Articles by Dan Morales

Dan has written 12 articles for the OB Rag!

Opposition to Condos Drives Activist to Obtain Appointment to Ocean Beach Planning Board

December 5, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for Opposition to Condos Drives Activist to Obtain Appointment to Ocean Beach Planning Board

Editor: This response to an article in the Beacon in mid-November is by OB Ragster Dan Morales, who is also announcing his candidacy for the OB Planning Board. (We link to the Beacon post below.)

Friends and neighbors,

I would like to thank former Lifeguard Tony De Garate for jumping into the waters surrounding a proposal to build a ten unit, three story condominium complex in Ocean Beach (Beacon 11/17/2011, pg 1).

Although his efforts appear sufficient on the surface, the author fails to recognize current developer interests, the ebb and flow of real estate finance, and the waning of a material basis for democratic community planning in the public interest.

Read the full article → 2 comments

Ocean Beach Planners Review New Design of “Ocean Park Villas” for First Time

October 21, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for Ocean Beach Planners Review New Design of “Ocean Park Villas” for First Time

From street level, the Ocean Beach Planning Board’s Project Review Committee meeting of October 19, 2011, appeared as just another pedestrian exercise for determining how much floor area ratio (FAR) can fit on the head of a pin. However, below surface grade lay a potential flood of liabilities for those entrusted with the public good in a era of irresponsible private interests.

There was only one item on the agenda; a request to amend the previously granted Coastal Development permit (#6-08-100) from the developer of the property located at 1984 Abbott Street. That corner of Abbott and Saratoga is now the proposed site of what has come to be called the “Ocean Park Villas.”

Read the full article → 19 comments

The future of Ocean Beach? Developers given free reign!

August 26, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for The future of Ocean Beach? Developers given free reign!

“’Tis grand! ’tis solemn! ’tis an education of itself to look upon!”

~ James Fenimore Cooper

I really can’t blame anybody for not following the OB Rag’s suggestion to attend the Coffee with Kevin Faulconer. After all, a last minute personal commitment had me arriving about a half hour late so I understand that there are principles behind our extended sense of community. And I understand that having a community meeting at 9am on a weekday pretty much bars anybody who works for a living from having a face to face with their municipal representative.

Read the full article → 26 comments

Ocean Beach – Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine: Planning Board to Consider Grants for SANDAG Millions

July 21, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for Ocean Beach – Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine: Planning Board to Consider Grants for SANDAG Millions

The Ocean Beach Planning Board (OBPB) hosted a committee meeting Wednesday, July 20th, to begin discussion about potential community projects that could benefit from almost $24million in grants that the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is making available to provide incentives for Smart Growth projects within the region.

Read the full article → 8 comments

“We are one” San Diego candlelight vigil honors King and today’s labor struggles

April 5, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for “We are one” San Diego candlelight vigil honors King and today’s labor struggles

I had the opportunity to be part of a collective that went to the San Diego Civic Center to participate in a national day of action commemorating the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The circumstances surrounding Dr. King’s murder made this event not just another empty tribute to an historical figure. […]

Read the full article → 4 comments

Stick A Fork In IT! – Ocean Beach Planning Board done for another session

March 3, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for Stick A Fork In IT! – Ocean Beach Planning Board done for another session

Sometimes attending a meeting of the OB Planning Board is like eating a very large artichoke. One has to take time and chew on some pretty tasteless material before the heart of the matter is even the least bit savored. The Board meeting of 3/2/11 was like that for me. District 2 Representative Scott Therkalsen […]

Read the full article → 12 comments

Evicting the Homeless From Robb Field Before the Storm

February 25, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for Evicting the Homeless From Robb Field Before the Storm

A storm is gathering for this weekend in San Diego County with record cold predicted to bring snow levels into the City. As KPBS reported, due to “lack of funds” hundreds of previously housed people will be without shelter. Add to that number the disabled vets, pregnant women, youth and their pets who made the Sunset Cliffs Blvd. side of Robb Field their home for the past six months.

Read the full article → 1 comment

In Our Name : Ocean Beach Planning Board to Determine Future of VFW Post 1392

February 3, 2011 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for In Our Name : Ocean Beach Planning Board to Determine Future of VFW Post 1392

He that filches from me my good name robs me of that which enriches him not and makes me poor indeed. Wm Shakespeare, “Othello”, Act 3 scene 3 The February 2nd meeting of the Ocean Beach Planning Board (OBPB) began with its usual silent reading of the minutes leaving the packed room in a funereal […]

Read the full article → 48 comments

Is Paid Parking the Wave Of The Future in Ocean Beach?

November 19, 2010 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for Is Paid Parking the Wave Of The Future in Ocean Beach?

The City of San Diego has plans for the future of Ocean Beach. Unfortunately for the residents and persons who own businesses here that future doesn’t include the free beach parking and ease of access that has been a staple of our community for as long as anyone can remember. At the latest meeting of […]

Read the full article → 39 comments

Class bias dominates OB Planning Board discussions

October 7, 2010 by Dan Morales

The Ocean Beach Planning Board as the steward of the local community plan has been making a grave strategic mistake. Although the October 6th meeting was both informative and entertaining it was also revealing in terms of class perspective.

Read the full article → 46 comments

Impressions of OB Town Council Forum

February 25, 2010 by Dan Morales

by Danny Morales

The day of the community journalist has arrived in Ocean Beach. The blogger/activists of the OB Rag gave the Ocean Beach Town Council and the community at large a healthy dose of solutions, unity and peoples advocacy.

Last night’s meeting – double-billed as a forum for Ocean Beach Planning Board candidates and homeless discussion – started its civic booster rockets in red glare style. Firing up with a pledge of allegiance and a lineup of the usual suspects, the meeting had me looking over my shoulder from the get go. Not that I was wary of who was using the bathroom for what but when the mooks from the “I agree with everything the police do to get the varmints outta town” society got up from chuckling about the “Trolls Verboten” flier to stand at my rear, did the hair on my neck stand up.

Read the full article → 23 comments

Ragster Rant: the OB Planning Board – An Institution In Crisis

February 7, 2010 by Dan Morales
Thumbnail image for Ragster Rant: the OB Planning Board – An Institution In Crisis

by Danny Morales

Anyway that’s the impression another Ragster and myself got when we went to the February meeting of the Ocean Beach Planning Board. What we found was a collection of individuals who twisted logic, changed board protocols, broke the board’s bylaws and violated the board’s policy guidelines to advance their own personal agendas. But don’t hit us, gentle reader. We’re just giving a preview of what remains of the first community planning organization in California.

Read the full article → 4 comments