Cover Story
Harbor dispute: The Port San Luis Harbor District debates its law enforcement’s use of force policies
The Port San Luis Harbor Patrol responds to hundreds of calls for service each year, and in the last 10 years, the agency recorded 22 instances in which its officers used force. In 2014, a Harbor Patrol officer used pepper spray on a person who had smashed in car windows with a metal pole and…
SLO County to offer grants for small businesses and child care centers
Hard-hit small businesses and child care centers in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County will soon be eligible for new grants under a local program approved by the SLO County Board of Supervisors. On March 2, supervisors signed off on a $230,000 package that pulls from the county general fund—allocating $50,000 for small businesses, $55,000 for…
SLO floral installation creates space for the community to grieve COVID-19 losses
Red, pink, and cream roses form a heart near Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa in Downtown San Luis Obispo. As part of the nationwide Floral Heart Project started by artist Kristina Libby, the installation commemorates those who have been impacted by COVID-19 as the U.S. hits the pandemic one-year mark. Flower hearts were placed…
Hundreds of SLO County educators to get vaccines starting March 1
Several hundred San Luis Obispo County educators are in line to get vaccinated during the first week of March as part of a statewide effort to get schools and child care centers reopened. On Feb. 19, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that starting March 1, 10 percent of the state’s weekly doses of COVID-19 vaccine would…
Gallery at Marina Square welcomes new featured artists
Starting on Monday, March 1, Gallery at Marina Square will begin showcasing Chinese brush paintings by Jarien de Ham in its lower gallery and fine art digital paintings by Skye Wright in its upper gallery. Both exhibits are scheduled to remain on display through Monday, March 29. The subjects found in de Ham’s nature paintings…
Seventh Gen First Draft Film Festival seeks short films
The Seventh Gen First Draft Film Festival is currently accepting video submissions centered on eight different beach regions located along the West Coast in California, Oregon, and Washington, including San Luis Obispo County. The festival is specifically seeking short films that highlight Cayucos, Morro Bay, Piedras Blancas, or Pismo Beach. Starting on Sunday, March 21,…
SLO County to receive $17.5 million for tenant and landlord financial aid
Starting in March, local tenants and landlords will be able to apply for financial assistance to cover unpaid back rent under a new state program that’s allocating millions of dollars to San Luis Obispo County. The California Rental Assistance Program—which will launch thanks to new state legislation, Senate Bill 91—is designed for low-income tenants who…
Correction
In the Feb. 11 arts story, “Protecting and painting the Central Coast,” about SLOPE artists painting Santa Rita Ranch, we inadvertently left off the list of artists Tracy Paz, who is also co-chair of their current exhibition, SLOPE Paints the Serene Magic of Santa Rita Ranch, viewable online at slope-painters.com/collections/155114. Δ
Certified passive home in SLO has built-in efficiency
In the quiet neighborhood adjacent to Bishop Peak, a small crew is constructing a home slated to be passive house certified. According to the Passive House Institute, this type of home or building is created for energy efficiency, comfort, and affordability. “Passive houses allow for space heating- and cooling-related energy savings of up to 90…
Euphoria explores youth and addiction
EUPHORIA What’s it rated? TV-MA What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? HBO Max Created by Sam Levinson (Assassination Nation, The Wizard of Lies), Euphoria follows the lives of a group of high school students as they deal with friendship, love, identity, drugs, sex, and trauma. It’s…
With a twist on tradition, Active Coffee Co. serves up hot beverages with spun sugar
Spin out Find Active Coffee Co. in The Creamery Marketplace at 570 Higuera St., suite 190, in downtown San Luis Obispo. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Visit activecoffeeco.com for more info. A spoonful of sugar spins into wisps of feathery white as barista Pablo Arriola deftly twists a paper straw, gathering…
The New York Times Presents Framing Britney Spears (Episode 6)
What’s it rated? TV-MA Where’s it showing? Hulu If you aren’t already aware of the #FreeBritney movement, you are in for a wild ride! If you are familiar with the pop star at all, you probably remember that time when Spears went off the rails, shaved her head, and beat down a paparazzi’s SUV with…
The choice
For nearly 40 years, the California Department of Parks and Recreation has been operating the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, as permitted by the California Coastal Commission in 1982. As permitted, street-legal vehicles have been allowed to drive up and down a 2-mile stretch of beach extending from Grand Avenue in Grover Beach, across…
Judas and the Black Messiah
What’s it rated? R When? 2021 Where’s it showing? HBO Max Shaka King (Newlyweeds) directs this biopic set in the late ’60s about Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya), chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, who comes under the scrutiny of J. Edgar Hoover (Martin Sheen) and the FBI. It’s also the story…
Wake up, Atascadero!
What’s keeping you from joining every other city in San Luis Obispo County in signing up with Central Coast Community Energy (3CE)? It will provide clean, renewable energy at a savings. Atascadero could save money on electricity now costing it more than $600,000 yearly. This could help pay for much needed improvements for our fire…
In 2020, SLO County children experienced higher rates of food insecurity
Children in SLO County experienced hunger at a higher rate than adults did in 2020, according to the SLO Food Bank. At the start of last year, approximately 46,000 residents in the county were struggling with food insecurity. Once the pandemic’s impacts were felt locally, the SLO Food Bank found that hunger in the county…
State Parks’ failure
Thank you to the California Coastal Commission for its futurist reimaging of the park in the newly released staff report for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Due to the park’s closure to OHVs last year, many people have for the first time experienced the magnificence of the Oceano Dunes. This area is a…
New state guidelines allow for youth sports return
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) released new guidance on returning to competition for youth and recreational adult sports, but Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham believes it should have happened a lot sooner. The guidelines, which take effect beginning Feb. 26, categorize sports based on the level of contact between participants. Low contact sports are those…
The green-energy chimera
Webster’s defines a chimera as “an impossible or foolish fancy.” After the massive electrical power outages that took place in Texas last week you would think that progressive Democrats would re-think their obsession with coercive green-energy mandates. Naturally they are doubling down and refusing to accept the obvious: Alternative energy sources such as wind and…
Lies and videotape
Being a police officer sucks these days. They used to get away with murder—literally—but now the public is holding them accountable. Sheesh, right?!? I’d be huffy too if I couldn’t get away with lying when, historically, police have been able to lie about any and everything. So last week when the SLO Police Department presented…
Atascadero’s Colony Square owners ask for help to delay foreclosure
During its Feb. 23 meeting, the Atascadero City Council acknowledged COVID-19’s significant impact on the Colony Square business center and vowed to help delay the property’s possible foreclosure. Cinema Square LLC leases commercial property within Colony Square to Galaxy Theatres Atascadero, Ques Pasa! Mexican Cafe, and SloDoCo. Due to stay-at-home orders, the businesses underwent temporary…
SLO city tries to lower temperature on police debate
A week after a contentious Feb. 16 discussion about the San Luis Obispo Police Department’s use of tear gas last summer, SLO City Council members offered their apologies and regrets to the police force and staff—lamenting that the discussion devolved into “mean,” “abusive,” and “unhelpful” attacks during public comment. Mayor Heidi Harmon took responsibility for…
SLO County elementary schools prepare to reopen
A number of local school districts are preparing to bring some students back in the coming weeks as a result of San Luis Obispo County’s declining cases of COVID-19 and new state and federal reopening guidelines for schools. According to updated guidelines released by the California Department of Public Health in mid-January, elementary schools are…
SLO moves to rid parks of tents amid influx of homeless
San Luis Obispo city parks will soon get new signage to communicate a ban on camping-style tents on park grounds—a move that comes as a growing number of homeless residents have sought shelter at public squares like Mitchell Park. With more tents popping up across the park in recent months, resident complaints and concerns about…
Local experimental trio, Bunkers, releases their third album
I’m always a little weirded out when I realize a local band has completely flown under my radar. How did I miss them? Such is the case with local experimental trio Bunkers, who recently sent me a link to their third album, Exit Weather. The band, which includes Andrew Grivjack, Matt Wilder, and Michael vandenBerg,…
The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival goes virtual March 9 to 14
BYO red carpet This year, film buffs and festival enthusiasts can attend the virtual SLO International Film Festival in their own home theaters (aka living rooms) March 9 through 14, with the exception of Surf Nite on March 10 at Sunset Drive-In. Visit slofilmfest.org for more info. About a year ago, the SLO International Film…
