Cover Story
As SLO County’s political landscape starts to shift after redistricting, three supervisor seats are up for election this June
Bruce Gibson sounded almost giddy. The longtime North Coast San Luis Obispo County supervisor had just gotten off of KPRL’s Sound Off—the popular North County conservative radio program—when he called New Times on March 31. “I had such a good time,” Gibson said. “Nobody who listens to that radio station is going to vote for…
Showtime
Strap in, everybody. It’s time for another episode of Local Politics. In one corner, we have all the conservatives running for nonpartisan positions, and in the other corner we have all the liberals running for nonpartisan positions. Why do we bother with the nonpartisan ruse, eh? It’s us against them, from Assembly member to supervisor…
Surfliner’s up
The Pacific Surfliner train runs along the Pacific coast, extending from San Luis Obispo, cutting through Santa Barbara, and ending at its southernmost destination in San Diego. The surfliner is provided by Amtrak, but overseen by the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo (LOSSAN) Rail Corridor Agency—a joint powers authority used to give more local control…
The Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival returns to Laguna Lake Park on May 13-14
If you’re curious about whether the kids are alright, look no further than the Shabang Live Music & Arts Festival, a magnet for the college-age crowd that returns to Laguna Lake Park on Friday and Saturday, May 13 and 14. Think of it as our own little Coachella—fun in the sun and dancing into the…
Addis’ AD 30 campaign raises more money than all opponents combined
Democrat Dawn Addis has raised more money than any of her opponents so far in the race for the 30th Assembly District. Her highest contributions include money from a local CEO and a statewide police union. Addis raised more than $270,000 with donations ranging from as small as $25 to the maximum donation of $4,900…
League of Women Voters files motion to join SLO County redistricting lawsuit
The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County wants to join the legal fight against SLO County’s controversial redistricting map. In a May 10 press release, the League announced that it had filed a motion in SLO County Superior Court to join as a party in the pending lawsuit accusing county supervisors of…
Cambria Center for the Arts’ Entanglements III show highlights fiber artists
Entangle yourself Entanglements III will run at the Cambria Center for the Arts, 1350 Main St., through June 26. The gallery is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. “I was always fascinated by the creative process, to come up with the idea,” Gedayloo said. “I have an idea and I try…
Oceano Advisory Council set to examine local airport renovation
San Luis Obispo County’s proposed renovation of the airport campground in the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) sparked community concern and confusion about the purpose of a place that primarily caters to private pilots. “Within the last 10 years, easily, there has been talk about what is the point of the airport. Who does it…
Great American Melodrama presents The Mark of Morro
The Great American Melodrama in Oceano premiered its latest production, The Mark of Morro, at the beginning of May. Performances of the show are scheduled to run through Saturday, June 18. The plot of The Mark of Morro follows a shy college student, Mark, who “loves nothing more than reading about his favorite comic book…
SLO High students rally for reproductive rights
Despite receiving some pushback from school administrators, San Luis Obispo High School senior Eden Lerner is determined to make her voice heard about reproductive rights. Lerner is organizing a student walkout on May 12 to protest the recently leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn the landmark court decision Roe v. Wade, which protected…
Coalesce Bookstore hosts book signing with children’s cookbook co-author Teri Ecker
Teri Ecker will be signing copies of her new book, Queen Bee’s Alphabet Cookbook: A Nutrition Guide for Families, at the Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay on Saturday, May 28, from 1 to 3 p.m. The cookbook—written by Teri and Mariah Ecker—is described as a guide for young children to learn healthy habits and basic…
Grover Beach declares Stage 2 water shortage
Grover Beach progressed to a Stage 2 water shortage emergency after almost a year of saving water in a Stage 1 shortage declaration. Water customers will also get some respite, as the City Council unanimously decided at its May 9 meeting to pause penalties on water conservation violations. “Council enacted a Stage 2 water shortage…
Kramer Estate Wines in Paso Robles hosts Comedy Night
Claude Stuart, Clay Newman, and other comedians will perform during an upcoming Comedy Night event at Kramer Estate Wines in Paso Robles. The event takes place on Saturday, May 14, from 7 to 10 p.m. Admission is $30. Call (805) 238-0083 for more info. Kramer Estate Wines is located at 825 Riverside Ave., unit 16,…
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a jumbled story but visual feast
Set a few months after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), this sequel to Doctor Strange (2016) is directed by Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead, The Quick and the Dead, Spider-Man). Dr. Steven Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) was a notable surgeon with an outsized ego who endured a terrible car accident that damaged his…
ONX crafts exceptional wines and memorable experiences
Options for everyone ONX locations include the estate vineyard at 1200 Paseo Excelsus in Templeton and the tasting room and winery in Tin City at 2910 Limestone Way in Paso Robles. ONX’s latest releases will be showcased at the Paso Wine Fest from May 19 to 22. For more information about the winery, visit onxwines.com.…
Anatomy of a Scandal
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2022 Where’s it showing? Netflix David E. Kelley has us unraveling a mystery as this six-part series unfolds. Prosecutor Kate Woodcroft is obsessively entrenched in her case against Parliament Minister James Whitehouse. Her own dark history is teased out as we also see—through flashbacks—how the two characters are intertwined by…
Tokyo Vice
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2022 Where’s it showing? HBO Max This neo-noir crime drama follows Jake Adelstein (Ansel Elgort), a rookie reporter from Missouri who’s fluent in Japanese, who in 1999 moves to Tokyo and becomes the first Westerner hired by prestigious Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. Relegated to reporting on lightweight nonsense but determined…
Democracy on the ballot
Imagine if the team winning the Super Bowl could set next year’s NFL rules. Does the winning team have a fantastic punter? Starting in 2023, field goals will be worth three points, not one. Or is the winning manager an in-your-face type of guy? Going forward, his first chest bump gets just a warning. Is…
What’s up with Schakofsy and cannabis?
The SLO BF Roots project was approved on May 3 by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors with a 4-1 vote (Debbie Arnold dissenting), rejecting the appeal filed by a neighbor appellant group publicly led by Christina Maldonado and orchestrated by Murray Powell. This fully compliant project, in process for more than four…
Dear Russell Hodin
Regarding your satire on Stacy Korsgarden’s plan to help with the homeless population (April 28): Besides being rude, it’s is also very ignorant. Have you ever met Stacy Korsgarden? Have you actually considered her plan? Or are you one of those who just sits and waits for the problem to go away? I am curious…
We do, indeed, need a qualified clerk-recorder
I agree with Christine Mulholland’s letter about the need for a “qualified clerk-recorder” (“We need a qualified clerk-recorder,” May 5). Elaina Cano, the appointed clerk-recorder, is the only qualified candidate experienced in managing clerk-recorder’s offices and elections. I watched the interviews of prospective appointees before the Board of Supervisors, and Ms. Cano was transparent, nonpartisan,…
My vote for the 2nd District
I have worked with Geoff Auslen on the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce board of directors. One of the things I found out about him is that his passions and his actions match up. He wasn’t the person to say “the board should do xyz” with the attitude that someone else should do the job. Whenever…
Keeping Diablo open will cost us money
Extending the license for Diablo Canyon Power Plant even for a few years would be very expensive for the rate-payers and taxpayers of California. Diablo is an aging plant and as such faces ever-increasing maintenance expenditures. Moreover, the continued and increased storage of dangerous high level nuclear wastes would result in substantial additional costs and…
