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Rescue money: SLO County and its cities are getting $85 million in federal stimulus funds, but there are rules on how to spend it
A “once-in-a-generation” financial windfall is coming to San Luis Obispo County courtesy of the American Rescue Plan. The $1.9 trillion federal stimulus bill, signed into law on March 11, allocated $130 billion in direct aid to local governments, and SLO County and its seven cities are in line to receive $85 million. More than half…
SLO County’s vaccine lottery will still prioritize at-risk residents
Despite recently opening its COVID-19 vaccine lottery to any resident over age 16, San Luis Obispo County says it will continue to prioritize at-risk populations for appointments at its three clinics. “Yes, SLO County will continue to make sure that community members who are [at the] highest risk of severe COVID-19 illness are next in…
SLO’s safe parking program off to a slow start
A recently opened “safe parking” area for local homeless residents at Railroad Square in San Luis Obispo has seen little to no participation since it launched three weeks ago, according to its operator, the Community Action Partnership of SLO County (CAPSLO). “Most nights it’s nothing,” said Grace McIntosh, deputy director of CAPSLO. “My hope is…
Carbajal, Senate colleagues request transparency in Space Command headquarter selection process
U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and California’s senators are requesting transparency in the Department of Defense’s upcoming process for determining STARCOM’s Headquarters after the department’s U.S. Space Command decisions left them with questions. In 2019, Vandenberg Air Force Base was initially selected as a finalist for the U.S. Space Command Headquarters. “The governors of…
Morro Bay just got what every city needs—a butcher shop
Order up Morro Bay Butcher and Deli is at 911 Main St., morrobaybutcher.com, and @morrobaybutcher on Facebook and Instagram. It’s open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Morro Bay Butcher and Deli aims to bring customers meat that’s as local as possible and handled as little as possible. Butcher Geoff Montgomery, who…
Morro Bay discusses battery plant
A 22-acre, 600-megawatt battery plant could begin construction in Morro Bay as early as 2022. On March 29, Morro Bay City Councilmember Dawn Addis and Mayor John Headding—members of the Morro Bay City Council power plant subcommittee—hosted a virtual discussion with representatives of Texas-based retail electricity and power generation company Vistra Energy. Vistra Energy initially…
Why isn’t there a COVID-19 vaccine waitlist?
I was just informed by the county that I can’t get a vaccine appointment for next week. And then I read your article saying many people don’t show up for their appointments (“SLO County sees increase in no-shows for vaccine appointments,” March 23). How can this be a surprise? Why is there no waiting list?…
Nobody offers action-packed male escapist fantasy
NOBODY What’s it rated? R When? 2021 Where’s it showing? Galaxy Theatres, Park Cinemas What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry) directs this script by Derek Kolstad (John Wick) about seemingly mild-mannered family man Hutch Mansell (Bob Odenkirk), whose life is in a comfortable rut. Then…
We have work to do to fight injustice
Remarks on “Good Trouble” by Rick Uhls of United Methodist Church (March 11) are a powerful reminder of the work we (all) face to call out and end racism. Hate in any form is violence, whether it be the injustice of unaffordable housing, poverty, hunger, or any other of myriad manifestations of societal injustice. These…
Promising Young Woman
What’s it rated? R When? 2021 Where’s it showing? Redbox If you’ve ever been the drunk girl at the bar, you’re probably familiar with Cassie’s plight—you get in a spot where you need some help or someone to show a bit of kindness and call you an Uber, but instead some skeezy dude decides you’re…
Shut Diablo down now
No, Mr. Henry, the increased maintenance activity at the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant is not a conspiracy by public officials and PG&E (“The year the music died,” March 25). Unit 2 was offline 25 percent of the time during 2020 and has been offline most of 2021 so far because of problems with the stator.…
Firefly Lane
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2021 Where’s it showing? Netflix Sarah Chalke and Katherine Heigl play gal pals Kate and Tully, who met as teens when Tully moved to town and the two became instant friends, a friendship that has endured into their 40s. Tully is a wildly famous talk show star; Kate is an…
Stop dangerous drilling!
More than 7 million Californians live within 1 mile of an oil or gas well. Living near oil and gas wells is linked with an increased risk of cancer, asthma, and high-risk pregnancies. Senate Bill 467, the “dangerous drilling bill,” was introduced into the California Legislature by Sens. Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) and Scott Wiener…
Brass Mash will play horn-driven pop, rock, and funk tunes on April 2 at Liquid Gravity
With its open back patio, food trucks, and killer beer, Liquid Gravity is turning out to be the place to go for live music, and the band to see is Brass Mash, which plays the first Friday of every month, including this Friday, April 2, from 6 to 9 p.m. “We’re playing monthly and spending…
Nuclear power is reliable and clean
“Renewable” energy is probably useful for some small part of our consumption. However, when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, it is not a solution, and our current level of battery technology will not enable it to do significantly more. Even if it could provide sufficient power for everything we do (which…
Bring back real democracy
What about an Equal Rights Amendment for women? Well, the whole concept seems almost passé today after a big effort in the 1970s failed. One of the obstacles to a 21st century Equal Rights Amendment is that men, especially those in positions of financial and political power, seem to be slipping backward. They like women…
On dunes and history
As historic moments go on the Central Coast, 9 p.m. on March 18, 2021, and the 10 minutes or so leading up to it, will always be hard to beat. That’s when it began to dawn on hundreds of people who had hung on to the end of that day’s marathon meeting of the California…
NIMBY magic
I don’t know what’s worse, a bunch of Cambrians in their seventh year of bickering over an expensive already-built water facility that’s not being used or a bunch of Grover Beachers saying homeless people shouldn’t get to stay at the city park when those same residents pitched a gigantic fit in 2019 over a facility…
Local hire provision holds up Central Coast Blue project agreement
The Arroyo Grande City Council voted on March 23 that it will not sign a multi-city agreement with Grover Beach and Pismo Beach to move forward on the Central Coast Blue water project unless it includes a local hire provision—setting up a standoff between the three cities. While Pismo’s and Grover’s city councils both signed…
Shot primarily in Santa Maria, new feature-length film Coast premieres at Santa Barbara International Film Festival
Show times Find out more about Coast online at coastthefeature.com. For more info on the film’s screenings as part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, visit sbiff.org. “I wrote this script 10 years ago. It’s strange to have to talk about it now, since so much time has passed,” Cindy Kitagawa said, referring to…
Grover Beach plans big changes at Ramona Park
Grover Beach residents can expect to see a lot of changes at Ramona Garden Park in the coming years, including the demolition of a gazebo that some homeless residents use for overnight shelter. At a meeting on March 22, Grover Beach City Council approved the city’s capital improvement program for fiscal years 2022-26, a plan…
Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre presents a virtual duet compilation
On Saturday, April 10, the Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre will present a virtual compilation of 17 students performing duets from various musicals. The event will start streaming at 7:30 p.m. and is part of Cal Poly’s 28th annual Open House programming (which takes place virtually, Thursday, April 8, through Saturday, April 10). The participating…
Activists say DA’s requested gag order will silence protesters
The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office filed a motion on March 26 seeking a gag order against Tianna Arata and three other Black Lives Matter protesters and their respective attorneys, citing a collective media campaign that’s influencing the county’s jury pool. On March 29, about 40 people gathered in front of the DA’s…
Cambria’s advanced water treatment facility gets a new name, but the project’s future use is still debated
Within the Cambria community, there are two views of the intended use of the Community Services District’s advanced water treatment facility: Either it’s meant to support future growth, or it serves as insurance in the event of a drought. The facility’s current permit, which is temporary, says it can only run during a stage 3…
Wildling Museum hosts Zoom talk with Chuck Graham, author of Carrizo Plain: Where the Mountains Meet the Grasslands
On Wednesday, April 14, the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature will host its next virtual program via Zoom, Chuck Graham: Hidden Wonders of the Carrizo Plain, from 4 to 5 p.m. A local photographer and author, Graham recently released his new book, Carrizo Plain: Where the Mountains Meet the Grasslands. During the Zoom program,…
Central Coast Brewing transforms its parking lot into an outdoor movie theater—with dinner and a show—every Tuesday
Every year Central Coast Brewing President and Founder George Peterson throws a big anniversary celebration in his brewery’s parking lot at 1422 Monterey St. And every year since Central Coast Brewing opened 23 years ago, doing so has been a giant pain in the ass. When it comes to serving alcohol and running a business…
SLO County, state sign agreement on Blue Shield vaccine distribution
San Luis Obispo County inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state on March 30 that sets the ground rules for COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the region—something many anxious counties are now doing as Blue Shield assumes control of the statewide vaccination network. Local officials say the agreement helps preserve SLO County’s control over…
