Welcome to the Slo Coast Journal. Published online monthly, the Journal is here to bring you information specific to our part of California's Central Coast.
"Without journalism then you have to depend on the word as it comes from the authority figure. It takes media to continually probe and probe and probe and probe until we can find out these answers. And the community has a right to know." Brentin Mock, Journalist
"The notion of a free press, of an institution that monitors those in power and those who wish to be in power, that ferrets out truth from lies, that draws public attention to the pressing issues of our times, is a cornerstone of a liberal democratic theory."
Robert McChesney in the Political Economy of the Media
New County Planning Commissioner Announced
Second District Supervisor Bruce Gibson has announced the resignation of County Planning Commissioner Anne Wyatt. Gibson has chosen Kenneth Topping of Cambria as her replacement. The appointment will be voted on early next year.
Great Shots?
Are you a local photographer with images of the Central Coast you'd like to share with our readers? The Great Shots team is always looking for photographs a cut above the rest. Join the Flickr group Slo Coast Journal Photos and submit your favorites. Image by Carol DiNolfo
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Decision on MB/Cayucos WWTP Appears Headed for Coastal Commission
A decision on what kind of a new Morro Bay/Cayucos wastewater treatment plant will be built and where it will be located appears headed for the California Coastal Commission, whose staff has flatly rejected the plan developed by MWH and supported by the city of Morro Bay and the Cayucos Sanitary District board. After six years of apparently futile planning, the final local say on the multimillion dollar sewage plant is expected by January 10. Read More
Has the Tea Party Invaded Morro Bay?
Morro Bay's long tradition of civility in city election campaigning seems to have been shattered this year with multiple-media attacks focused on mayoral candidate Betty Winholtz, which were linked to her election opponent, Bill Yates, and John Barta, whose name surfaced prominently in the Seagull Sentinel, a pseudo-newspaper flyer that was the main vehicle for the attacks on her.
Throughout Morro Bay's 46-year history, city elections have been remarkable for their relative civility. Candidates have rarely even mentioned their opponents in campaigns. If they did, it was almost always about their voting records as incumbents or stated positions on issues. Read More
Sale of MB Power Plant Falls Through
The pending purchase of the Morro Bay Power Plant by NRG Energy fell through at the last minute when the sale of Dynegy, the present owner of the plant and numerous others nationwide, to the Blackstone Group was blocked by a major stockholder, who wants to sell Dynegy's assets individually. Read More
Possible Conflict of Interest in WWTP Project
Morro Bay residents have expressed the opinion that Morro Bay's Capital Projects Manager, Dylan Wade, should not have been a member of the evaluation committee that recommended awarding the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) replacement project design contract to his former employer, MWH. It has also been suggested that Mayor Janice Peters, whose brother is the Chief Financial Officer of RRM Designs, an MWH subcontractor for the design project, should not have participated in the City Council vote that approved the committee's choice of MWH. Read More
MBHS Solar Carport Project
Distracted by recent elections, wastewater/water and pot dispensary controversies, power plant ownership, and "beautiful verses blight" redevelopment debates, etc., the citizens of Morro Bay have had little chance to notice the 32,000 square foot carport project sneaking in at Morro Bay High School.
Under the guise of "environmentally friendly solar," San Luis Coastal Unified School District recently received approval from the City of Morro Bay's Planning Commission on a 4-1 vote (Jamie Irons dissenting) for nine "carport-like" solar array support structures. Read More
2010 Morro Bay Photo Expo Winners
The Morro Photo Expo 2010 was held October 23-25 in Morro Bay for three days of instruction and field work to enhance photographers techniques. All were invited to enter the MPE photo contest. The quality of photos submitted was extraordinary, and made it difficult for the MPE judging committee to narrow the field. Read More
Annual Eco Summit in SLO
The annual Eco Summit that brings together area environmental groups to share their past and present activities is scheduled to be held on Saturday, December 4, at the San Luis Obispo Senior Center,1445 Santa Rosa Street, San Luis Obispo, with a new theme this year: What works, what doesn't work and what hasn't been tried. Read More
It Gets Better
The recent rash of suicides by kids who have been bullied—generally for being gay, but for all sorts of differences—makes these must-see videos for people of all ages, nationalities, religions, sexual persuasions, sizes, and differences.
We will continue to sometimes feature anti-bullying videos until this nonsense is properly addressed and all kids are cherished for their individuality, respected, and protected equally. This is serious business.
