Uncovered SLO


SLO approves conservation-punishing water rate hike

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The San Luis Obispo City Council approved sewer rate increases Tuesday night, as well as restructured water rates that will hit hardest those who conserve the most. The council voted 3-1 in favor of both the sewer... (Continue reading)

SLO considering a pension obligation bond

By JOSH FRIEDMAN The city of San Luis Obispo may turn to debt financing to address its growing pension liabilities. During a two-year budgeting meeting Monday, interim finance director Wayne Padilla said city management is considering recommending that the council... (Continue reading)

Adam Hill explains the path to civility

UPDATE: Shortly after Hill sent out his response, Paso Robles Councilman Fred Strong responded with an email available at the bottom of this article. By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill said Sunday that the path to... (Continue reading)

SLO parking ordinance to restrict helping the homeless

By JOSH FRIEDMAN A proposed San Luis Obispo ordinance that would allow select homeless individuals to sleep in their vehicles at night contains provisions barring most charitable organizations from providing overnight parking and directs homeless vehicle owners instead to the... (Continue reading)

SLO pension liabilities skyrocketing

By JOSH FRIEDMAN In a span of ten years, the city of San Luis Obispo has gone from having no pension debt to becoming more than $100 million in the red in its retirement benefit plans. Between fiscal years 2001-2002... (Continue reading)

Obama protester is former San Luis Obispo County employee

First Lady Michelle Obama confronted a protester Tuesday night during a Democratic Party fundraiser at a private home in Washington, D.C. The protester, lesbian activist Ellen Sturtz, is a former San Luis Obispo County employee who served as the local... (Continue reading)

Ron Hertel files for bankruptcy

Developer Ron Hertel, a partner in the failed R.W. Hertel and Sons, filed for personal bankruptcy in April listing $118.4 million in debt and assets of $591,000. The bulk of his accumulated debt is from personal guarantees he made on... (Continue reading)

Atascadero city manager stepping down

Wade McKinney, Atascadero’s city manager, will be leaving that post soon to take a similar position with the small, opulent desert community of Indian Wells, CalCoastNews has learned. The position has been offered to McKinney, said the  Indian Wells’ human... (Continue reading)

Brown divorce papers reveal discrepancies

By CALCOASTNEWS STAFF EDITOR’S NOTE: See two declarations by Edward Ingles, Jayne Brown’s ex-boyfriend, at the bottom of this story.  CalCoastNews is not endorsing any of the three candidates for San Luis Obispo City Council. Six years after Paul Brown... (Continue reading)

Cuesta Title ex-employee tight-lipped at deposition

By KAREN VELIE A former Cuesta Title employee refused to answer questions posed to her at a Kelly Gearhart-linked deposition, asserting her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. In 2009, investors filed a lawsuit alleging Stewart Title and Cuesta Title aided... (Continue reading)