Don’t steal in front of cops

Well, it’s a day before Christmas Eve. With luck, CCC’s Reporter Tribe has convinced Santa Claus to be their “designated driver,” and everyone is making merry, happy to have made it through another year.

As for me, I’m fat and happy in my little shack and wondering where I can stick this post, so it doesn’t take up too much room. Out of all the articles on CCC’s current Home page, I figured this article would rouse the least response from my fellow bloggers.

Let me be the first to light the firecracker of dissent by “making a list, and checking it twice” to be called:

OTO’s TOP TEN STORIES FOR 2011, FROM CALCOASTNEWS & ITS BAND OF BLOGGERS:

AAAYYY….YIIIII YIIII YIIII YIIII!!

1. Most informative, bipartisan blog generated by a political news article:

“Brown tosses tax plan to voters”

Best Fact-Checker for the “Brown Tosses Tax Plan to Voters” article:

racket says:

12/07/2011 at 11:56 am

2. Nugget of Gold Award: Karen Velie

It’s almost unfair to place Karen Velie on the list of the year’s best articles. It would be like giving the Virgin Mary a Mother of the Year award, but this article gives journalism students a “heads up” about how to investigate the stories that public agencies won’t tell you about:

“Confidential prisoner records found discarded in dumpster”

October 20, 2010

3. Best Investigative Feature Length Article on Finance: Lisa Rizzo

“High ambulance rates up for approval, again”

March 21, 2011

4. Best Investigative Article on an Under-Reported Topic to Follow Up in 2012: Lisa Rizzo

“Arroyo Grande water recycling plant under construction”

May 25, 2011

I chose this article because Rizzo chose– earlier than most local reporters–to write about a vital yet under-reported topic that is technical in nature, and zealously hidden from public scrutiny by the corporations that are involved with its production: oil.

These two characteristics of the industry pose formidable obstacles to local reporters. But I predict the development of oil in San Luis Obispo County will have the most important impact on the county’s residents in the coming year.

How does the development of oil affect you?

It affects our use of water; the quality of our water; the health of our environment; our national economy, as well as our own; and our international relationships.

Our county policies and regulations concerning the development and production of oil are going to set the precedent for California’s energy future and the country’s environmental legacy.

5. Best Investigative Series Postively Impacting Local Government: Karen Velie

Several articles focusing on the Oceano Community Services District and the town’s sewer infrastructure “tie-in” to the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District, bolstered residents’ complaints and resulted in three grand jury investigations over a three-year period which uncovered faulty accounting practices of the town’s community services district; and a conflict of interest between the SSLOCSD’s District Engineer and District Administrator John Wallace. The articles were pivotal in obtaining, among other things:

 audits of the OCSD’s books;

 exposure of mismanagement of the District’s funds;

 the subsequent replacement and update of the District’s computer system and software;

 breaking news on the illegal appointment of Director Lori Angello to a vacant seat on the board by breaking the law—namely, Government Code 61045;

 breaking news on Director Pamela Dean’s successful lawsuit showing that both the District’s long-time attorney Alex Simas, ex-General Manager Raffaelle Montemurro, and Director Jim Hill convinced the remaining Board members to use an illegal board procedure to appoint Angello to the Board with just two out of five votes.

 three grand jury investigations involving SSLOCSD Administrator John Wallace; his contracts with the District as the District Engineer; and managerial/accounting practices of the OCSD.

6. Best Article & Community Discussion on an Issue of Overriding Public Concern:

“Arroyo Grande cross burners in custody”

July 22, 2011

Out of 120 comments generated by this article alone, the Best Blogger Comment goes to:

danika says:

07/23/2011 at 6:00 am

7. Best Articles Generating Blogger Discussions on Power, Politics, and Womens’ Issues:

“Tapes provide details of alleged Cal Poly rape”

June 8, 2011

Best Schizophrenic Response by a Single Blogger: “Nut or Narcotics Investigator—You be the Judge”

Cindy says:

06/09/2011 at 11:56 am

8. Best Investigative News Article on the Courts in 2011 Out of Any County Newspaper: Karen Velie

“Attorney General asked to weigh in on judges’ $235,000 benefits”

September 26, 2011

Within weeks of implementing the California Case Management System’s new computer system designed to link 120 state agencies, (referred to as “justice partners” by the Judicial Council,) with courts in California’s 58 counties, Velie broke the news once again about San Luis County judges voting themselves additional benefits on top of the ones they were already getting.

The additional financial benefits were approved without going to the state legislature, but instead, by judges voting themselves the benefits, after convincing the Board of Supervisors they had the authority to do so.

Only three counties were selected to test out the new system ahead of the others. They are the “early adopter courts” of San Luis Obispo, Ventura and San Diego.

(Big Brother is here and now.)

9. Best In-Depth Investigative News Article on Regional Water Politics: Lisa Rizzo

“Warding off water wars”

September 7, 2011

10. Best Article on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace: Karen Velie

“Arroyo Grande police officer alleges sexual harassment”

December 20, 2011

And last but not least, OTO’s final and most prestigious award is:

The Golden Balls Award for Best Blogger/Activist goes to Kim Martin.

• A cane non magno saepe tenetur aper.

o Literally: “A boar is often held by quite a small dog.”

–Wikipedia