Recent Comments
Re: “Resuscitating recycling”
I'm surprised the IWMA is unaware of the recycling center that opened in Oceano late last year. It's next to our new coffee shop on the main street through town. The operator was supposed to install landscaping to keep it from being another eyesore, but that hasn't happened and the County hasn't insisted on upholding the permit conditions.
Re: “The 'dunes of death'?”
This particular risk-taking behavior harms others. That's why it can and should be restricted. If you want to smoke in your own home and risk lung cancer, go right ahead. But we don't let smokers light up in many public places anymore, because that would expose non-smokers to carcinogens. Similarly, the science is clear that vehicles in the ODSVRA are increasing particulate pollution for local residents. And operation of the "temporary" Pier Avenue vehicle entrance imposes economic harm on the disadvantaged community of Oceano. So it's not all about personal liberty. That stops when your liberty negatively impacts those around you.
Donegan is fortunate to live in Pismo Beach, a community that has thrived since vehicles stopped driving on its beach. If he lived here in Oceano, where our town is held down under the ODSVRA's boot, he might feel differently.
Re: “Long overdue”
Thank you for daring to confront the elephant in our backyard. For too long, Oceano has been held down, economically depressed as the Doormat of the Dunes. We are denied the opportunity to be a normal California beach town with a normal beach and normal beach activities. To paraphrase Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: I ask no favor for my town. All I ask of State Parks is that they take their feet off our necks.
Re: “Emergency bystander trainings offered in wake of Oceano shooting”
Please correct the headline. The shooting did not occur in Oceano; it took place in the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.
Re: “Look behind the green door”
To suggest Russians are behind Measure G is ludicrous. Go ahead and pull back the curtain! You'll see the local activists who started this effort, and the local volunteers who collected signatures to put it on the ballot (I was one of them). This is a spurious argument which makes me wonder if Fonzi is taking donations from the oil industry. I hope the voters will look past his smoke and mirrors.
Re: “Would you vote to ban new oil wells and fracking in SLO County?”
Dirty fossil fuels from SLO County are exported away, while those of us who live here are left with the environmental degradation. Just say no to fracking and new oil wells!
Images Submitted by Cynthia Replogle
Re: “Snowy plovers are nesting in Oceano Dunes riding areas amid COVID-19 closures, leading to concerns about reopening”
The statements from State Parks saying the Oceano Dunes park is closed are misleading. The park is currently open for passive day uses, and locals - people and wildlife - are very much enjoying the vehicle-free beach and dunes.
Passive uses are the appropriate public access for environmentally sensitive habitat; off-roading in ESHA is inappropriate and violates numerous laws. The ODSVRA should remain open for walking, biking, horseback riding, surfing, sand boarding and other passive activities only, and the plovers should be allowed to nest in peace at least for the rest of this breeding season.