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Stories by Julie Stalmer

Mayor Faulconer's short-term rental idea — pro and con

At the July 16 city council meeting, the usual sea of green (pro-vacation rental) and red (anti-vacation rental) t-shirts will be joined by blue representing Ocean Beach. The Ocean Beach town council has chartered a …

Nati's history is history

Three weeks after closing, the building that Nati's Mexican Restaurant called home for nearly 60 years was denied historic designation. Amie Hayes, a historic resources specialist with Save Our Heritage Organisation, was there for the …

Taggers' paradise or slum bait?

Graffiti is nothing new along transit routes. The local trolley's general manager was quoted in 1987 saying graffiti clean-up was a high priority. "When graffiti is noticed, it is our policy to remove it immediately." …

Should San Diego's trash collecting stay free?

Just in time for "national Garbage Man Day," trash collectors were accused of damaging trash cans, others were licking their wounds over a 1919 ordinance that mandates free trash pickup for only 60 percent of …

Maybe it wasn't woodshop after all

Lenny Swanson heard a knock at his front door on June 11 at 7:00 p.m. He looked out his window to see a 20-something, Hispanic male, heavy build. "He said, 'we're gathering signatures to bring …

Bus rider pet peeves: walking and waiting

Metropolitan Transit System or MTS has been hanging Choose Transit posters at bus stops around town. Plus they reached out to ask public opinion in April and May. Shorter commute times, more transit options, and …

Property crimes low, worries still high

San Diego is one of the safest regions in the U.S. according to a report released by the county in April. Data from 2017 reflects the fourth-lowest violent crime rate since 1980 and the lowest …

Vaping's Wild West

Manufacturers and sellers of flavored nicotine liquid products got a warning earlier this month from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to change packaging that mimics food products like candy, cookies, and juice boxes. The …

Come back to the five-and-dime, Ocean Beach

On April 20, Target took over the former Antique Center building on Newport Avenue. Despite local protests, Antique Center closed for good on April 15 after more than twenty years. Glen Gorham said about half …

Barrio Logan election do-over

On April 18, Barrio Logan's community planning group had a do-over of their March 21 election. The impetus was a complaint lodged, shortly before the polls closed, against members of the environmental health coalition for …

22 dope growers want permits in Mira Mesa

The city has 40 golden tickets, also known as permits, to hand out to those wanting to cultivate cannabis locally. There are currently 66 applicants vying for those permits. There are no limitations as to …

Just keep toilet out of the title

Tuesday was a big day for water projects in Southern California. The Metropolitan Water District's board of directors authorized $10.8 billion toward Governor Jerry Brown's effort to fix the state's aging water delivery system, one …

"Are you kidding me? It's a cow pasture."

In March, the city rejected all proposals vying to operate the Presidio Hills Golf Course. This was a harsh blow to the Friends of Presidio Hills Golf who spent a lot of time and money …

April 9, 2018
Clairemont braces for homeless housing

A proposed homeless housing project in Clairemont seeks to turn an old office building in the Balboa Mesa Shopping Center into 52 permanent apartments for the chronically homeless. The proposed housing is located on Mt. …

April 4, 2018
Thieves take 90 percent of Boy Scouts' gear

Even though a scout's motto is to "Be Prepared," two local troops were caught unaware when their trailers were stolen this month. Troops from Vista and University City discovered their trailers missing within ten days …

Clairemont: Touch and Go needs to go

"It's a constant barrage of planes sputtering and buzzing," said one resident that lives under Montgomery Field's flight path. Eden Yaege, Clairemont town council president said, "Many people have noticed that over the last few …

March 20, 2018
Does Nati's new owner have his eye on nearby parcels?

On March 12, Save Our Heritage Organisation responded to the city regarding Nati's proposal to demolish its shopping center. They strongly assert that Nati's mid-century modern style shopping center, located at 1852-1866 Bacon Street, is …

Tiny Island Court has 31 short-timers

"What happens when an entire block has nobody living there?" In 2014, when Jon moved to Abbott Avenue in Ocean Beach, he was surrounded by long-term renters. Every year since, he's seen neighbors evicted to …

Baby rattler at my door

A baby rattlesnake was found by Veronica Alcaraz's sister at her front door on February 12th. "Can you believe it?! My sister was taking things to and from her car when she spotted it. It …

Point Loma recycling center evicted

On February 17, state assemblyman Todd Gloria hosted a town-hall meeting in Point Loma. Topics ranged from car-registration fee hikes to renewable energy, but the standing-room-only crowd was due to the controversy swirling around a …

February 20, 2018
Footnotes on assassination of Frank Bompensiero

At the age of 16, Frank "The Bump" Bompensiero moved to San Diego in 1921 and bootlegged liquor during Prohibition. He eventually became a prolific mafia hitman famous for his "Italian rope trick," where he …

Rally to boot Point Loma recycling center

A rally on Saturday, February 10, will protest the recycling center behind Stump's Market in Loma Portal. When Prince Recycling opened up in 2014, there were protests then, too. It's the only recycling center within …

Alpine High School still doesn't exist

Alpine resident Gary Lane's niece and nephew talk of having their own high school in Alpine. All the kids do, said Lane. Keeping teen spirit local is the dream while the nightmare is that long …

February 5, 2018
Point Loma and Ocean Beach unite

Nicole Ueno, a native of Sunset Cliffs, sent out the call last month for community members to step up to cover eight different neighborhood watch zones across Ocean Beach and Point Loma. Within a week, …

It's the wrecking ball for Point Loma's Dolphin Motel

The Dolphin Motel — a presence at the corner of Rosecrans and Garrison for decades — is headed to demolition by summer. Its demise will make room for a new Portuguese-themed hotel called the Monsaraz. …

January 26, 2018
Bone-dry Broadway Fountain will be wet again

Gregory May was at Horton Plaza last week when he noticed the historic Broadway Fountain was drained. He asked the mayor and councilmember Chris Ward via social media why it wasn't operating and "wasn't this …

Traffic circles coming to Moraga Avenue

A topic of conversation for years has been the speeding, traffic, and accidents on Moraga Avenue. The city plans to remedy the situation by installing traffic circles (mini-roundabouts) on Moraga at Idlewild Way and Fox …

Linda Vista skate park open to law-breakers only

The Linda Vista skate park was supposed to open in August. Then in September...November...January… By all appearances, the facility looks open. Skaters are spotted there all the time — though, kids sneaked into the park …

Come to Liberty Station — except certain times

Before Thanksgiving, locals took to social media to vent about parking and traffic at Liberty Station. Specifically, as it relates to Rock Church — a church founded by former Charger's defensive back, Miles McPherson. Similar …

Elderly low-income and homeless project in Grantville

Housing the homeless is a sticky wicket in San Diego. It's even more daunting when those homeless are senior citizens with health issues. A proposed housing project in Grantville aims to help seniors with chronic …

December 18, 2017
Nati's Mexican restaurant to close...for remodel

This fall, rumors were flying about Nati's Mexican Restaurant closing. Nati's has been a staple for 57 years in the heart of Ocean Beach, on Bacon between Niagara and Newport avenues. A few people took …

December 14, 2017
Wrecking ball target: Drew Ford roundhouse

"Penske fails to see the value in the roundhouse of values," said Gregory May, who started a petition and a Facebook page to bring attention to the planned demolition of the 1960s Drew Ford roundhouse. …

December 12, 2017
South Park land rush to X out Rebecca’s Coffeehouse?

Rebecca's Coffeehouse is being ousted. The South Park staple has been on the corner of Juniper and Fern streets for more than 20 years, offering up more than just a cup of joe — it …

November 17, 2017
Vagrants and adversaries, make way for Target

Target is sizing up the former Wang's restaurant — on the corner of University and Ray — for a new Target Express. So far, nearby South Park has the only Target Express in San Diego. …

La Jolla Parkway road rage and frustration

Residents living on Ardath Road and surrounding residential streets say they are at their wits’ end when it comes to noise produced by vehicles traveling in and out of La Jolla via La Jolla Parkway. …

November 13, 2017
Granger Hall's dying for an encore in National City

On October 31, Save Our Heritage Organisation released their annual list of the most endangered historic sites in San Diego. Granger Music Hall was one of three new sites added to the top-ten list this …

November 6, 2017
Curse of the Georgia Street Bridge

Restoration of the 103-year-old Georgia Street Bridge began in August 2016 with a completion date of about now. Anyone driving past the site can't help but notice it doesn't look anywhere close to being done. …

Clairemont farmers' market gets the boot

Clairemont's farmers’ market got two weeks’ notice on October 5 that their last day in the Clairemont Village shopping center would be October 19. They had to vacate before the new Sprouts opened on October …

November 2, 2017
Not only about the clean cars in Clairemont

A Bay Park resident stated his opposition to unpermitted business signs at Victor's Tire Shop and Car Wash (3030 Clairemont Drive) on Nextdoor in late June. He asked others to complain to the city. A …

October 26, 2017
Hillcrest parking structure 10 years overdue

A parking garage that hasn't gotten past the vision stage since first being proposed two decades ago is being resurrected by the Uptown Gateway Council. This group of Hillcrest commercial property owners is giving the …

October 12, 2017
Roseville developers' runaround in progress

Since moving into the Roseville neighborhood in May, Toni Popoki Reed had not seen much happening in the vacant lot across the street. She knew of the housing project that broke ground there in 2016. …

The pet-friendly housing problem

A pet-friendly bill hit the governor's desk on September 21. The bill (AB 1137) would mandate that new multi-family housing developments allow tenants to have pets if those developments receive financing through state programs. @media …

Will O.B. parking situation stop Target?

O.B. locals reported seeing a notice posted at South Beach Bar and Grille (5059 Newport Avenue) in mid-August. The notice announced an application was filed with the city to turn the restaurant and bar on …

September 22, 2017
Barrio Logan community plan not updated much

The San Diego City Council approved Barrio Logan's community plan update in 2013. The plan addressed the unhealthy mix of residential and industrial zoning — issues such as industrial businesses opening up next door to …

September 22, 2017
Hope for winds of change at Miramar Landfill

With the post-summer wind direction about to shift from east to west, the city and county are working overtime to solidify a plan to quell odor complaints that skyrocket between November and April against Miramar …

Point Loma fourplex controversy not done yet

The housing project on the corner of Emerson and Evergreen streets in the Roseville neighborhood of Point Loma has had more ups and downs and twists and turns than a roller coaster. The fourplex has …

September 11, 2017
Breaking Bad: Clairemont edition

On July 10, an East Clairemont neighborhood was faced with a vandalized SUV asking people to "Call Turko" because "This neighborhood is a meth op." Michael Turko said no one ever did "Call Turko." On …

September 5, 2017
Debate on community choice for electricity heats up

The city's goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy by 2035 is kicking in to high gear with a new study that explores the feasibility of community choice — a program that would hand over …

August 31, 2017
Linda Vista skaters snort at park completion date

San Diego's largest skate park is 90 percent complete, says the city. Many hoped it would open in August and then September. Last week, a worker at the skate park, located at the intersection of …

August 26, 2017
Interview with a Balboa Park transient

Back in 2007, it was reported that a group of transients was evicted from inside the columns of Cabrillo Bridge. A photograph featured in an article showed a makeshift apartment inside the bridge complete with …

August 19, 2017

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