A natural-born writer, humorist and speaker who connects easily to everyone except lunkheads & cowards
Toots' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@tootstells
HOUSING ACTIVIST
BEGAN DECEMBER 2020
I HAVE A TECHNICAL BUSINESS BACKGROUND. I DON'T WALK AWAY FROM PROBLEMS, I FIX THEM.
SAN DIEGO SEEMED LIKE A LOVELY PLACE TO LIVE. THEN I GOT AN AIRBNB PARTY HOUSE ON MY STREET IN 2020. I FOOLISHLY THOUGHT THE CITY WOULD PROVIDE HELP AND AIRBNB WOULD COOPERATE. NEITHER HAPPENED.
IN 2024 I HEARD ABOUT A 240' TOWER THAT MIGHT GET BUILT ON TURQUOISE ST. THEN 12 ADUS ON JICARILLO, THEN MORE ADUS POPPED UP and NEWS OF more TOWERS.
ALMOST OVERNIGHT SAN DIEGO CHANGED to LOCALS FIGHTING to stop A HI-RISE or ADUS getting built next door.
LOCALS TRY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT SAN DIEGO'S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM AIRBNBS AND OVERDEVELOPMENT.
locals DONATE TO FUND LEGAL BATTLES AGAINST THE CITY, AIRBNB AND THE DEVELOPERS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF unreasonable LAWS.
WE NEED MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
WE NEED TO House THE HOMELESS
TOO MUCH $ IS UNACCOUNTABLE
ELECTED OFFICIALS REPRESENT: A) locals? B) AIRBNB, DEVELOPERS, TRADE UNIONS, LOBBYISTS and PACS?
leave your answer in the comments area on the contact page
MORE THAN A ONE TRICK PONY
EXAMPLES OF MY WRITING & ACTIVISM
https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/san-diego-faces-lawsuit-over-136-unit-adu-project-proposal/
https://obrag.org/2025/04/reader-rant-why-im-a-proud-member-of-the-san-diego-community-coalition/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/sdg-e-warns-scam-targeting-002925050.html
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/author/trudy-grundland/
https://timesofsandiego.com/life/2025/07/20/dual-rallies-for-against-turquoise-tower/
https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/san-diego-faces-lawsuit-over-003816340.html
(see my comments) https://obrag.org/2025/07/cry-me-a-river-the-french-gourmets-turquoise-tower-blues/comment-page-1/
50 pages of support evidence from me to CACoastalCommission about need for SD STR ordinance: https://documents.coastal.ca.gov/reports/2022/3/W14f/W14f-3-2022-corresp2.pdf
https://obrag.org/2024/12/rimby-responsible-in-my-back-yard-agenda-and-goals/
https://obrag.org/2025/06/coastal-residents-too-many-adus-ruin-neighborhoods/
page 6: http://archives.sandiegoreader.com/2024/sdreader-2024-06-27.pdf
https://obrag.org/2025/07/hundreds-protest-22-story-tower-proposed-for-pacific-beach/
Quoted & photos: https://www.chattenbrownlawgroup.com/uploads/1/4/2/2/142294598/ob_rag_pacific_beach_group_sues_city_to_block_mega-adu_project_of_over_100_units__1_.pdf
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/05/22/exploring-the-world-in-food/
I've written a novel for Middle Grade (E.A.R.S. Emergency Animal Rescue Squad) and a novel for High School (Cyber High). I'm working on an adult novel about a hero and a loser crossing paths.
8/23/25
LAUGHTER STARTS HERE
COMEDY HELPS IN SAN DIEGO
IGLESIAS/LATINOS: 30% of San Diegans are Latinos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFqu9YVuAgI
CHEECH and CHONG/GET HIGH CALIFORNIA: dispensaries advertise on billboards in San Diego https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZoIjNDkPCQ
IGLESIAS/SNOOP DOGG PODCAST: THE FAKE NAME IS 'FLUFFY', The rich people in San Diego could be posers or scam artists. It's not uncommon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a5AtkBNpPM
PULP FICTION/BEING VEGETARIAN DOESN'T MAKE YOU A NICE PERSON https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UiL7ErcPf0
CHAPPELL: LANDLORD HOOKED ON CRACK. It's a fact that there are bad landlords in San Diego https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze7CiKeVxe0
SNL/BLACK JEOPARDY, CAN YOU AFFORD TO LIVE IN SD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7VaXlMvAvk
ABAGNALE/CON MAN, OUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OFTEN PULL THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIYtKR24LQs&t=9s.
Account Executive Industry Consultant: Analytical-expressive, team leader, expert marketing and technical skills, master business writer.
Toots Takes the Podium
AT&T - Pac Bell Los Angeles
Oceanside Pier May 2026
11/25/24
12/18/24
Christmas lunch
Pre-meeting before the big meeting
A typical meeting with engineers and support staff.
Managers work 12 hour days during strikes which last months. That's me on the left in white/black w/clown hat
AT&T National Sales School Denver, CO
Toots Relaxed
trudygrundland trudy grundland TootsTells writer artist AT&T PacBell Jokes Stand Up Comedy San Diego Housing Activist Airbnb Party House The Turquoise Tower The Vela Tower Pacific Beach La Jolla Clairemont Mission Beach Ocean Beach Short term vacation rentals Whole house Airbnbs fishing off a pier surfing San Diego great weather another day in paradise the sunshine tax vacation beach sunset surf fish tacos great Mexican food housing activist save our neighborhoods trudy grundland airbnb san Diego love where you live san Diego sunsets I like peace and quiet
BIG CORPORATION LOS ANGELES - $2,500 Award for #1 $$, 2) $$, 3) happy clients. Male dominated corporation. Uptight boss (guess which man) liked my work, not me.
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