SLO not happy 

San Luis Obispo, the so-called “happiest city in America,” has, in fact, a huge number of deep-seated, difficult problems and unsolved issues. Like everywhere in the West, we suffer from seemingly endless drought. Bills for water and sewer services are going up and for dubious reasons. Homelessness in SLO County is getting worse, not better, as the county’s 10-year plan to end it has failed miserably. Meanwhile, police raids and legal constraints against the homeless and general harassing of the homeless continue unabated. 

Cal Poly campus and just off-campus rape attacks seem to be getting more frequent against young women. Murders, random physical attacks, and vehicle killings seem to be more numerous. Rents for residential space and storefronts are out of control, complicating the homeless situation and driving many businesses out of the city. Unemployment numbers have improved, but average wages for entry-level and low-skill jobs remain low. Student debt, locally and nationally, has reached untenable and unsustainable levels, threatening to paralyze and enslave a whole generation or two of young people. And more.

Even in relatively prosperous and happy SLO Town, a massive amount of basic and serious social, economic, and political change is necessary. Some of it must be addressed nationally. But much can be done here and now if people will organize, mobilize, and push. Indeed, that’s the only way things can be shaken up nationally. The old saying, “all politics is local,” makes perfect sense in this context. Are you ready to act?

-- Jim Griffin - San Luis Obispo

-- Jim Griffin - San Luis Obispo

-- Jim Griffin - San Luis Obipso

-- Jim Griffin - SLO