Uncovered SLO


Hill ousted; Arnold, Compton take leadership

By JOSH FRIEDMAN Amid allegations of sexism and a good old boys’ club, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Frank Mecham stepped down as board chairman in order to promote Supervisor Debbie Arnold to chair and Supervisor Lynn Compton to vice... (Continue reading)

Sanitation district attorney misled ratepayers

By KAREN VELIE Confidential documents obtained by CalCoastNews reveal a long-term plan by South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District officials to delay fines and findings of mismanagement by mounting a legal battle against the state — a fight they... (Continue reading)

Jail population plummets, sheriff budget increases

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN Jail inmate numbers in San Luis Obispo County have dropped by more than 25 percent since last year following initial implementation of Prop. 47, but San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s spending continues... (Continue reading)

Sanitation district board pursues an audit

By KAREN VELIE After several years of voting against an audit, the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District Board voted 3-0 on Wednesday to pursue a financial review of the past 12 years. Approximately 30 people attended Wednesday’s meeting.... (Continue reading)

SLO police chief travels on the family plan

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN San Luis Obispo Police Chief Steve Gesell attended 13 conferences during 2014. Expense records show that some of the conferences turned into family trips and the city footed the bill. A two-month investigation by... (Continue reading)

Steve Adams threatens to sue Arroyo Grande

BY KAREN VELIE Former Arroyo Grande City Manager Steve Adams filed a claim against the city last week threatening a lawsuit if the council does not extend his paid administrative leave for six months. The city will meet in closed... (Continue reading)

SLO hires controversial financial planner

San Luis Obispo has hired a former Carmel city administrator who left under allegations of misconduct as its interim director of information technology. San Luis Obispo is paying Jason Stilwell $11,888 per month for leading the 2015-17 financial plan development,... (Continue reading)

Gibson, Hill get verbal lashings

San Luis Obispo County residents teed off on supervisors Bruce Gibson and Adam Hill Tuesday morning, possibly swaying the board majority to rethink its decision to place Hill in a leadership role. Public speakers took aim at Gibson for manipulating... (Continue reading)

Did Gibson purposely doctor the agenda?

BY KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Bruce Gibson’s last act as chairman of the board of supervisors was to shut down public comment and board discussion over Supervisor Adam Hill’s appointment to vice chair in violation of the... (Continue reading)

Fourth SLO County Jail inmate dies

By KAREN VELIE A 63-year-old Morro Bay man died shortly after collapsing at the San Luis Obispo County Jail early Sunday morning. He is the fourth man to die while incarcerated in the county jail in less than 12 months.... (Continue reading)