Dear Slo Coast Journal:

Readers of the Tribune Viewpoint by Paul J. Beard on October 18 ("Commission crossing the line") know that the Pacific Legal Foundation is trying to guarantee that Franco DeCicco will be able to build, or grossly overbuild, on the property he owns at Ocean Boulevard and Old Creek Road in Cayucos. In 2004, the PLF devoted its power in SLO County to assaults on the Endangered Species Act. After checking up on the PLF on the Internet, I gave a two minute 40 second comment before the Morro Bay City Council on November 22, 2004. It is still relevant:

It would be a wonderful thing for the reputation of Morro Bay if the new City Council could dissociate itself from a reactionary anti-environmental group, the Pacific Legal Foundation. The California Chamber of Commerce founded the PLF in 1973 as a means of bringing lawsuits for the business community under the guise of "public interest" actions. This terminology turned out to be right out of George Orwell. "Public interest" as sponsored by big business means "private interest." The PLF organization is ultra-conservative right-wing, tax-exempt non-profit—funded by big business, such as Coors.

With almost limitless money, PLF lawyers have launched assaults on wetlands, equal employment, protections of consumer health and safety, rent control, labor unions, First Amendment protection of free speech, public right to beach access, equal rights for gays, and affirmative action—as well as assaults on the Endangered Species act. In 2002, the Morro Bay Council Majority hired the PLF to sue over the western snowy plover as a way of keeping dogs on the beaches. (According to the mayor: "The whole snowy plover thing—it’s all about dogs.") For the PLF, it was not all about dogs, and not about money from Morro Bay. In my opinion it just wanted the cover of the name of Morro Bay.

Now, according to the Tribune on (ON?) the PLF is filing suit in Fresno federal court to challenge habitat protections for 48 endangered or threatened species of animals and plants in California—ranging from the peninsular bighorn sheep to the yellow larkspur to the western snowy plover (and not just in SLO County this time).

Cities earn their reputations. There’s an Internet Speed Trap Exchange to let tourists know what locations to avoid in certain towns — Agoura Hills, Bodega Bay — wherever speed traps are documented. We don’t want to be known to tourists as Morro Bay, that town the PLF owns; Morro Bay, the former Bird Sanctuary, where they are trying to remove the Western Snowy Plover from protected status. Do we? Can the new City Council dissociate itself from the PLF?

Hershel Parker
Morro Bay

It is outrageous that the beautiful statue at the State Park Museum was defaced. My daughter and I visited the museum last spring while staying at the campground and just loved that statue. We asked someone to take pictures of us standing next to it and have that picture hanging in our living room to remind us of our fun time. Please let us know when or if it is restored.

June Stevenson
Long Island, WA

Cheers to Dr. Sainsbury and his article about the importance of flu vaccinations. As a nurse I see first hand how important they are in not only protecting the recipient but in controlling the spread of disease.

Emily Kaplan
(Location not given)

A friend passed along a link to the Journal and I'm so glad she did! What a great publication you have going here - much needed and well done. Love the surf page and all the photographs throughout! Thanks to Fausto and Julia for recommending Frankie and Lola's restaurant. We tried it and will go back often.

Keep up the good work!

Joel Metcalf
Morro Bay

I was sorry to hear of the passing of Joe Giannini. Morro Bay was lucky to have him so involved in its development. Thanks for the remembrance of him.

Terry Hall
Morro Bay

Today was my first exposure to your slocoastjournal . . . XLNT!!! Is it only presented by e-mail...or do you have paper editions, like newspapers, etc?
Verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee nice! I'm glad my name got on your list.

Zorus Colglazier
Morro Bay