. They will learn that the zoning laws, environmental and coastal zone regulations, and climate action plans are all waived, exempt, erased. All attempts to reason with high density affordable housing mandates are bordering on futile. The blueprint is still wet – dripping with greed and power, and framed with NIMBY guilt.
In order to stop the irresponsible over building that has already reversed years of laws designed to protect our environment and neighborhood we, the people, must quickly and effectively join forces to stop San Diego’s Development Services Department and the mayor. Last night in PB I saw several leaders who seem to have the passion and vision to take our city back.
I encourage all readers who love San Diego to take action. Get on mailing lists, attend meetings, join local groups, and VOTE. Careful who and what you vote for. Many folks voted for Mayor Gloria who seems to think he is free to change the landscape of our city, neighborhood by neighborhood, quickly and without local input.
Groups have emerged as the building frenzy blows through like a category 5 storm. United we have a chance to take back our city, maybe even our state. OB RAG seems to be the lead source of discovery and sharing.
The crowd tonight spontaneously shouted “Larry Turner”–the November election is one prong of this battle. Early voting has already started, we need to get the word out NOW.
Who has a good handle on the November election as it relates to the issues we are facing? Who knows how to get all these groups together, and set priorities?
What we are attempting requires a lot of research and work and coordination. The most necessary has already started, powerful leadership. Leaders, you have a bunch of people scattered around the city who want to work together to reestablish our voice in our community.
OB RAG – thanks for being on top of this.