What the Paso Robles school board can teach state leaders about disaster preparedness | Opinion
Contrasting attitudes
“Groups file new petition to close Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant,” (sanluisobispo.com, March 6)
The state of California, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and PG&E are comfortable with the possibility of the Diablo Canyon reactors continuing to run beyond when their current licenses expire. None of the entities responsible for public safety are concerned about the earthquake faults that surround the reactors. Contrast this attitude to that of the local Paso Robles school district, which voted to shut down one of its elementary schools because of a “seismic anomaly” discovered during renovations.
If a school experienced a major earthquake, the safety of hundreds of students and school staff would be at risk. If instrumentation or aging equipment at Diablo failed as the result of a strong earthquake, the entire Central Coast and much land downwind would be uninhabitable for a generation. Since all private insurance excludes coverage in the event of a radiological release, property owners would recover only about seven cents on the dollar.
Kudos to the Paso Robles school board. Shame on the California Senate, NRC and PG&E!
Jane Swanson
President, San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace
Additional traffic coming soon
“Cal Poly to open new staff business park near the airport,” (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 19)
Several hundred Cal Poly employees will soon begin to work at an office building located out by the SLO airport (to be called “Mustang Business Park”). But Cal Poly leadership has clearly not considered how this move will affect SLO residents.
Hundreds of additional cars that will now be traveling on city streets. Cal Poly employees who live in faculty and staff housing previously walked to work; now they will drive.
City streets cannot accommodate this additional traffic. These additional cars are not only going to be on the road at the start and end of the workday, Cal Poly employees will also still need to travel to campus frequently for on-campus events, meetings, classes and to drop off and pick up their kids at the on-campus daycare. This means additional traffic throughout the day on both Broad Street and Tank Farm Road.
Cal Poly leadership needs to show they care about SLO’s residents and environment by keeping employees on campus.
Brian Robinson
San Luis Obispo
Opinion
Hoping SLO wins
“Morro Bay has new homeless camping rules. Do they help or say ‘get the hell out of here’?” (sanluisobispo.com, Feb. 25)
On April 22, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral argument on the following question: Does the enforcement of laws prohibiting camping on public property constitute “cruel and unusual punishment,” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment?
Bizarrely, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that it does and held that cities and counties cannot enforce no-camping laws. No other circuit has agreed, but this has contributed to the deluge of homeless people flocking to the West Coast.
Now, a coalition of West Coast cities, counties and states have challenged the Ninth Circuit decision and asserted they have a right to prohibit homeless people from camping on the front lawn of city hall or county parks. San Luis Obispo County (via the California State Association of Counties) is one of them.
The name of the case is City of Grants Pass v. Johnson. Tune in at 7 a.m. on April 22. I hope SLO County wins.
Alex Karlin
San Luis Obispo
All are punished
“Biden’s closest allies are stepping up pressure on White House to do more to ease suffering in Gaza,” (sanluisobispo.com, March 6)
Regarding the war in Gaza: In Act 5, Scene 3 of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” when the prince first hears of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, he calls together the feuding families and rebukes them, saying finally, “all are punished.”
Bob Vessely
San Luis Obispo
Kindness of strangers
“Advice: How to encourage graciousness in our children,” (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 18)
I would like to thank the two ladies that turned in my purse at the Ralphs on Los Osos Valley Road on the evening of Friday, March 1. I had set my purse down on a lower shelf to retrieve bottled water off the top shelf, and — as it is a move I do not normally do — then walked off and left it. I feel blessed that I was fortunate that both of you kind folks found it.
Big, warm hugs to you both. I will certainly carry it forward.
Gwen Kellas
San Simeon
Only ourselves to blame
“SLO County voters get first chance to weigh in on Biden-Trump rematch. They aren’t excited,” (sanluisobispo.com, March 7)
Just a decade ago, most American voters had little tolerance for ineptitude, criminality, immorality or sociopathic behavior in their presidential candidates. That’s all changed, as millions still support a former president who has a long history of ignoring laws regarding sexual abuse, obstructing official proceeding, conspiring to defraud the U.S and inciting or aiding an insurrection.
Why the continued support? It’s due to Trump’s loyalty with the pro-life, anti-immigration, gun rights, anti-environmental protection, pro-fossil fuel production, anti-tax legislation for the wealthy, climate-denying and (most importantly) America first ideologies, with little or no global alliance or support.
The call for violence on January 6 was a rehearsal. If he’s re-elected, he’ll turn this country upside down — and maybe that’s just what many of his supporters want. If he is re-elected and we find ourselves run by a dictator determined to dismantle democracy, we’ll have only ourselves to blame.
Brent Jorgensen
Pismo Beach
