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Solidarity for change: Protesters hit the streets in SLO County, advocating against police violence and systemic racism
Like in many areas across the nation, several protests and rallies have been held in SLO County over the past several days demanding justice for George Floyd, an end to police brutality, and recognition that Black Lives Matter. And more are planned for the future. Minneapolis police officers took Floyd into custody on May 25…
Santa Maria farmworkers’ submit petition for wages to Driscoll’s
On June 9, Santa Maria farmworkers from Rancho Laguna Farms made a second attempt to submit a petition to Driscoll’s, a berry seller directly supplied by Rancho Laguna. The petition asks Driscoll’s to pressure the Santa Maria-based supplier to increase workers’ pay by 25 cents per box, address safety and health concerns related to COVID-19,…
Gyms, bars, movie theaters cleared to reopen on June 12
A new wave of businesses will be allowed to reopen their doors in SLO County starting on June 12, including gyms, swimming pools, bars, wineries, movie theaters, museums, and zoos. SLO County Public Health Officer Penny Borenstein announced the reopenings on June 9 and shared state and local health guidance for each industry. Businesses must…
Visitor tax increase will be on Pismo’s ballot in November
For the first time in nearly three decades, Pismo Beach residents will get to decide if visitors to the city should be charged more during their stay. Measure B-20, which would increase the city’s transient occupancy tax by 1 percent, will be on Pismo’s ballot in the upcoming November election. Pismo Beach City Council voted…
Santa Barbara County approves $1.19 billion budget
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s fiscal plans for the upcoming year with a “status quo” budget that maintains the existing service levels within the county’s departments amid financial losses related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant County Executive Officer Jeff Frapwell estimates that the ongoing public health crisis will cost the…
Santa Maria high school students graduate, both virtually and in person
In a series of unprecedented ceremonies—both virtual and drive-through—Santa Maria Joint Union High School District graduates got to experience double the fun over the weekend after the Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer loosened restrictions. The district graduated more than 2,000 seniors on June 4 and 5. The district’s four high schools each held their…
Local NAACP branch reacts to boarded-up SLO businesses
On June 3, several businesses in downtown San Luis Obispo boarded up their windows and closed in anticipation of protests in the following days. One of those protests was hosted by the NAACP SLO County Branch, which released a statement on June 5 saying the businesses’ reaction was hurtful. At the request of city staff,…
Protests continue against police violence with peaceful event in downtown SLO
Calling for peaceful talking amid “picket lines and picket signs” instead of punishing with brutality, Marvin Gaye’s words echoed throughout downtown San Luis Obispo on Thursday as protesters peacefully gathered for another rally and march against police violence and systemic racism. The San Luis Obispo County chapter of the NAACP, R.A.C.E. Matters SLO, and Cal…
Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP leads rally, march honoring the life of George Floyd
At 4:40 p.m. on June 4, the plaza outside Santa Maria City Hall starts filling with community members. A podium with a blue and yellow NAACP banner draped over the front sits adjacent to the plaza’s iconic mother and son statue. Someone stands near the entrance of the plaza, handing out schedules for today’s event:…
Santa Barbara County, Santa Maria release proposed budgets reflecting COVID-related losses
COVID-19’s financial impact on local governments is becoming clear as jurisdictions release their proposed budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. Santa Barbara County is estimating a $52.4 million hit from the pandemic through both revenue losses and additional costs during the ongoing and upcoming fiscal years, according to a summary prepared by the Santa Barbara…
SLO city passes reduced budget with more funds for diversity task force
Amid the COVID-19 crisis and local protests over police racism and brutality, on June 2, the San Luis Obispo City Council passed a 2020-21 budget with $4.7 million in cuts due to coronavirus impacts, but with a boost in funding for diversity and inclusion efforts. In a staff report, city officials detailed how “steep revenue…
South County Poetry spotlights Central Coast writer and artist George Asdel
In light of South County Poetry’s ongoing suspension of in-person meetings in Arroyo Grande, organizer Sarah Green recently posted a tribute to Central Coast poet George Asdel, who was originally scheduled as one of the group’s featured poets for the month of May. Along with a collection of Asdel’s poems, which can be found on…
Downtown SLO storefronts reopen with new safety protocols during COVID-19 pandemic
After months of closed-up storefronts, few cars, and absent footsteps, much of downtown San Luis Obispo has reopened for in-person shopping during the coronavirus pandemic—but with new safety measures in place. San Luis Obispo County received the all-clear to open up shops on May 20, when the county met the requirements to move into Stage…
COVID-19 antibody tests are readily available, but medical experts warn of their inaccuracy
Editor’s note: This is the second installment of a two-part account of getting tested for COVID-19. In our government’s rush to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a flurry of emergency approvals for COVID-19 tests, drugs, and medical devices, authorizing their use without “adequate, approved, and available alternatives.”…
SLO County’s bars remain closed unless they offer food
Not as easy as 1-2-3 For more info on restaurant reopening guidelines, visit covid19.ca.gov/roadmap or abc.ca.gov/law-and-policy/coronavirus19. Let me get this straight. Per the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (the ABC): You can sell booze with a secure lid (sippy cup?) as long as you post open-container warnings in the restaurant and online. Drive-through alcohol…
Concerts in the Plaza goes virtual
Let’s see. It’s June, not quite halfway through the year. We’re in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, murder hornets are supposedly en route, and now there’s rioting in American cities including SLO Town. Or was ours a riot? Maybe it was a peaceful protest ginned up into a riot by the SLOPD firing tear…
Summer Guide 2020
With all that’s happening, we didn’t forget to put together our annual Summer Guide issue for you! The activities and events are a smidge different than in other years, but Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood can show you what’s out there!
Right to protest
My name is Sophie Stebbins. I’m 18, and I’ll be graduating from Cuesta College in the spring. I am a proud graduate of FPCS, member of the Cuesta arts community, and a worker at the Cuesta library. I live in Los Osos. I was at the protests on Sunday, May 31, and Monday, June 1,…
Conservative cannabis take
“Don’t bogart that joint, my friend, pass it over to meeeeeeeee … .” Ooops … sorry. I was just channeling my 18-year-old self. Where was I? Oh, yeah. I have noticed that a debate over the growing of cannabis in SLO County has been raging for a while. As a child of the ’60s, I…
Take a knee
First, law enforcement shot demonstrators with pepper spray balls and tear gas. Second, downtown merchants started boarding up their windows. Umm, hey guys? You up there in the SLO Town establishment (I’m talking to you SLO Police Chief Deanna “El Pollo Loco” Cantrell and you SLO Mayor Heidi “No More Tear Gas” Harmon)—maybe I will…
Local organizations discuss protests and long-term change
With a focus on addressing violence and instigating sustainable change, the NAACP SLO County branch is hosting an action on June 4 in front of the San Luis Obispo County Courthouse at 5 p.m. “The hashtag we have is #WeAreDoneDying, but nobody is going to stop dying as long as we spend our lives thinking…
June 1 protesters criticize police use of tear gas
Stopping traffic on the freeway. Standing face to face with more than 100 law enforcement officers dressed head to toe in riot gear. Pepper balls and tear gas. Cal Poly sophomore Ashley Rios saw it all on June 1. Rios, like so many other attendees, heard about the June 1 protest through word of mouth…
Downtown SLO shuts down for protests
A number of downtown businesses in SLO closed down and boarded up windows on June 3 in anticipation of coming rallies and protests of police racism. At the request of city staff, Downtown SLO sent a memo to its member business owners on June 3 notifying them of coming protests. The memo recommended several precautionary…
Protesters march in Paso Robles
Blocking traffic in the city core throughout the day, protesters marched through the streets of Paso Robles on June 2, decrying police brutality and racism. Shouting chants like, “Say his name! George Floyd!” “We don’t trust you. We can’t trust you,” and, “No justice, no peace. No racist police,” a few hundred people, mostly local…
SLO County is asking tourists to stay away for now, but is it working?
Located just a few miles northeast of Arroyo Grande amid the rolling hills that make up SLO County wine country, The Casitas Estate markets itself as the ideal venue for a picture-perfect destination wedding—complete with a vineyard, shuttle services, and four luxury hotel rooms that can hold up to 10 guests. The coming warmer months…
The High Note is pay-per-view charmer
THE HIGH NOTE What’s it rated? PG-13What’s it worth, Anna? MatineeWhat’s it worth, Glen? Full priceWhere’s it showing? Pay $19.99 to stream on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Xfinity, Vudu, Google Play, Fandango Now Nisha Ganatra (Chutney Popcorn, Fast Food High, Cake, Last Night) directs this screenplay by Flora Greeson about superstar singer Grace Davis (Tracee…
Left Coast T-Shirt Company launches campaign to help local businesses
Buy some tees and show your support! Visit hereforgoodslo.com to see the large selection of fundraising T-shirts available thanks to the Left Coast T-Shirt Company. Many of your favorite local businesses and organizations are participating. It’s a great idea, and Left Coast T-Shirt Company owner David Whitaker wishes he could take credit for it. But…
The Vast of Night
What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2019 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime Andrew Patterson directs this sci-fi film about two teenagers living in 1950s Cayuga, New Mexico. Fay (Sierra McCormick) is a switchboard operator, and Everett (Jake Horowitz) is a radio DJ. They discover and begin investigating a strange radio frequency. The story takes place over…
SLO County Public Libraries to host Summer Reading 2020 program online
The County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries will hold its Summer Reading 2020 program, entitled Imagine Your Story, online through Beanstack, an app participants can find in app stores or online (slolibrary.beanstack.org). The program began on June 1 and will run through July 31. Patrons of all ages are welcome to join simply by…
Dick Tracy
What’s it rated? PG When? 1990 Where’s it showing? HBO Warren Beatty (Heaven Can Wait, Reds, Bulworth, Rules Don’t Apply) directs and stars in this action crime comic-strip-brought-to-life about the intrepid, straight-as-an-arrow crime fighter who finds his life complicated when nightclub singer Breathless Mahoney (Madonna) hits on him as he’s investigating Big Boy Caprice’s (Al…
