Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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Money laundering claims linked to illegal out-of-state marijuana sales
Editors Note: Since the legalization of marijuana, allegations of bribery, human trafficking, black market sales and money laundering have surfaced. The issues involved are complex and the profits are huge. Several public officials are accused of accepting bribes and entering into close relationships with several marijuana business owners. A series of stories over the next […]... (Continue Reading)
The richest bankrupt people in San Luis Obispo
Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series about developers Ryan Petetit and John Belsher, their bankruptcies, tax liens and lawsuits. By KAREN VELIE Despite having real estate projects in bankruptcy, dozens of tax liens and multiple lawsuits from contractors and vendors suing them for failing to pay their bills, developers Ryan Petetit and […]... (Continue Reading)
San Luis Square developers file bankruptcy
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series about developers Ryan Petetit and John Belsher, their bankruptcies, tax liens and lawsuits. By KAREN VELIE The principals of a San Luis Obispo-based development company have filed multiple bankruptcies associated with controversial projects in San Luis Obispo and Templeton which could lead to the projects failing. […]... (Continue Reading)
Did county staff ignore board direction at first cannabis hearing?
By KAREN VELIE Months after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors passed a temporary resolution barring expansion of marijuana cultivation or additional grows, the county planning department is processing multiple expanded cannabis cultivation permits. [Cal Coast Times] On Friday, the county planning department approved a permit for a combination indoor and outdoor marijuana […]... (Continue Reading)
Grover Beach staffers picket city hall, consider strike
By KAREN VELIE Multiple city workers marched around Grover Beach City Hall Monday during the city council meeting in protest of the city’s stalled negotiation with the employee union. [Cal Coast Times] For six months, the union and the city were unable to reach an agreement over cost of living increases. The city had offered […]... (Continue Reading)
Do SLO County Jail visitation rules increase recidivism?
By KAREN VELIE One sunny day in September, Jazmine Paredes arrived 46 minutes early to the San Luis Obispo County Jail for a scheduled visit with her husband, but was turned away because she wasn’t 45 minutes early even though the sheriff department’s website says visitors must arrive only 15 minutes in advance. [Cal Coast […]... (Continue Reading)
SLO police chief under fire for incriminating tweet
By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo Police Chief Deanna Cantrell’s Twitter page has brought a lot of people deemed suspects into the center of attention. The most recent is a long-time city business owner who the chief’s Twitter page listed as a suspected counterfeiter along with his photo. [Cal Coast Times] On Sept. 7, the […]... (Continue Reading)
Erik Howell ordered to pay $959,307 for court costs, attorney fees
By KAREN VELIE A judge ordered Pismo Beach Councilman Erik Howell and four other members of the California Coastal Commission to pay $959,307 in attorney’s fees and court costs to attorney Cory Briggs and the nonprofit Spotlight on Coastal Corruption for an anti-corruption lawsuit that ended earlier this year. [Cal Coast Times] Because the judge […]... (Continue Reading)
Is the IWMA’s proposed Styrofoam ban ordinance illegal?
By KAREN VELIE While arguments rage over a proposed countywide ordinance to ban Styrofoam food containers, a retired San Luis Obispo County deputy county counsel contends the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) does not have authority to pass ordinances. [Cal Coast Times] The California Constitution grants only cities and counties power to pass ordinances — […]... (Continue Reading)
Old Mission School accused of concealing child abuse
By KAREN VELIE A former guidance counselor at Old Mission School in San Luis Obispo has accused administrators of concealing child abuse, retaliation against a whistleblower and wrongful termination in a lawsuit filed Monday. [Cal Coast Times] Jannelle Craig-Difronzo alleges that on two occasions Principal Cynthia Fogarty ordered her not to report suspected child abuse. […]... (Continue Reading)
