Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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SLO backs chief over violations of city’s travel claims policy
By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN In response to a CalCoastNews exclusive on multiple violations of city travel reimbursement policies by San Luis Obispo Police Chief Steve Gesell, the city manager and finance director worked out a way to explain the chief’s “mistakes.” Even though Gesell’s actions violate written city policies, Director of Finance Wayne […]... (Continue Reading)
Is San Luis Obispo County censoring the public?
By KAREN VELIE An Atascadero man who attempted to voice his opinion in an email to a San Luis Obispo County planning commissioner had his correspondence commandeered by planning department staff who determined it to be a “personal attack.” San Luis Obispo County Planning Commissioners do not have public emails. So, constituents wishing to correspond […]... (Continue Reading)
Blakeslee considering run against Adam Hill
By KAREN VELIE Former state Senator Sam Blakeslee said Friday that he is considering running for the San Luis Obispo County District 3 Supervisor’s seat currently held by Adam Hill. Blakeslee said his primary reason for a possible campaign against the two-term incumbent was because of Hill’s support for a proposed 1,500 home development in […]... (Continue Reading)
Steve Adams files claim against Arroyo Grande
By KAREN VELIE Less than a month after the Arroyo Grande City Council agreed to pay former city manager Steve Adams a $71,000 settlement, Adams filed a claim of involuntary separation with the city’s insurance carrier. If the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority approves Adams’ claim, he could receive up to six months’ salary under […]... (Continue Reading)
Two Pismo Beach police officers axed
By KAREN VELIE Three Pismo Beach police officers were reprimanded and two were let go late last year because of issues in their romantic relationships that allegedly impacted their ability to serve as peace officers. Two of the officers had a relationship with one another and the third had an altercation with a girlfriend while […]... (Continue Reading)
Feds look for links between Rabobank and drug cartels
By KAREN VELIE Federal law enforcement agencies are investigating Rabobank over questions about whether the bank overlooked signs of money laundering by customers with connections to Mexican drug cartels. For more than a year, investigators have interviewed current and former employees of Rabobank in San Luis Obispo County where statewide compliance checks occurred, an employee […]... (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 did not expect to win. In 2010, failures at the sanitation district resulted in 384,000 […]... (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 to climb. Proposition 47 reduces the classification of most “nonserious and nonviolent property and drug […]... (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. Attendees asked the council to approve the audit and to terminate its contact with embattled […]... (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 CalCoastNews has uncovered multiple violations of city policy and what appears to be abuses of […]... (Continue Reading)
