Cover Story
Morro Bay’s big gamble
The city of Morro Bay has money problems. Serious money problems. Residents are nervous and city officials have been busy trying to explain the budget – everything’s under control, this was the plan, etc. But residents attending the Morro Bay City Council meetings don’t necessarily believe the Council. They want action now, but they don’t want…
Pass the bug spray, please
EOC no sooner announces new plans for a homeless shelter in Atascadero than the vagrant roaches come crawling out of the woodwork. This weekend roaches with their cardboard sings were at the on/off ramps of Santa Rosa and Curbaril. They were also at the Long’s and Vons shopping centers. One even had a sign that…
Faulty physics
The last thing the neutrino experiment needs is the misconceptions Mr. Stratton expressed in “Neutrinos: friend or foe?â€? (Letters, March 17-24). With polls showing a 4-to-1 margin in favor of it, the public understands its importance, unlike Mr. Stratton. Let me make it clear: Mr. Stratton’s letter is wrong. He simply refuses to accept well-documented…
Local radio loses one of the good guys
Christ, it was as big as a billboard and he didn’t even see it and it cost him his life. We may never know the answer when all is said and done, but it really doesn’t matter. Paul Kelly is dead. Kelly was the news director and news anchor of KVEC-AM talk radio in San…
Give trout a break
Critically endangered steelhead trout are now attempting to migrate upstream from the ocean to spawn. Under impossible odds, this nearly extinct species must swim across a “roadâ€? and risk near-certain death under the wheels of vehicles at the mouth of Arroyo Grande Creek, the principal access to the Off Highway Vehicle Recreation Area. Attention State…
Let’s hear it for KCBX
In a letter dated March 10-17, Christopher Ferrantelli discussed the 6 1/2-hour block of KCBX public affairs programming that features material often referred to as “progressiveâ€? or “alternative.â€? The reference to the amount of time devoted to this genre gave the impression that some might consider this excessive. A tally of the weekly programming hours…
Support the Coastal Commission
The California Coastal Commission is the premier coastal protection program in the nation. However, steady budget cuts over the years have severely reduced its staff and mission. Billions of dollars are generated by coastal tourism every year. In order to protect the coast we need a guaranteed source of funding for the Commission. Let your…
Celebrations aren’t just about money
In response to the March 17-24 commentary “Green with envyâ€? by Marvin Sosna: St. Patrick’s Day is a lot different in Ireland than Mardi Gras is in the United States. St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of Ireland’s culture, whereas Mardi Gras is more of an excuse to party (outside of Louisiana) in the United…
Morro Bay needs Duke to stay
I have watched in dismay as both my company and my city have struggled to overcome serious adverse economic conditions over the past few years. My company has worked very hard to find a way to become profitable in California. Mayor Peters and the Morro Bay City Council members seem determined to bankrupt city coffers…
Good planning makes the difference
Marvin Sosna brought up an interesting point with his commentary on the St. Patrick’s Day party in Dublin. Now that the holiday has passed and the damage has been counted, we can compare it the damage of Mardi Gras ’04: 150,000 tourists poured into Dublin on March 17. Police arrested 252 people. In 2004, 4,000…
When compromise isn’t
The Hearst Corporation and the state of California solidified a landmark deal this past February. All the uncalloused hands have been shook, but I’m left wondering: Are there still citizens opposed to this development scheme disguised in do-gooders finery? The people got 82,000 acres — including 13 miles of coastline — plus slimmed down development…
Don’t be fooled by ‘engulf-and-devour syndrome’
The destruction of independent ranchers by a hyper-consolidated, monopolized meatpacking industry both is and is not “a partisan issueâ€? (“What’s the beef?,â€? Mar. 17-24) — likewise the destruction of family farms, small businesses, and independent media outlets by the same engulf-and-devour syndrome that started eating this country 25 years ago. The historical record is clear:…
Time to audit Cal Poly!
Ever wonder what Cal Poly spends your hard-earned tax dollars on, as nearly 78 percent of its $180 million annual budget comes from the state general fund? That’s nearly $11,000 per student! Ever wonder why there is a major shortfall of student housing (15,000 beds) on campus? Ever wonder why the westside and Foothill areas…
Blakeslee was a hit in Atascadero
A big thank you to Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee for a very informative Town Hall meeting in Atascadero on March 10. Not only was it well attended, the assemblyman did not duck any questions. His overview of the state’s budget was informative and well presented. Thanks again Assemblyman Blakeslee, and come back again to the North…
Tipping the scales of justice
I can’t stand it when someone says that there’s nothing to write about, because there’s always something to write about. Right now, for instance, at this very moment, some prominent city leader is making a very bad and potentially illegal decision that would make a fantastic topic to write about, only I don’t know what…
St. Patrick’s Day is not harmless
Marvin Sosna claims that our county “has it all wrong about Mardi Gras.â€? As Mr. Sosna offhandedly suggests, these religious festivals, be it Mardi Gras or Saint Patrick’s Day, are about “dance contests, a treasure hunt through town, concerts, art shows,â€? and perhaps even drinking. I never knew topless girls or angry riots fell into…
No Headline
Sunny Acres residents ordered to leave It’s almost over for Sunny Acres. Residents of the clean-and-sober living facility on Dan DeVaul’s Los Osos Valley Road ranch must leave by March 31. That’s the county’s plan, at least, that all of the residents will be gone and DeVaul’s property will begin to resemble a ranch and…
Los Osos interest group privy to secret CSD agenda
If the Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) could just get through five minutes of a meeting without a personal attack on a citizen or a board member’s face turning red with rage, it would be a day for the history books. But instead it’s just business as usual. In the latest twist of small-town…
