Cover Story
Tracing a virus: SLO County ups its contact tracing game as it tries to slow the spread of COVID-19
If you receive a call from a number that begins with 805-781 or 805-788, according to readyslo.org, it could be a contact tracer checking in on you or notifying you of possible exposure to the coronavirus. Any individual who tests positive for the coronavirus in San Luis Obispo County, or elsewhere in the state of…
Expiring unemployment benefits affects thousands of Santa Barbara County residents
When the $600 weekly boost to unemployment benefits expires at the end of July, nearly 25,000 Santa Barbara County residents will lose assistance that’s been vital in their ability to pay rent and put food on their table, 2nd District Supervisor Gregg Hart said during a press conference on July 28. Without that extra $600,…
Lompoc allows additional businesses to operate outside
Lompoc City Council unanimously approved a proclamation at their July 21 meeting that temporarily suspends city regulations that prohibit outdoor operations of city businesses. City Manager Jim Throop, acting as director of emergency services, first issued the proclamation on July 16 to allow businesses like restaurants and retail stores to operate outdoors, as these locations…
SLO reinstates parking fees downtown
It’s been free to park pretty much anywhere in downtown San Luis Obispo since the COVID-19 pandemic started, but, like so many of the other gestures implemented at the beginning of the pandemic, free parking is coming to an end. In a recent Instagram post, the city of SLO announced that it would once again…
SLO police explain protest organizer’s arrest charges
San Luis Obispo police defended its recent arrest of prominent Black youth organizer Tianna Arata, which occurred after a July 21 Black Lives Matter protest that included a march on Highway 101 and two altercations with vehicles. Officers arrested Arata on five charges—participation in a riot, unlawful assembly, conspiracy, unlawful imprisonment, and resisting arrest—once the…
Cal Poly study aims to reduce screen usage, even after COVID-19
We’re months into the coronavirus now, and with most of us either jobless or working from home, and with so few businesses fully open, it can feel like the days are filled with nothing but staring at screens. That’s made an ongoing Cal Poly study—which aims to find ways to help people reduce screen time—even…
Lompoc waives rent for YMCA due to COVID-19 losses
After months of lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lompoc Family YMCA recently received some relief when the Lompoc City Council agreed to waive the nonprofit’s rent for the rest of the year. During its meeting on July 21, the council voted to waive the YMCA’s monthly bill of about $568, and agreed…
Santa Maria-Bonita votes in school re-entry plan that starts with distance learning
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District (SMBSD) board voted unanimously to approve a plan to begin the school year with distance learning during its July 22 virtual meeting. The vote came after hours of presentations and discussion, including commentary from the community, consideration of how the district will eventually transition back to in-person learning, and a…
Cal Poly fundraising campaign ends at $832 million
Cal Poly shattered its goal of fundraising $700 million by 2021, announcing on July 22 that it’d raised $832 million in what the school said was the largest capital campaign in university, and CSU, history. The campaign—called The Power of Doing: The Campaign for Learn by Doing—drew nearly 75,000 donors over nearly a decade, with…
Hug your child, because gymnastics hugs aren’t a thing right now
In this crazy world of social distancing, many businesses have had to pivot or perish. As adults, we understand what’s going on, but children are having a harder time. They want to play with their friends. They miss whispering secrets and playing tag. They want to hug their favorite gymnastics coach. That’s me. I work…
‘Honors deferred’
Although Al Fonzi and I both share extended U.S. Army careers (Al, 35 years; me, only 34), his politics differ from mine (he’s more “right,” whereas I’m more “left”). I must commend him for his recent piece, “Honors deferred” (July 16). I could not agree more, and I have shared many similar experiences with my…
To close a funding gap, the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation mounts an online auction
Like many nonprofits, the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation (PRYAF) works tirelessly to fund its programs that serve nearly 400 5- to 18-year-old students. The foundation receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations, community gifts, and private or public funding. Due to the pandemic, the organization’s doors have shuttered, and it finds itself…
R.A.C.E. Matters SLO and Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery co-host The Laboratory Series
The Laboratory Series, a new artist showcase program co-hosted by R.A.C.E. Matters SLO and the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery, kicks off with its first webinar through Zoom on July 23, from 5 to 6 p.m. The event will include a performance and Q-and-A conversation with featured artists Ayana Evans and Tsedaye Makonnen. Evans is…
Fact and fiction
Hey, America! Isn’t it about time that you take some personal responsibility for your actions? Well, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson absolutely does! As he lamented a real “lack of dialogue” in this country to the Republican Party of SLO County on July 6, he lauded the real conservative value of personal responsibility—which…
Local protest leader facing five criminal charges
At 11 p.m. on July 21, a crowd of about 50 huddled together in front of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, waiting for Tianna Arata to be transported to the jail from the San Luis Obispo Police Department. Arata, a prominent Black youth protest organizer in San Luis Obispo, was arrested hours earlier…
RISE announces sixth annual Wine, Women, and Shoes benefit
A virtual iteration of Wine, Women, and Shoes, an annual fundraiser to support RISE San Luis Obispo, will take place on Sept. 13. The broadcast will include a fashion show, silent and live auctions, and boutique shopping experiences for viewers to enjoy from the comfort of their own homes. Proceeds of the virtual event will…
The Pismo Beach Police Department adheres to a rigorous auditing process, but what does that mean for systemic issues?
At a time when there’s mistrust in government and law enforcement at all levels, some institutions have a solid history of transparency and accountability to stand on. The Pismo Beach Police Department has that on its side. Since 2007, the Pismo Beach Police Department has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement…
The Morning Show explores the #MeToo movement through a fictionalized account of the Matt Lauer scandal
THE MORNING SHOW What’s it rated? TV-MA What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Apple TV Using the Matt Lauer sexual harassment scandal as a jumping-off point, The Morning Show looks at the lives of those responsible for creating a popular early morning news program that was…
Murderer of SLO County man could get out early, family blames COVID-19 orders
The grandchildren of a prominent SLO County man who was murdered 40 years ago say their grandfather’s killer is being released from prison early in part because of recent state orders aimed at reducing prison populations amid COVID-19. Edward Joseph Prokop was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to 27 years to life in…
Restaurants on the Edge
What’s it rated? Reality-TV When? 2019 Where’s it showing? Netflix Anyone in the food service industry will tell you that running a successful restaurant takes more time and resources than most people are willing to give. Restaurants on the Edge pairs up three co-hosts with desperate owners to save eateries with one thing in common—a…
CASA of SLO County continues its work with vulnerable youth despite pandemic
Despite the disruptions of COVID-19, the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of San Luis Obispo County continues its work, recently training and swearing in 13 new volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected local youth. “Our volunteers are pretty amazing,” said Katie Robinson, program director at CASA of SLO County. “We’ve been successful…
Hanna (Season 2)
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2020 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime Season 1 wasn’t as good as the 2011 film upon which it was based, and season 2 isn’t as good as season 1, but Hanna is still an engaging action drama that will appeal to fans of female-centric action (think La Femme Nikita, Salt,…
House defense bill includes local items on offshore wind, public lands, dive boat safety
A number of Central Coast initiatives are included in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)—Congress’ annual defense spending bill—which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 21. The “riders” on the bill, if agreed to by the Senate, would give Congress more oversight of negotiations with the Navy about the development of offshore…
After reopening setback, Paso Robles creates more patio space at restaurants and in the city park
Eat outdoors Make reservations for the Downtown City Park’s farmhouse tables from Thursday through Sunday on yelp.com/reservations/downtown-city-park-paso-robles until Labor Day. You can also call (805) 712-0601 with any questions. Order food to-go from Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ at jeffrys.revelup.com/weborder or call (805) 369-2132. Visit the breezy patio at Jeffry’s, Thursday to Monday from 11 a.m.…
Community members push for extension of local eviction moratorium
There’s a lot of confusion over existing and proposed state protections for struggling renters during the COVID-19 pandemic, and one local advocacy group is pushing San Luis Obispo County to extend its now expired moratorium on evictions. The SLO County Rent Relief Coalition, a grassroots organization that lobbies for rent and mortgage relief programs and…
Maeve Steele performs virtual concert benefitting the SLO Food Bank July 29
“Think I’m waiting on ice and I’m going crazy. I’ve been waiting all night in my head lately. I’ve been waiting on ice just to break beneath me (I’ve been waiting all night). Lift me out of control. I fantasize, doing time, I’ve been lying. Been moving so slow, drag me out of my soul.…
We must do better
I read with interest the letter “An apology is in order” (July 16) regarding the removal of the statue of Junipero Serra from the SLO Mission. The author presents Serra as a defender of California’s indigenous people and calls into question the foundation for SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon’s comment that it was a relief to…
My experience as a senior peer counselor
I’ve been volunteering in San Luis Obispo for many years, but not until I became a senior peer counselor at Wilshire Health and Community Services did I realize what wonderful things it did for me. Having the opportunity to go into the homes of older adults and listen to their life stories and be of…
Up against the Balrog
Because this is a column, and I can’t draw, and what I’m about to write is in grave danger of getting technical and there will be acronyms, I’m going to give you a visual analogy that will help you make it through the following. (And you’re going to want to make that effort because, if…
SLO, Paso Robles, Grover Beach send sales tax measures to November ballot
San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, and Grover Beach will all ask voters to raise their local sales taxes this November, as city budgets continue to suffer during the COVID-19 pandemic. In meetings on July 20 and 21, the three city councils voted in favor of 1 percent sales tax measures. SLO residents will also vote…
Nuclear isn’t clean or renewable
Many people in this county who are joining community choice energy options in order to use and support advancing clean energy sources will be very upset when they learn our Assembly member, Jordan Cunningham, has introduced AB 2898 to amend California’s Renewables Portfolio Standard Program allowing nuclear power to be named as a carbon free…
Get Diablo closed
William Gloege (“Keep Diablo open,” July 16) is using old data in his argument to keep the expensive, nuclear waste producing Diablo Canyon Power Plant open. Here’s the current data from government sources: Renewable energy is the fastest-growing energy source in the U.S., increasing 100 percent from 2000 to 2018. Renewables are adding more jobs…
