I sure am relieved to hear that the “OB Planners put [their] foot down” and voted against recommending that a property owner be prohibited from leveling an existing “concrete, low-rise duplex” in order to construct a “stylish, three-story, single-family home” (“OB?planners put foot down over variances for out-of-place projects,” Peninsula Beacon, Dec. 15, page 1) Thank goodness we have concerned citizens like Danny Morales willing to write letters to the Beacon bemoaning that a property owner should be prohibited from removing 15 dilapidated apartments in order to construct 10 new ones (“Appealing for change in thinking of OB planners,” letters to the editor, Peninsula Beacon, Dec. 1, Page 6). Morales cited Beacon writer Tony de Garate’s story, “OB planners endorse condo project — with reservations, Peninsula Beacon, Nov. 17, Page 1) Certainly, rundown concrete duplexes are more favorable and attractive than new single-family homes. Certainly, 15 derelict apartments are much more desirable than 10 new condominiums. What a joke. It seems a reasonable inference to this observer that folks like Morales and his pals on the OB Planning Board could truly care less about Ocean Beach. Rather, they appear quite obviously self motivated to keep Ocean Beach in as poor a state as possible for the sole desperate purpose of maintaining their rents in as depressed a state as possible. It’s the same, tired rant they forced upon us 10 years ago when Starbucks swept up the hypodermic needles and cleaned up that filthy, drug-infested corner. These same folks will hold a fundraiser for the homeless person who last week lost his tattered motor home — that he was illegally living in — to fire. No reference, of course, will be made to the illegal lodging, the domination of parking spots, danger of fire or health concern based on the fact that the commode consisted of a hole in the floor. These are the same folks who will similarly offer excuses for the homeless man who recently stabbed another young man in front of a taco shop on Newport Avenue. No reference, of course, to the fact that such egregious violence is wholly unacceptable and has absolutely no place in our community. If these folks wish to advance their own selfish interests, fine. But they ought to stop characterizing “the betterment of Ocean Beach” as their phony objective. The ploy is tired. As to the rest of the community, send a letter to District 2 City Councilman Kevin Faulconer. Doing so will reaffirm his conclusion that the OBPB is to be smiled at, but hardly taken seriously.