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Welcome to The San Diego Newsletter!

In today’s edition:

• Poet Li-Young Lee receives $100,000 lifetime achievement prize from Poetry Foundation.

• Upcoming San Diego Padres match

• A deep-dive into the life of William E. Riker

• And more…

Quote of the Week

“If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can’t hear them anymore.” 

—Michele Ruiz

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Trivia

Here is your trivia question of the week. The answer will be shown in next week’s newsletter. Which do you think it is? No cheating!

What historic event took place at the Mission San Diego de Alcalá?

A) The first European settlement in California

B) The signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

C) The discovery of gold in California

D) The founding of the first mission in California

Answer to Last Week's Trivia:

The beach in San Diego known for its popular surf spots and iconic wooden pier is C) Ocean Beach.

News

💼 Business

The White Stripes sue Trump over use of song: ‘This machine sues fascists. (Link)

Mandatory evacuation orders in place for fire burning in Trabuco Canyon. (Link)

🏒 Sports

Giants hit Musgrove hard, swat 4 total homers in 7-6 win over Padres. (Link)

Jannik Sinner beats Taylor Fritz in the US Open men's final weeks after doping exoneration. (Link)

🏦 Finance

Poet Li-Young Lee receives $100,000 lifetime achievement prize from Poetry Foundation. (Link)

Upcoming Events

Here are some events that are happening in our city this week. There is a good mix between sports, entertainment, conferences, concerts, and more.

Sports

⚽ Portland Thorns FC at San Diego Wave FC
SnapDragon Stadium, San Diego
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024 | (More info)

⚾ Chicago White Sox at San Diego Padres
Petco Park, San Diego
Friday-Sunday, Sept. 20-22, 2024 | (More info)

Music & Concerts

🎶 Peter Hook & The Light
Humphreys Concerts By the Bay, San Diego
Monday, Sept. 16, 2024 | (More info)

🎤 Chayanne
Pechanga Arena, San Diego
Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024 | (More info)

Family

🌿 Trail Tykes: A Program for Little Explorers
1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego
Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024 | (More info)

Image of the Week

Every week, I have a habit of making some AI art about our city.

This week, I typed in “Futuristic urban zoo in San Diego with holographic animals.” and this is what I got.

Let me know what ideas you have for this. I really enjoy making these types of photos.

San Diego Historical Events

1951 - The first commercial TV station, KFMB-TV, begins broadcasting.

In 1951, a significant milestone in San Diego's history was marked with the launch of KFMB-TV, the city's first commercial television station. This momentous occasion followed the station's initial broadcast on May 16, 1949, making KFMB-TV a pioneering force in the San Diego market. Founded by Jack O. Gross, who also owned the local radio station KFMB (760 AM), the station's early years saw it operating in the basement of the San Diego Hotel at 5th and Ash streets. With a transmitter site located on Mount Soledad, KFMB-TV quickly became a focal point of the city's media landscape, capturing the attention of San Diegans and making front-page news in local publications.

KFMB-TV's launch in 1951 marked a turning point in San Diego's media history, as it became the first television station in the city to go on the air. The station's significance was further underscored by its affiliation with the short-lived Paramount Television Network in October 1949, solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the local broadcasting industry. Over the years, KFMB-TV has continued to play a pivotal role in the community, leading in newscast viewership and maintaining a strong presence in the San Diego market. Today, KFMB-TV, also known as CBS News 8, remains a cornerstone of San Diego's media landscape, upholding its legacy as the city's first commercial television station and continuing to provide valuable news and entertainment to the local community.

Famous People From San Diego

William E. Riker - Religious leader and founder of the Holy City, California.

William Edward Riker was a White supremacist religious leader who founded the community of Holy City, California, and was an unsuccessful candidate for California Governor. He was also known by other nicknames such as Father, The Comforter, The Professor, and The Emancipator. Riker's life and legacy are marked by his controversial religious beliefs and his role in establishing the utopian communal cult, The Perfect Christian Divine Way (PCDW).

Early Life and Religious Calling

William Edward Riker was born on February 17, 1873, in Oakdale, California. His early years were marked by a deep sense of religious fervor, and he later established The Perfect Christian Divine Way (PCDW) in Canada. Riker's religious beliefs and teachings were characterized by White supremacist ideologies, and he became a prominent figure in the religious community.

Founding of Holy City, California

In the early 20th century, Riker founded the community of Holy City, California, as a center for his religious movement. The community was established as a utopian society based on Riker's religious principles and beliefs. Holy City became a hub for Riker's followers and adherents of the PCDW, and it played a significant role in promoting his religious ideology.

Political Aspirations and Controversies

Riker's involvement in politics included an unsuccessful bid for the position of California Governor. His political aspirations were intertwined with his religious beliefs, and he sought to promote his ideology through the political sphere. However, Riker's political career was marred by controversies, including charges of bigamy in San Francisco.

Later Years and Legacy

In his later years, Riker's influence waned, and he faced declining support for his religious and political endeavors. He passed away on December 3, 1969, at Agnews State Hospital in Santa Clara, California, at the age of 93. Despite the controversies surrounding his life, Riker's legacy as a religious leader and founder of Holy City, California, continues to be a subject of historical interest and study.

Key Achievements of William E. Riker:

• Founded the community of Holy City, California, as a center for his religious movement.

• Established The Perfect Christian Divine Way (PCDW) and promoted his religious ideology.

• Became a prominent figure in the religious community, known by various nicknames such as Father The Comforter, and The Professor.

• Ran for the position of California Governor, reflecting his political aspirations and influence.

• Left a controversial legacy as a religious leader and founder of a utopian communal cult.

William E. Riker's story is one of religious fervor, political aspirations, and the establishment of a utopian community. Despite the controversies surrounding his life and beliefs, his influence on the community of Holy City, California, remains a significant part of local history and religious studies.

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I would love to hear from you. Don’t be shy.

-Matthew Larsen

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