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Articles Tagged With ‘Lobbying’




California ballot measure would force lawmakers to reveal lobbyist ties

Written on 2 Aug, 2023 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 9 comments

  By JOSH FRIEDMAN A voter initiative that may appear on the ballot in California next year would overhaul the state’s Public Records Act, requiring unprecedented scrutiny into lobbying occurring at the Capitol, as well as more access to government... (Continue reading)

Assemblyman proposes bill to help PG&E with Camp Fire costs

Written on 26 Nov, 2018 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 5 comments

A California assemblyman has announced plans to introduce a bill that would help PG&E absorb liabilities from the deadly Northern California Camp Fire, but would stop short of doing away with a legislative doctrine that holds utilities responsible for wildfire... (Continue reading)

Dark fundraisers, marijuana and local city elections

Written on 4 Nov, 2018 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 31 comments

By KAREN VELIE Amid allegations of pay-to-play in the lucrative cannabis industry, marijuana mogul Helios Dayspring and his marijuana brand Natural Healing Center hosted a fundraiser on Oct. 28 for eight politicians from local cities planning to open cannabis shops... (Continue reading)

Corruption allegations continue to dog local marijuana industry

Written on 28 Oct, 2018 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 32 comments

By KAREN VELIE Battles over control of the multi-million dollar Central Coast marijuana industry have led to a barrage of ethical and criminal allegations. [Cal Coast Times] Some elected officials and government employees have been accused of taking bribes and... (Continue reading)

Facts SLO City Hall cannot defend

Written on 24 Oct, 2018 in Featured, Opinion | 6 comments

OPINION by RICHARD SCHMIDT It was one of those Alice in Wonderland moments observers of the San Luis Obispo City Council see so often under our current mayor’s rule. Jeffery Specht, a candidate for the council, had just begun speaking... (Continue reading)

Howell and other Coastal Commissioners facing huge fines

Written on 14 Mar, 2018 in Uncovered SLO | 7 comments

Pismo Beach Councilman Erik Howell could face multiple fines of up to $30,000 each if a San Diego judge rules against him in a California Coastal Commission conflict of interest case. In all, millions of dollars of fines could be... (Continue reading)

California to adopt $15 minimum wage

Written on 29 Mar, 2016 in Daily Briefs, Featured | 66 comments

Gov. Jerry Brown announced Monday that California lawmakers have struck a deal to raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022. Yearly minimum wage hikes will begin in 2017. [CBS News] California currently has a $10 minimum... (Continue reading)

Lobbying raises question: Who does Hill work for?

Written on 19 Oct, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 67 comments

Editor’s Note: This is part two in a two-part exclusive series about San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill’s consulting work for a company tied to a prominent developer. Part one, “Supervisor Hill’s 2 jobs raise conflict of interest,” includes... (Continue reading)

Tribune columnist is a paid lobbyist

Written on 29 Sep, 2015 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 51 comments

By DANIEL BLACKBURN A regularly-featured columnist for San Luis Obispo County’s daily newspaper, who is a vocal critic of a controversial rail spur project proposed by Phillips 66, is a paid lobbyist for at least two entities poised to benefit... (Continue reading)

SLO’s police chief brings back Israeli lessons on suicide bombers, rioters

Written on 14 Oct, 2014 in Featured, Uncovered SLO | 99 comments

By KAREN VELIE and DANIEL BLACKBURN San Luis Obispo Police Chief Steve Gesell spent a week in Israel learning how its police agencies deal with suicide bombers and attacks by militants armed with automatic weapons. The program, sponsored by the... (Continue reading)