Karen Velie
Karen Velie lives in San Luis Obispo County.
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Torres’ price for attempting to silence public debate
By KAREN VELIE Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo’s homeless services director’s attempt to stifle free speech could end up costing her an additional $41,930 for her opponent’s legal fees. In September, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Barry LaBarbera dismissed Dee Torres’ lawsuit against Mike Brennler, a private investigator who had been working […]... (Continue Reading)
Gearhart properties to be auctioned
By KAREN VELIE Three of former north county developer Kelly Gearhart’s properties will be sold at auction in October including the Paso Robles golf course property known as Vista del Hombre. A New York firm will hold the auction on Oct. 16 at the Courtyard by Marriot in Paso Robles at 11 a.m. for Gearhart’s […]... (Continue Reading)
Central Coast ground water quality poorest in state
By KAREN VELIE In southern San Luis Obispo County and northern Santa Barbara County researchers found more wells with high concentrations of nitrates, arsenic and molybdenum than anywhere else in the state, according to a recent report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The USGS report lists water basins tested in 38 study areas. In […]... (Continue Reading)
Politicians must now divulge payments to bloggers
By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN California’s political watchdog initiated a new rule this week requiring politicians to disclose payments made to people or companies receiving remuneration to blog positively about them, or negatively about their opponents. The rule likely will impact some local activities. The one exception to the rule is if the paid […]... (Continue Reading)
CAPSLO in line to receive homeless parking monopoly
BY KAREN VELIE and JOSH FRIEDMAN The San Luis Obispo City Council is slated to vote Tuesday on an ordinance that will require private property owners who allow homeless individuals to sleep in their vehicles overnight to bring in Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) to manage the program. Current ordinances make it […]... (Continue Reading)
San Luis Obispo city attorney’s brother-in-law gets a job without any competition
CLARIFICATION: Ted Green is Christine Dietrick’s brother-in-law. By KAREN VELIE and JOSH FRIEDMAN San Luis Obispo city officials provided a job to a key employee’s brother-in-law without making the position available to current city employees or the general public. City Attorney Christine Dietrick’s brother-in-law Ted R. Green needed a job. On July 25, Community Development […]... (Continue Reading)
Supervisor tries to get witness to change story about homeless gifts
By KAREN VELIE Less than a week after his fiancé filed a slander lawsuit against a local private investigator, San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill began contacting a key witness in the case, attempting to get him to change his statement. On March 21, Dee Torres, homeless services coordinator for Community Action Partnership of […]... (Continue Reading)
Heritage Oaks Bank settles with Gearhart investors
By KAREN VELIE In a last minute decision, Heritage Oaks Bank agreed to settle with investors in Hurst Financial’s Vista del Hombre project in Paso Robles for a currently undisclosed amount of money, an investor said. The settlement was agreed to two weeks after San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Charles Crandall noted in […]... (Continue Reading)
Audit catches $36,000 in overpayments to fired Oceano manager
By KAREN VELIE Tom Geaslen, recently terminated for cause as Oceano Community Services District general manager, paid himself more than $162,000 a year even though he was only contracted to make $126,000 a year, an audit of the district’s finances discovered. The audit also detailed significant increases in spending at the district under Geaslen’s leadership. […]... (Continue Reading)
Tom Murrell accused of benefiting from Gearhart fraud
By KAREN VELIE San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Charles Crandall Monday denied a motion to dismiss a lawsuit against Cuesta Title, Stewart Title and Heritage Oaks Bank noting the defendants were aware of wrongdoings. In 2009, more than 300 investors filed a lawsuit alleging Stewart Title, Cuesta Title and Heritage Oaks Bank aided […]... (Continue Reading)
