Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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Rob Rossi files suit against ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66
By KAREN VELIE Rob Rossi, an owner of the more than 14,000 acre Santa Margarita Ranch, filed a lawsuit against ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 on Friday for allegedly operating a pipeline that has contaminated a portion of the ranch. Phillips 66 has a 1.8 mile easement across a 900 acre portion of the ranch that […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO City manager and attorney to get bonuses
By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo City staff is recommending the council vote Tuesday to give City Manager Katie Lichtig and City Attorney Christine Dietrick $5,000 retention bonuses, Dietrick’s fifth bonus or raise in five years. Staff based the requests for bonuses on performance and the average pay of comparable markets in recent years, according […]... (Continue Reading)
Santa Maria Police chief testifies about criminal aliens
By KAREN VELIE Santa Maria Police Chief Ralph Martin said Thursday at a congressional hearing that the United States is running a catch and release program for criminal aliens that is putting the public at risk, during his testimony to the Full House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The purpose of the hearing was […]... (Continue Reading)
Cambria general manager’s raise scrapped, for now
By KAREN VELIE Amid growing outrage, the Cambria Community Services District will not be voting Thursday to approve a contract giving the district’s general manager a 38 percent pay increase. The agenda change appears to be prompted by public complaints following a CalCoastNews exclusive article on the proposed contract. In addition, CalCoastNews has discovered large […]... (Continue Reading)
Cal Poly gives TV deal to president’s friend
By KAREN VELIE (Editor’s note: In the interest of transparency, readers should know that Cal Coast News editor Bill Loving is a tenured professor in the journalism department at Cal Poly. A recording of an interview with Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong, several emails between Armstrong and RFD TV’s CEO and a 2015 financial record […]... (Continue Reading)
Cambria general manager to get a 38 percent pay increase
By KAREN VELIE Less then two months after the implementation of a 116 percent water and sewer rate increase, the Cambria Community Services District is planning to approve a set of staggered pay hikes of 38 percent for its general manager. In June 2011, the board voted to make Jerry Gruber its general manager at […]... (Continue Reading)
Local nonprofits plagued by financial irregularities
By JOSH FRIEDMAN and KAREN VELIE Two politically-connected nonprofits in San Luis Obispo County have broken federal or state laws, failed to report revenue and refused to comply with financial disclosure rules. The president and founder of one of the nonprofits has also used city government offices to solicit business for her organization — creating […]... (Continue Reading)
Los Osos penalized for under reporting wages
By KAREN VELIE The Los Osos Community Services District owes fines and interest for under-reporting almost $100,000 in wages during the past two years. The penalties are a result of “quarterly and annual payroll reports not being filed or being filed incorrectly,” according to a district staff report. In a March 18 letter, the Social […]... (Continue Reading)
Politicians call foul over deceptive ads
By KAREN VELIE Several Central Coast politicians are calling foul to this years barrage of deceptive political ads. In the race for Congress, a politician is accused of placing ads that exaggerate his accomplishments, while in the race for San Luis Obispo County District 3 supervisor, a candidate is accused of being dishonest in his […]... (Continue Reading)
Are Seitz’s days numbered in Los Osos?
By KAREN VELIE The Los Osos Community Services District is considering parting ways with longtime district legal counsel Shipsey & Seitz. In 1998, Shipsey & Seitz was first hired to represent the district during its formation. However, in the past six months, several issues have created concerns about the firm’s performance. For example, on Nov […]... (Continue Reading)
