Pozo Road is one of the most beautiful in existence, in my opinion. So why do the slobs among us have to choose it as their way of giving a finger to the world? C'mon people, grow up!
Fred Hadley
Santa Margarita
 Library money
Â
I’ve sure been reading a lot lately about the travails of the San Luis Obispo library. Lots of woes about funding. Since the failure of their latest measure seeking more money they’ve begun closing the library on Mondays. Kind of a, "Oh yeah then take that!" response.Â
Â
But I suspect that things are not as bad as they are being painted. You see, I know someone on the inside, who tells me that just before the vote on the measure, the library held an all-staff day wherein a confident Library Director stated that he was going to get a "much need pay raise." Now I also understand that this particular director is already making a fat paycheck as it is so....
Â
Don’t get me wrong. I love the library. It is a useful and valuable institution. And certain library people are doing an outstanding job. Some librarians are really good at their job while others are just plain lazy. Certain staff are really obnoxious—what I call “unpleasant people.� I’ve seen unbelievable pettiness and downright meanness time and time again from library personnel. So director and librarians, how about first telling us what you are already being paid ?
John Franks
Pismo Beach
 Dalidio “Development Impact Fee�?
Â
Now that the Dalidio project is getting closer to a design that would be acceptable to most people, I am disappointed, but not surprised, by Dalidio’s obstinate decision to circumvent established development procedures with the Countywide initiative vote.
Â
If the citizens of the City are going to be impacted by the traffic congestion, causing delays to our emergency response, increased road maintenance, detrimental impacts on our legally-established businesses in that area (causing lost revenue to the City), then someone will have to pay.
Â
With most of our City Council in cahoots with the Dalidio camp. I propose an initiative for City voters that would charge a Development Impact Fee on any County-approved development that exits directly onto City roadways. In the case of the Dalidio project, the money would be earmarked exclusively for the remake of the Los Osos Valley interchange and the roads directly impacted by this project. Forever eliminating the need for a Prado interchange.
Terry Mohan
San Luis Obispo
Samuel Brandon
(City not given)
Meg Turner
Grover Beach
Roy Kline
Morro Bay
Kevin P. Rice
San Luis Obispo
Jean McCullough,
On behalf of Brian McCullough
Save the dunes
As a tourist staying in your area, I had the pleasure today of spending six glorious hours out and about on the Nipomo sand dunes. Such peacefulness is hard to find in today’s modern world, and the beauty of the place was such that I took away lasting memories—and hundreds of photos.Â
Â
I was shocked, then, to discover that an area of the state beach has been turned over for the use of “off-roaders.� I feel that any such activity that jeopardizes the wildlife, nature and eco-system of an area of outstanding natural beauty should not be allowed. Thank of all the people who could enjoy the peaceful sanctuary of the beach and dunes, compared to the few who want to drive vehicles on the beach?
Â
Ultimately, though, the blame lies not with the off-road enthusiasts, but with the State Parks Department for allowing this kind of activity in the first place.
Luke Genower
Surrey, England
 Taxes, schmaxes
Â
I bet New Times receives a lot of letters from people bitching about something they think is wrong. I see and hear a lot about what our government does. At my age (21), there isn’t a lot I can do about a horrible new policy or regulation, a new tax or blatant corruption, and we all know too well how much the popular vote means in an election. But for me one issue, taxes, tops them all.
Â
I was trying to buy my company stock options that I received on my last job; I figured I should start saving for retirement early, since I have the feeling that Social Security isn’t going to be around in 40 years. Then I found out that the government planned on taking 42% in taxes on my options. This job had paid me a handsome $10 an hour, and come payday, after lots of rough days at work, I’d have about 40% taken out for health benefits, the stock purchase plan, and of course taxes. At the end of a month of 40-hour weeks, I’d end up with about $640. That’s pretty depressing.
Â
But wait, we aren’t done there. With this money that’s “all mine,� I then get to pay sales tax on almost every item I buy, the usual CRV, the surcharges and taxes on my cell phone, and let’s not even get into automobiles or buying/renting a house. I guess the idea of spending already-taxed income on more taxes for necessary living expenses just makes me sick.
Â
My high school history books taught me that taxes were the beginning of our war for independence. In those days people felt they were getting ripped off by illegitimate taxes without any sort of representation. It is pretty difficult not to catch the similarities between the time of British rule and our current “democracy� regarding the amount of taxes we pay, with no genuine representation. I guess it’s all part of the giant ant farm we live in, and those hours and hours of working to pay for the queen bee is what being an American is all about.
Â
Oh well, I think we can all agree one one thing—Bush sucks.
J. Rice
Arroyo Grande
Â