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.
I TRY TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT SAN DIEGO'S RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS FROM AIRBNBS, TOWERS, AND OVERDEVELOPMENT.
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 when heroes are losers.
LAUGHTER STARTS HERE
A SENSE OF HUMOR IS ESSENTIAL
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.
11/25/24
12/18/24
@TootsTells writer artist 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 surfing San Diego great weather another day in paradise housing activist save our neighborhoods trudy grundland airbnb San Diego love where you live San Diego sunsets I like peace and quiet wearesandiego.org SanDiego.org ADUBonus.org
BEFORE I BECAME A HOUSING ACTIVIST, I WORKED FOR MAJOR CORPORATIONS. WHEN I WAS A KID, I WORKED FOR ITALIANS SICILIANS. THEY TAUGHT ME MARKETING 101, THE VALUE OF RELATIONSHIPS, AND TO NEVER CALL SOMEONE "A DUMB CALABRESE" UNLESS YOU ARE READY FOR A FIGHT. translation: Think before you speak in anger. Don't say something you'll regret later.
Airbnbs saturate San Diego's coastal areas
