Letters To The Editor

The recent weeks of quiet, with no roar from dune buggies, brought forth a realization. Living 2 miles from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, parts of Oceano and the Nipomo Mesa bear an undiscussed, invisible physical toll. When coastal wind carries engine roars into our yards and homes, it does more than disturb […]

There was something terribly morbid and terribly wrong about the report of FBI Director Kash Patel’s VIP snorkeling dive on USS Arizona. It’s yet one more example of this administration’s casual indecency. I take it personally, and this is why. Two sailors who died on the Arizona were from my hometown, Arroyo Grande, population 1,090 […]

Mr. George Hansen makes the stretch that birds died because we use gasoline in our cars (“Dead seabirds are the harbinger of a preventable future,” May 28). A few other things to consider: 1) He may want to discard his wetsuit, flip-flops, and sunglasses, which may also contain petroleum. 2) Elevated seawater temperatures may be […]

Oceano is a community divided—literally—by a land-heavy, low-utility, extremely costly fixed-wing airport: Oceano Airport L52. So, is closure the best option? We think not. We propose modernization over maintenance. It’s an option that will take us past the same tired story of Oceano being abused by wealthier interests with a blind eye to the environment […]

As a senior registered as No Party Preference, I study the issues and listen carefully to debates and radio interviews. I vote for the candidate, not the political party. Mr. Paulding is the clear winner. He was enthusiastic and well prepared at the League of Women Voters debate forum. Mr. Verdin was bored and only […]

I’ve been seeing a lot of dead seabirds on Pismo Beach lately. Most of them were common murres—those handsome black birds with white throats and stout, black beaks. There were also some dead cormorants, and even a whimbrel, with its long downcurved bill. As I walked up the beach carrying my surfboard, I counted seven […]

I’m a 13-year resident of Nipomo, which has no city government. The SLO County Board of Supervisors is very important, as this is our only political representation. Jimmy Paulding continues to be my choice as our South County supervisor. He is honest, hardworking, well informed by involvement with citizens to work on county problems. He […]

Public safety is the most fundamental duty of county government, yet it often feels like our law enforcement and firefighters are being asked to do more with less. When our first responders lack the resources they need, it’s a failure of accountability by the SLO County Board of Supervisors. Adam Verdin has made public safety […]

Regarding the opinion piece, “Help keep Oceano Dunes SVRA free of vehicles forever” (April 23), I have serious concerns. As a local who supports keeping access to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area open, I’m curious who exactly the “local” residents and businesses behind the Oceano Beach Community Association are. A visit to their […]

If vehicles go away, the off-highway vehicle funds that actively protect the plover go away. If these funds disappear, State Parks will manage the plovers and other threatened birds as they do at other beaches: build a massive enclosure that is completely free of people. No vehicles. No pedestrians. No fishing. No surfing. No dog […]

As the race to fill Steve Lavagnino’s soon-to-be vacant 5th District supervisorial seat heats up, a particularly troubling fact has emerged regarding one of the candidates. In a previous piece I characterized Santa Maria High School teacher Ricardo Valencia as a “puppet” of local activist organizations. I have also, on occasion, referred to his ever-present […]