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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.
 "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
 Call for Entries -
Art for Art
The Morro Bay Museum of Natural History is planning "Art for Art," an auction event at the museum set for the evening of November 3rd. Donated works of local artists will be auctioned to raise money for the repair of the sculpture, "Seasons Come / Seasons Go," located at the entrance of the museum. Vandals damaged the sculpture in 2009, forcefully removing the Peregrine Falcon.
Artists are invited to submit photographs of their proposed entry. The deadline is September 1. Read More
Benefit Concert to Support Disaster Relief Efforts in Japan and Non-nuclear Groups Worldwide
Attend the concert and see Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Jason Mraz, the Doobie Brothers, Tom Morello, John Hall, Kitaro, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Jonathan Wilson, and special guests. August 7 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in San Francisco.
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Peregrine Falcon image on banner by Cleve Nash |
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Nuclear Power Plants Safety Inadequate, Study Shows
A task force created by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has concluded that the Commission's "safety approach is incomplete without a strong program for dealing with the unexpected, including severe accidents" and has recommended a long list of safety improvements to create a "logical, systematic, and coherent regulatory framework for adequate protection" of the American public. Read More
Residents Being Kept in Dark on WWTP
A new plan for developing a Morro Bay-Cayucos wastewater treatment plant project has been finalized and is being implemented. But it was not made public in time for workshops held in June on the project and still hasn't been made public, two months after a $350,000 contract was signed with an engineering consultant to draw up the plan, which is in the contract. The plan is key because it is aimed at overcoming deficiencies in the previous plan submitted in January to the California Coastal Commission, which refused to accept it. Read More
JPA Members Mostly Mum on Schultz Remarks
Mayor Bill Yates is the only member of the Morro Bay City Council or Cayucos Sanitary District board who responded to questions about their prior knowledge of and reactions to Morro Bay city attorney Rob Schultz's remarks last month claiming Cayucos has been unwilling to shoulder all costs of the new wastewater treatment plant that is being planned jointly by the two communities. Read More
Power Plant Oil Tanks Removal Back on Schedule
After two false starts, removal of the six, 32-foot tall oil storage tanks at the Morro Bay Power Plant is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 22, the California Energy Commission reported. The project is expected to take six to eight weeks, the commission staff said. Read More |
The Central Coast Natural History Association is looking for a new logo! This logo will need to be one that can be used on printed material, on clothing, and with and without a spelled-out name. We are holding a contest and will award $500 for the chosen design. Deadline for entry is September 15, 2011. Check out CCNHA for more information. |
Smart Meter Opt-Out Update
When the City of Morro Bay, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors, the County Health Commission, and the cities of SLO, Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande took formal action to urge the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to provide consumers with an opt-out from the PG&E wireless smart meter program, many of us were relieved. We had been fighting for this option to protect our privacy, security, health and property. By our local governments joining 40+ other cities and counties in California resisting mandatory installation, the CPUC directed PG&E to come up with an opt-out option, which PG&E did. Read More |
Tertiary Treatment of Wastewater by 2014 – Will it Happen? What if it Doesn't?
In 2007, the City of Morro Bay and the Cayucos Sanitary District made commitments to build a wastewater treatment plant that achieves tertiary treatment standards by 2014. Recent events appear to indicate that they may be planning to renege on those commitments. This would mean that reclaimed water would not be available to supplement Morro Bay's extremely precarious water supply, and Morro Bay residents could be faced with increased water use restrictions and higher-than-necessary water bills. Read More |
Need to Know / Double Fault: Nuclear Safety at Diablo Canyon
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