Homeless take advantage of ‘powder room’ privilege

In reading the letter on “Homeless parking” sent by Judith Cadigan (March 1) about religious organizations allowing a few homeless to park their vehicles in the lots for up to a month and urging them to allow the homeless to use the “powder room,” it is obvious to me that Ms. Cadigan has not had to deal with homeless parking or the filth they leave behind.

As a local business owner, I’ve had to deal with human feces left behind on my property, soiled toilet paper tossed onto my business property, filthy diapers left behind, garbage of all kind disposed of right there where my clients have to walk.

This is not a new development. This has gone on for more than 30 years.

My business entrances smell of urine and feces. For some time, I allowed some of the “regulars” who parked on the street to use my indoor bathroom facilities. They took advantage of the situation and thanked me by taking the toilet paper, soap and towels. They would leave the water running in the showers and sinks, even taking the magazines I’d left for them, and left the bathrooms in a total mess.

Something has to be done to ensure these folks who are homeless have a safe environment, but they also need to respect the fact that they can’t use the public streets as their “powder rooms.”

Monica Becker
Santa Margarita

Remove eucalyptus

I have seen many letters and heard many comments about the plan Morro Coast Audubon Society has to remove eucalyptus trees at Sweet Springs East. Opinion is one thing. But some of the letters and comments present disinformation as though the person has scientific knowledge.

Audubon has no intent to be willy-nilly about the project. There are scientific surveys going on regarding butterflies and nesting birds. The results of these surveys will tell which trees to avoid removing. Trees will be removed gradually and replaced with native trees and shrubs.

Eucalyptus trees do not make for a varied habitat in this part of the world. Limited species, both flora and fauna, can live with them. It will make for a much better natural experience when these trees are replaced.

For more information, go to www.morrocoastaudubon.org/ess.php. An informational handout was created to address many of the concerns and misconceptions floating about.

Rosalie Valvo
Morro Bay

Regional food systems

The idea of “regional food systems” is a relatively new concept. Several activities in our area are seeking to stimulate our food economy and help serve burgeoning consumer demand for local products, a trend being experienced nationwide.

Groups such as our local Farm Bureau, the SLO Food Bank, Central Coast Grown, HEAL SLO, Glean SLO, the county Health Department and the city of San Luis Obispo are working together to build unique collaborations to respond to an increasingly popular opportunity to bolster regional food systems.

In the end, this effort has the potential to help keep local agriculture viable, stimulate new food businesses, promote healthier lifestyles, and preserve ag land — as well as our rich agricultural heritage.

All of these initiatives and more will be highlighted Tuesday, March 6 at 6 p.m. at the Monday Club, 1815 Monterey St., as part of Cal Poly’s CAFES Center for Sustainability’s Sustainable Ag Lecture Series.

The event will begin with a special presentation by Joseph McIntyre, president of Ag Innovations, who has served as a leading consultant statewide to communities seeking to enhance their own community food systems. To find out more about the event, please visit: http://cfs.calpoly.edu/events/sals.

Hunter Francis
Director, CAFES Center for Sustainability, Cal Poly

Represent Nipomo

The time is now for the Nipomo community to come together and support the South County Advisory Council by applying for a seat on the council. Elections are fast approaching, and the Town Hall meeting, where the community assembles to meet the candidates, is scheduled for Monday, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District building.

The future of Nipomo should remain in the hands of elected council members. If you want to be a part of the future, then get on board and run to be a representative of your area. Otherwise, just continue to bury your head in the sand and be a NIMBY member.

Mike Eisner
Nipomo

Missed ASH opportunity

The front-page article on March 2 in The Tribune regarding the findings of a state agency, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, on safety violations at ASH brings that issue to the fore again. Charges in physical and procedural safety precautions are cited.

Not mentioned was the establishment in the early 1990s of the Continuous Quality Improvement program in which staff collaborated in envisioning and improving the hospital programs. This would include their work conditions, among other considerations.

Above all, what is needed is a thorough-going program of therapeutic community involving the patients in all aspects of their treatment. Had CQI been pursued more strenuously, perhaps the current personnel might not have had to turn to the law.

Joseph Abrahams, M.D.
San Luis Obispo

Call for balance

While I appreciate Mr. Bob Cuddy’s recent article highlighting the legislation that I introduced on behalf of the counties I represent and believe that his past reporting on my efforts has been fair, I find it regrettable that he used the article as an opportunity to attack the records of state Sen. Sam Blakeslee and mine based on a report issued by one of the state’s most liberal interest groups.

Missing in the article is an explanation of the consequences of the bills in which we were in the “wrong.”

At the very least, the article could have provided balance by noting my 100 percent rating from the CalChamber, National Federation of Independent Businesses and CalTax, or even my 95 percent rating from the League of California Cities, all of which were among the highest scores of any legislator. My pro-business record should come as no surprise given that I ran on a platform of bringing jobs to the state.

That said, it is important to note that I always base my votes on what I think is right for the people I serve.

Katcho Achadjian
33rd Assembly District