Cover Story
From homebrew to pay-at-the-pump
#Jason Hoar is standing in a parking lot off Prado Road and building gas pumps in the air with his hands. Here’s where they’ll be, he says, and holds his hands on their imaginary sides. Hoar walks behind a tall chain-link fence and continues the tour of his gas station. “The fuel tanks will go…
Keep your cats indoors
It would greatly sadden me if either of Mr. Gorman’s companion animals were to be eaten by a mountain lion (“Cambria does not have too many cats,” Letters, May 19-26). I am also saddened that mountain lions are often shot due to ignorance and misconception. The fact is we have chosen to live in mountain…
Get a grip, Casey Jones
Re: Online Inquisition, May 19-26: I do not like any of the answers. Actually, it is a trick question: If a train leaves Santa Barbara at 9 a.m. on its way to SLO, and hits a cow in Santa Maria at 3 p.m., then the train is lost! Amtrak tracks do not go through Santa…
First Amendment fight
Michael Tocher thought he had an honorable way to publicly remember soldiers – his plan was to go to Santa Barbara on Veterans Day and read the names of those wounded and killed in Iraq. But as a result, the Nipomo resident and electrical engineer ended up in handcuffs. On Nov. 10, the night before…
It’s easy being green
School is nearly out, but the Cal Poly Solar Decathlon team will be working all summer; what they started several weeks ago must be finished by this fall. On May 12, at their kickoff event for a sustainable-building competition, they threw a party. There were root-beer floats, cake, an electric car, and a solar-powered P.A.…
Have compassion for a fellow human being
This letter is in response to Joe Erikat (“Steve who?” Letters, May 12-19) and Steve Kobara (“I will not miss Steve,” Letters, May 12-19). What the hell is wrong with you two? It’s your kind of insensitive callousness toward the life and death of a fellow human being that makes it clear to me why…
Steve Moss, one more time
Yes, for bringing us New Times, Steve Moss deserves our thanks and his due credit for contributing to our community. But the extended and personal nature of what you printed about him could serve only those who knew the man personally, or felt a craving to know him personally. This suggests that the New Times…
Don’t go there
Jeff Hansen wants to take a leak wherever the hell he wants, and he doesn’t want to have to break his bank to do it. Actually, he’s just speaking up for others who might want to take a leak wherever the hell they want. For all I know, he dutifully pees into porcelain each and…
Shredder is missing the big picture
To the Shredder, re your column of May 19-25, the item concerning the ongoing Los Osos circus: The item under discussion is a wastewater treatment plant, not a “sewer.” WWTPs (pun intended) rarely stink. I lived within 1 1/2 miles of the SLO one for 7 1/2 years without ever smelling any effluent. Mr. Buel…
What the County’s Talking About This Week
Blakeslee to donate pay increase to charity California rank-and-file legislators were awarded a 12 percent pay raise this week. Local Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee said he would donate his raise to the Prado Day Center and North County Women’s shelter. “You know, I was hired at this rate and I’m not comfortable accepting a raise in…
Mr. Garrett, not the wiring, is the problem
With regard to New Times’ sympathetic article (“Developer sues Paso resident for libel,” May 12-19) covering Doug Garrett’s “warning” to Montebello homeowners, New Times readers should be aware that Fallingstar Homes has never had a complaint concerning its electrical installations, except from Mr. Garrett. For decades light switches in homes all over America have not…
Mardi Gras cost Central Coast $1.1 million
A new report by the San Luis Obispo Police Department details the high points and lack of problems with February’s riot-free Mardi Gras, and explains how the city had to pay about half of $1.1 million in planning, construction, and law enforcement costs. In the report, Police Chief Deborah Linden warmly congratulates her department, the…
Attack the person, not the issue
First, thank you, New Times, for printing my letter, “I will not miss Steve.” (May 12-19.) Now kindly allow me to respond to invective being slung at me by Ms. Titsworth and Mr. Steed (“What if your loved one died?”, “Mr. Kobara must have brain damage,” Letters, May 19-26): You obviously don’t understand that being…
America’s No. 1 priority
To the residents of San Luis Obispo County, especially parents and adults who plan to have children: The development of our nation’s future is in your hands. All of us control the America of tomorrow. Living in Atascadero for 19 years and being the parent of two children who are pursuing a college education, I…
Thanks for the straight dope on Armenia
Re: Straight Dope by Cecil Adams, “What genocide?” May 19-26: Thank you! What a well-written piece. Thank you for publishing this. I cannot tell you how many times I have to explain what an Armenian is, where Armenia is, and most importantly how I can be Armenian if I was born in some random country…
Eight is enough
When it comes to surviving in today’s chain-store jungle, the small businesses’ greatest weapon is solidarity. That’s the strength behind San Luis Obispo’s newest gift shop, Le Créme, a co-op of eight local jewelers, which just opened this month at 464 Marsh St. adjacent to the San Luis Fish and BBQ. The eight women hail…
I’ll tell you who won’t be missed
I will not miss Jesus. As a frequent reader and letter writer to New Times, please allow me to comment on the passing of another man who touched many people’s lives. I take no pleasure in Jesus’ passing, but feel the global community has lost little. The Bible exemplifies historical recording at its worst. Jesus…
