Recent Comments:



  • "What makes anyone think that the dysfunctional Cambria CSD is an appropriate entity for the San Simeon CSD to merge with? Cambria CSD can't get their own act together, yet alone take on another dysfunctional CSD! The Emergency Water Supply (EWS), a brackish water desal plant was decided by the Cambria CSD Board of Directors. Its purpose was to supply water to Cambria residents during a Level # Drought Emergency. Cambrians paid for the EWS through a Proposition 218 rate increase. That project, the EWS, was "magically" changed to the Sustainable Water Facility (SWF) for a different purpose--Growth! The change occurred behind closed doors--Cambrians never got to vote or be privy to the new name and new purpose; it was decided for us! The project was built almost 6 years ago with an Emergency Permit from SLO County Planning. The CCSD remains with no regular Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for either the EWS or the "bait and switch," SWF. Cambrians have been taken to the cleaners BIG time because of Board members making a very bad decision--some of whom have flown the coop. Did they see the writing on the wall? (See quotes below).* The District engineer conveniently retired after working on the project; the GM was fired; legal counsel Tim Carmel, has been lining his pockets from the soaring legal costs paid to his firm, as have outside attorneys working on lawsuits associated with the District. The former District Clerk/Admin. Assistant, filed a lawsuit against the District (a settlement agreement was reached). The District is currently in litigation with the engineering firm who designed and built the project. Let's hope they are successful! How much more can a small community of approx. 6,000 residents withstand? Folks, Cambria is the biggest mess in the County and Cambria ratepayers are paying mightily for it, with no end in sight! I wish San Simeon residents all the best, but Cambria's plate is overflowing and it has a very bad taste! _______________________________________________________________________ *Cambrian, Aug. 24, 2017 "Thompson pointed to the $13.2 million water plant as the signature achievement of his tenure on the board. “Getting that completed and now available, I think, is the thing I’m most proud of,” he said. “I know it’s a fight others folks are going to have to take on, so I’m looking forward to riding off into the sunset." *Two longtime Cambria CSD board members resign By Karen Garcia--New Times--August 31, 2017 "The Cambria Community Services District is losing two board members—and key supporters of the controversial Sustainable Water Facility—who recently announced their resignations just days apart. District board member Michael Thompson announced his departure at the Aug. 24 board meeting. Just days after Thompson's announcement, Vice President Greg Sanders said he plans to leave the board Oct. 31. Thompson, Sanders, and board member Jim Bahringer formed the majority of the board that often voted favorably on business regarding the Sustainable Water Facility, a nearly $14 million facility that's still in the process of acquiring a permanent permit from the California Coastal Commission." _____________________________________________________________________________ Today, September 23, 2020--the District is still attempting to acquire a regular CDP. No wonder some directors who brought us to where we are today, are--"riding off into the sunset" or the desert, as in Mr. Sanders case. Some remain, clinging to the hope that Cambria can grow by another 700 development projects, while current ratepayers are footing the bill! It is disgusting!"

    truther7 commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-23 23:24:10
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  • "Absentee voting has been around for decades, but the “mail in” voting being proposed (and in place now in some states) is not the same thing. The distinction is more that a simple nuance or semantic difference. I agree with the comment fromWomanshohasbeenthere who raised the question. It is a reasonable question and contrary to what certain commenters may say, raising this concern does not make you a bad person."

    derasmus commented in:
    California halts unemployment claims amid fraud on 2020-09-23 22:08:23
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  • "EDD is funded by employers, not employees. Working in the field day in and day out side by side with employees slammed with a work overload and listening to local radio ads promoting whoever is listening to apply for "benefits" due to "these difficult times" is getting old-"

    blackjack commented in:
    California halts unemployment claims amid fraud on 2020-09-23 21:57:35
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  • "Mail in voting is hardly a new, rushed forward program to alleviate the suffering of citizens and insure the stability of our economy, giving us back some of our money when we need it most. Mail in voting has been in place since the Civil War and is considered one of the most reliable systems we have. But do your best to undermine that. I'm sure Russia and the likes will love you for it."

    Francesca Bolognini commented in:
    California halts unemployment claims amid fraud on 2020-09-23 20:40:51
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  • "We call it the cloud, where your personal information is everywhere for the safe keeping. Actually safe keeping for those who will get access to it. Never mind the fraudulent tax returns sent in your behalf, by somebody that claims to be you, they may actually take title to your property too. We are on the brink of becoming a 3rd world country by the simple reason, "privacy is no longer assumed"."

    Jorge Estrada commented in:
    California halts unemployment claims amid fraud on 2020-09-23 20:39:56
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  • "IMHO, probably a "shake-down" meaning money for nothing. Title IX is nothing to be trifled with. Having once been in charge of HR for a small LA company I reviewed a claim of non-profane but amorous one-time UNWELCOMED co-worker speech, no touching but which was claimed to have been earthshaking to the reporting party, I engaged a Century City defense firm that well knew the Title IX "mill" law firm that threatened to file. The defense firm accurately predicted the relatively small figure that would end the claim without a lawsuit filing and since it was way below the estimated costs of a trial defense, the employer paid not much more than a year's worth of company automotive fleet insurance expenses. For us, Just another cost of doing business in litigation-friendly California. Like the bathroom ADA law firm mill. The defense lawyer (a female) told me they routinely opposed the Title IX mill firm dozens and dozens of times per year, nearly but not always with paper-thin and unsubstantiated allegations. Glad UCSB was willing to investigate, hopefully thoroughly, then stand it's ground where appropriate. ."

    LameCommenter commented in:
    UCSB police chief accused of sexual battery on 2020-09-23 15:10:27
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  • "It's possible that Cantrell could have personal liability. Often, if an employee acts outside the "course and scope of their employment contract" then that employee may take herself outside the indemnification of the employer. It sounds like SLO had a policy for lost firearms, and the Chief violated that policy, then they could have a cause of action against her personally. They would have to find a judge who agrees, which might prove difficult."

    Hazmateer commented in:
    New employer concerned about SLO police chief’s past on 2020-09-23 14:27:05
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  • "Unfortunately, people involved with the unsustainable water system are referring to it as sustainable, which it is not. Cambrians, be careful of Tom Gray who is running for the CCSD. He was paid by the CCSD to push an expensive and unsustainable water project as "sustainable." And now he wants to get on the CCSD Board to continue pushing a project that will produce toxic brine."

    adustum commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-23 13:03:19
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  • "Remember, Carmel was partners with the late Roger Lyons, who was the CCSD, SSCSD and Hearst attorney (at the same time). Carmel has closed ties with Wallace. Former CCSD Board member, Greg Sanders, is a partner with Nossaman law firm out of Orange County and now consulting with Carmel in SSCSD. The loan for the unsustainable water project ties (collateral) payment to Cambria's infrastructure (e.g., water system). If Cambria fails to pay on the loan, Cambria's public infrastructure systems are privatized and go to the loan owners. Would love to know relationship(s) between CCSD Board members approving entering into the loan agreement and those making the loan. One of option is for the toxic brine from the CCSD unsustainable water project to be trucked (very expensive) to Oceano and emptied into the ocean. Oceano folks, you are taking Cambrians toxic waste. Julie, would love for you to look into this issue."

    adustum commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-23 12:58:17
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  • "So, let's just ignore all the American teachers that are already dying with the reopening of schools and the international situations where they have reopened schools only to have cases within the schools and the communities spike, leading to more deaths and a subsequent re-closing of schools and let's just continue to pressure the government to open our schools because "the economy". Perhaps if we were sending more of our relief to our citizens and less of it to already highly profitable big businesses and weapons manufacturers, some of us wouldn't be in such a hurry to sacrifice our families for money. And go ahead and vote me down for "family values", I know they really aren't the first thing on your mind."

    Francesca Bolognini commented in:
    SLO County new coronavirus rules, schools could open in 2 weeks on 2020-09-23 12:42:44
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  • "I am watching Cambria. I'm thrilled to see many people getting involved. As long as CCSD hits the pocketbooks without providing water, the more people will get turned on. Take your pain to the ballot box. Vote for candidates that walk the accountability and transparency walk. IMO, it's time to cut your losses with regard to the UNSustainable Water Facility experiment and look for a proven sustainable supply."

    Julie commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-23 10:17:03
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  • "MrYan, San Simeon does not have a new wastewater facility and is a long way from getting one -- they have less than two years to have a plan for one in a new location with new technology. The plan has to include removing the riprap that protects it and the Chair of the Board's ocean front condominium, from the ocean and a restoration plan to put the current plant site back to a natural state. The RO unit is only for emergencies. The little "drama" is due to extreme apathy among so very few people."

    Julie commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-23 10:10:20
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  • "Transparency is totally lacking on the lost gun fiasco, which I can partially understand is occurring due to an open case. It's been over a year on the Orndoff case and Chief Cantrell and the City Manager owe the public the resultant action plans and interventions to prevent reoccurrence (not just to their departments and maybe the city council). Every action plan and intervention listed will be a result of a deficiency within departments, between LE departments or individual infractions found during investigation. From the action plans you can work backwards to find out what the Organizational, Supervisory and individual worker's errors that occurred or the missing and ineffective barriers. So, Derek Johnson either cough up the full investigation with action plans or just the action plans, so the credentialed investigator types can back-track and assess each plan's relevance and progress. Any willful disregard of procedures should at a minimum result in days off without pay, a letter of discipline in a personnel file or termination. Any procedural omission (they didn't know about the procedure) should have associated gap training and yearly follow-up training. A Grand Jury inquiry for action plans might kick some bees out of the beehive."

    LeroyMoo commented in:
    New employer concerned about SLO police chief’s past on 2020-09-23 10:03:21
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  • "I wondered that too, (about Walsh). IT doesn't make sense unless she was promised some kind of perk form Cantrell. She treated her as a Lover protects their Love. Covering the Bad behavior at all costs. Including outright lying and misleading! ITs sickening to me to know the department was willing protect Cantrell's idiot behavior. I heard Walsh litteraly traumatized those little girls during the raid. She is one Sick cop."

    Gramelin commented in:
    New employer concerned about SLO police chief’s past on 2020-09-23 09:33:24
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  • "Let's get the staff and contract staff in San Simeon CSD straight. Is Tim Carmel the attorney for the SS CSD? He is also the attorney for the Cambria CSD (and Arroyo Grande). Is Greg Sanders, a partner with the Orange County law firm Nossaman (land use law firm), a consultant to San Simeon CSD? And is Greg Sanders the same person who was on the Cambria CSD when the expensive and desal plant was negotiated and funded by out of county financiers? Can someone answer these questions?"

    adustum commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-22 23:11:01
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  • "My God- unbelievable. In a "normal", "regular" city/setting, Cantrell would have been eliminated in the first cut of applicants as a completely unqualified joke. But, as a dysfunctional lesbian radical, she immediately goes to the front of the line and actually gets hired for the job. Simply because she's a lesbian. Regardless of her "performance" in any other position. Fairfield- you get what you deserve. Now live with it. She's yours now- all yours. Oh, and good luck with that joke so-called "city manager", too. And your so-called "mayor" and your so-called "city council." My God, what a disgraceful mess......"

    panflash commented in:
    New employer concerned about SLO police chief’s past on 2020-09-22 19:55:40
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  • "The San Simeon CSD needs to be disbanded and attached to the Cambria CSD or some other appropriate entity. This is a classic example of a totally dysfunctional governmental body. There simply are not enough citizens there to sustain a functioning governmental unit, period."

    panflash commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-22 19:40:40
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  • "I would agree with you Mitch if the residents knew that conflict of interest runs rampant through the tiny town -- they don't. The 500 foot rule affects them easily, but their legal counsel hasn't been a good advisor and they've walked right into trouble. Funny thing is the whole board was appointed after numerous resignations. Maybe the board members with ethics thought better than stay?"

    Julie commented in:
    It is time to end lock-step politics in San Simeon on 2020-09-22 16:43:59
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